Comment from Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina
Research Triangle Foundation of North CarolinaOpposeAdvocacy
Summary: The Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina opposes the proposal because it would force changes to their "RTP Connect" program, which relies on Lyft to provide essential first- and last-mile transit connections. They argue that TNCs already maintain rigorous safety standards and that the proposed requirements would result in more costly, less reliable, and less frequent transportation options for riders.
The above referenced proposal from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) would require transportation network companies (TNCs) participate in FTA’s drug and alcohol testing program when providing rides under contract with a U.S. transit agency. In effect, if implemented, FTA’s proposal would end U.S. transit agency partnerships with TNCs to provide essential public transportation connections that would otherwise not exist.
As stewards of Research Triangle Park (RTP), the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina (RTF) partners with GoTriangle, the regional public transportation provider for North Carolina’s rapidly growing Research Triangle region, on our RTP Connect program (www.rtpconnect.com). Launched in 2019, RTP Connect is a first-/last-mile connection program that connects public transit riders to jobs in RTP. RTP Connect rides are provided by Lyft under contract to GoTriangle. Under our partnership agreement, RTF provides 50% of the funding for the RTP Connect program.
The vast majority of TNC-operated rides offered in partnership with a transit agency meet a transportation need that would not otherwise be met by public transportation services. These TNC-operated rides provide direct transportation to employment, education, and healthcare opportunities that are critical to the health and wellbeing of the people utilizing these TNC-operated services.
Furthermore, TNCs providing services under contract to public transit agencies already have robust and rigorous safety standards to protect riders. Our RTP Connect program provider, Lyft, conducts thorough driver background screenings, has a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy, and utilizes technology-enhanced features to continually monitor and enhance rider safety. Safety incidents on Lyft occur in only 0.0002% of rides and less than 0.004% of Lyft rides have resulted in zero tolerance investigations.
RTP is the largest job center in the Research Triangle region, home to 385+ companies and 55,000+ jobs. Providing a first-/last-mile public transit connection via a reliable and affordable Lyft ride opens employment opportunities that would otherwise be unreachable for public transit riders. If FTA’s proposed change is implemented, our RTP Connect program would be forced to make changes with serious negative consequences for our riders. Based on our research prior to establishing RTP Connect, any other operating model would be (1) more costly, (2) less reliable, and (3) less frequent than our current Lyft-operated model. FTA’s proposal does not align its goal of expanding high quality transit services.
We oppose FTA’s proposal. We urge FTA to reconsider this change in the interest of the public. TNCs provide essential first-/last-mile transit connections for public transit riders under existing programs like RTP Connect. FTA should instead seek to implement standards that protect riders by ensuring cost-effective and reliable connections to employment, education, and healthcare remain operational and available to public transit riders across the U.S.