City To Launch Public, On-Demand Shared Ride Service

BIRMINGHAM, AL — A new ride-sharing service is expected to come to Birmingham in December, after the Birmingham City Council entered into an agreement Tuesday for a pilot program with ride-sharing company Via.

The program will create an additional layer of services for residents in the city by booking a shared ride for a flat rate fee of $1.50.

Under the agreement, Via will provide transportation services, dynamic shared ride technology and professional services for the design, marketing, launch, maintenance and performance of the program in Birmingham.

Customers will be able to book a seat in a premium shared vehicle through the Via app or by dial-in phone number. Once a ride is booked, Via’s technology matches multiple passengers headed in the same direction into a single vehicle that is dynamically routed in real-time, minimizing detours through the use of "virtual bus stops" to reduce congestion and emissions, while providing an efficient rider experience.

"We have been looking for additional layers of service to support the transportation needs of our residents. Through this partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, we are confident Via’s innovative transportation system will offer an additional option for on-demand transportation to our residents with an emphasis on connecting them with the services they need on a daily basis," Mayor Randall Woodfin said. "We are proud to add another tool to our toolbox as well as joining more than 80 cities and partners who have worked with Via to provide innovation to public transportation."

Through the agreement, the city will invest $250,000 along with up to $502,000 in an investment from the Community Foundation to launch the pilot program. The service area for the program will focus on connecting high need and underserved communities with work, education, entertainment venues, health and government services in the city for a flat fee of $1.50 per trip.

The program, targeted to start in December, will serve riders Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Via will operate marked Mercedes Metris vans. The program will provide accessible vehicles for riders with disabilities. Via hires local driver-partners.

Over the coming weeks, Via and the City of Birmingham will provide opportunities to raise awareness about the service and provide education on how to use the rideshare program in the pilot program service area.