Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Rideshare topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Georgetown council approves rideshare voucher contract with Tripp Consulting LLC
Summary
City council approved a contract with Tripp Consulting LLC to launch a rideshare voucher program using the Uber platform; staff expects a roughly two‑month setup and a six‑month checkpoint to report early usage and costs. The program will operate alongside the city—s existing CARTS paratransit contract and include unlimited ADA/wave trips.
The Georgetown City Council voted unanimously to approve a contract with Tripp Consulting LLC to launch a rideshare voucher program that will use the existing Uber app to distribute vouchers for eligible riders.
City staff told the council the program could take about two months to go live and staff will return about six months after launch with a progress report on trip volumes, costs and any needed changes. "It'll be kind of an add on to the already Uber app. So if you already have that app, you won't have to download an app to access the voucher," the staff presenter said.
Why it matters: Councilmembers framed the program as an extension of the city—s transportation options and emphasized that it is not, at present, a replacement for the existing CARTS paratransit contract. "For the record, we are not canceling the paratransit," Councilmember Amanda said during discussion; staff confirmed the city remains under contract with CARTS through September of the fiscal year and expects to evaluate both services in parallel.
Key details presented: Staff estimated Georgetown recorded about 33,000 trips last year in the area served and said the program will limit general marketing to reach populations most in need. The scope of services in Exhibit A lists a $4 baseline per trip; staff described the cost arrangement in these terms: "$4 per trip" under the scope and then coverage of an additional amount through the program with riders paying amounts above the voucher coverage. Staff also said ADA or wheelchair-accessible (WAV) trips will not be capped by the program.
Operational notes: The program will use the Uber platform and a phone line maintained by Uber for users without the app. Staff said the city and the contractor can change the geofence, trip caps and eligibility rules during the contract term; some changes may require additional staff time to manage eligibility or applications. Staff and the consultant said available dashboards will report trips per day, peak times, average trip lengths and wait times.
Questions and oversight: Council asked how the service would interact with CARTS and whether federal funding could be applied; staff said the current program does not qualify for federal match and that county staff were exploring that possibility. Councilmembers also asked about integration with future city customer-response tools (AskGTX or 311); staff said AskGTX could link to information but direct technical integration with 311 was not established.
Outcome and next steps: A motion to approve the contract as presented passed unanimously. Staff will work with Tripp Consulting and Uber to stand up the service, monitor trip volumes, and report back to council roughly six months after launch to evaluate demand and costs.
