LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is expanding its new ride-hailing service Metro Micro into the Compton/Artesia, El Monte and North Hollywood/Burbank areas starting today.
Metro Micro will replace Metro's Mobility on Demand program, which was already operating in the three zones.
Each ride-hailing vehicle holds up to 10 passengers, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, capacity will be limited to five passengers. Rides, which must begin and end within each zone, will cost $1 for the first six months in each zone.
The program is in partnership with RideCo. Inc. and is available in:
-- the Compton/Artesia zone from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day;
-- the El Monte zone from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends; and
-- the North Hollywood/Burbank zone from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
The Metro Micro program has serviced the Watts/Willowbrook and LAX/Inglewood areas since it was launched Dec. 13. The Watts/Willowbrook zone operates between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. everyday, and the LAX/Inglewood zone operates on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“We're incredibly proud of the successful conclusion of our Mobility on Demand pilot project and excited that the lessons learned will be applied to continue to provide our riders new, high-quality mobility options,'' Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said last week. “Metro Micro has taken up that mantle of innovation and experimentation and we expect even more success as we expand its footprint to better help our riders get around Los Angeles County for essential trips while reducing traffic.''
The Mobility on Demand program, which was a partnership with the rideshare company Via, was created to offer shared rides to and from transit station to expand access to L.A. Metro's transit network. During the pandemic, that program was expanded to include grocery stores and hospitals.
With Metro Micro, riders can use a mobile app to plan their trip, including on Metro Micro and bus and train rides. The average wait time is about 10 minutes, according to Metro's website.
“It's our job to provide Angelenos with affordable and accessible ways to move around our city and region,'' Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti previously said about the program. “Metro Micro will bring the convenience of ride-share technology at a fraction of the cost, which will mean less congestion on our streets, cleaner air and another way to get the most out of our transit systems.''
The Metro Micro app can be downloaded on the Apple store athttps://apple.co/2KCpWmPand on Google Play at https://bit.ly/3sJz7Tz.
Photo: Getty Images