As Palo Alto Link prepares to run its final trip next month, residents who have come to depend on the city\u2019s ride-hailing service are raising concerns about losing a valuable resource they have come to depend on since it first rolled out in 2023.<\/p>\n
Ian Irwin, who is in his 70s and has a daughter with a disability, is among those who have come to rely on Palo Alto Link, which functions like a subsidized Lyft service with discounts for older adults, youth, low-income residents and individuals with disabilities.<\/p>\n
The City Council introduced Palo Alto Link as a replacement for the Palo Alto Shuttle, a bus system the city halted during the pandemic. But after several contract extensions, the council voted in June to end its agreement with Via, the company that operated the ride-hailing service and runs others in neighboring cities<\/a>, citing high costs. Though Palo Alto Link was initially funded by a county grant, that money has run out, requiring a city subsidy of about $700,000 annually. Its final day of service is set for Oct. 30<\/a>.<\/p>\n Irwin was one of several residents who told the council earlier this month that he was surprised to learn that Palo Alto Link will soon cease to exist. Once that happens, he will lose a service that he and his daughter have come to depend on for trips to doctor appointments, therapy appointments and the synagogue.<\/p>\n Many of these locations are not well served by Palo Alto\u2019s existing transportation system.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Link was a lifesaver for many parts of the Palo Alto community,\u201d Irwin said.<\/p>\n To compensate for the loss of Palo Alto Link<\/a>, the councilmembers agreed this summer to add $100,000 to the budget of Palo Alto Transportation Management Association<\/a>, bringing its overall contribution toward the transportation nonprofit to $500,000.<\/p>\n This approach, however, differs significantly from Palo Alto Link and the former shuttle system. Unlike those two services, which were available to all residents, employees and visitors to Palo Alto, the voucher program would focus almost exclusively on older adults, individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n The shift also represents a sharp pivot for Palo Alto TMA, which launched in 2014 with the goal of reducing solo-car commuting for local employees. To date, its main offerings have been transit passes, a program that refurbishes bikes and $10 credits for income-eligible employees to take Lyft late at night, when buses and trains stop running.<\/p>\n Alex Van Riesen, one of whose children has special needs, also urged the council not to pull the plug on Palo Alto Link. He said he does not believe the city\u2019s budget challenges justify \u201cfully ending the service that\u2019s actively working for the people who need it most.\u201d The voucher program, he noted, is \u201cnot a like-for-like swap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLink was built for exactly the riders who now stand to lose the most \u2014 seniors, people with disabilities, low-income residents and just people whose lives are just burdened by physical ailments and inabilities to get around,\u201d Van Riesen said.<\/p>\n Uber and Lyft rides aren\u2019t always reliable and can\u2019t always accommodate individuals with wheelchairs, he noted.<\/p>\n Justine Burt, executive director of Palo Alto TMA, told the Palo Alto Weekly that with the additional budget, her organization is prioritizing assistance for the most vulnerable residents. She encouraged people who require assistance getting around town to apply for one of Palo Alto TMA\u2019s programs, which will expand next month to accommodate the new clientele.<\/p>\n Palo Alto TMA\u2019s efforts include increasing its partnership with Avenidas, the nonprofit provider of senior services that currently operates its own shuttle service for older adults. Palo Alto TMA is contributing $45,000 to Avenidas to hire another part-time driver, allowing it to expand its shuttle service. When people sign up for Palo Alto TMA services, Avenidas will have access to the list of applicants, whom it could then assist with door-to-door rides as needed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying to help people stay connected to their community,\u201d Burt said. \u201cThe focus is on older adults or people who live independently, who are starting to feel like it\u2019s harder for them to get around and to stay connected.\u201d<\/p>\n