Sanford to consider Uber pilot program

At Monday’s commission meeting Sanford officials will consider implementing an Uber pilot program similar to the one currently in place in Altamonte Springs.
The program, which subsidizes trips on Uber within the city, is aimed to cut down on traffic and encourage ridership on SunRail. If approved, the program will begin July 1.
The terms of the pilot program state that anyone who requests an Uber ride that starts and ends within city limits will receive a 20 percent discount, up to $25. The city will pay the remaining 20 percent.
Additionally, any rides that start or end at the SunRail station will receive a 25 percent discount, up to $25. Once again, the city will pay the remaining 25 percent.
The program is modeled after a pilot program implemented in Altamonte Springs in late March. Sanford commissioners expressed an interest and heard a presentation from Altamonte’s city manager earlier this month.
In addition to the pilot program commissioners will also consider an interlocal agreement between all the cities that plan to participate: Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Lake Mary, Longwood and Sanford. Winter Springs has also expressed an interest in joining.
The agreement will create the “Municipal Mobility Working Group” and states that the cities agree to meet regularly to share information on their individual pilot programs, assess pilot project outcomes, and ultimately assist one another in the development of a transit system interconnecting the cities with each other and the SunRail system.
If implement the program would last right around a year, ending on July 5, 2017.
Estimates by the city state the program could cost anywhere from $36,000 to $72,000 depending on usage.
The commission will discuss the proposal during their Monday afternoon work session and vote on the program at their evening meeting.

- Rachel Delinski, Herald Publisher/Editor, RDelinski@MySanfordHerald.com.