Cheap Uber, Lyft Rides Coming For Mercer Island Commuters

MERCER ISLAND, WA - Either you get a spot at the Mercer Island park-and-ride lot or, more often, you don't.

To relieve parking pressure at the lot, Mercer Island will begin a pilot program in April offering subsidized Lyft and Uber rides to and from the park-and-ride lot. The city is using money from its settlement with Sound Transit over HOV lanes, and Uber and Lyft are pitching in $10,000 each.

"We know how frustrating it is to find the Park & Ride filling ever earlier, so we’re very pleased to be able to offer this option to the commuting public. It is good to see something innovative coming out of the Sound Transit Settlement Agreement, and we’re embracing the opportunity to investigate the future of transportation with this pilot project,” said Mercer Island Mayor Debbie Bertline in a press release.

The rideshare pilot will begin April 23 and last six months. During the first three months, solo and shared rides will cost $2. In the final three months, rides will cost $2 for shared rides, $5 for solo rides. The rides will be available 24/7 Monday through Friday.

The City Council approved the pilot program at the March 20 meeting.

File photo Neal McNamara/Patch