Kansas City, Missouri – Ford Motor Co. is dipping its toe into ride sharing, partnering with technology company Bridj and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to supplement that city’s mass transit system with Ford Transit vans that will pick up and drop off passengers via app calls.
Ride KC: Bridj aims to use a network of locally built Ford Transit vans to provide a new way to access areas of Kansas City that are rich in jobs and housing.
“We are bringing another transit option to the region with the introduction of microtransit,” says Robbie Makinen, KCATA president and CEO. “By combining the intelligence of Bridj technology with capable and flexible Ford Transit vehicles, we are creating a seamless and borderless transportation network for our residents that is easy to use, comfortable and affordable.”
Bridj’s system allows app users to call a car, much like Uber or Lyft, the company that won a $500 million investment from General Motors early this year. Unlike those taxi-like services, however, Bridj directs users to nearby street corners or public locations where a large van will pick them up. The company describes its service as the mid-point – both in price and service levels – between city bus service and taxis.
“Bridj is thrilled to be the urban technology platform for Ride KC: Bridj,” says Matt George, CEO of Bridj. “Modernizing urban infrastructure will be the single greatest technology challenge of our time, and this pilot is part of the solution by significantly extending the current capabilities of Kansas City’s mass transit system.”
Bridj operates in Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., but in those cities, it offers a fee-based transit service. The Kansas City program will be the first in which it partners with a public transportation agency.
Ford is the exclusive vehicle provider for Ride KC: Bridj because of its commitment to enabling urban mobility through its Ford Smart Mobility plan.
“Our goal is to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves,” says Erica Klampfl, global mobility solutions manager, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “The Ford Smart Mobility plan supports our commitment to innovation, and is aimed specifically at developing smarter mobility services. We are excited that Ford Transit was selected for Ride KC: Bridj because this is one of many projects that will help us gain insights into what works and develop smarter, more connected mobility solutions and service-oriented products.”
Ten Ford Transit passenger vans built at Kansas City Assembly Plant will be modified with a custom 14-passenger seating layout and custom-installed large running board for passenger convenience. Bright logos on the sides will make for easy visibility.
The one-year pilot program initially will include downtown Kansas City, the near east and west sides, Hospital Hill, Crown Center, portions of Midtown, University of Kansas Medical Center, and the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz district. It will augment and serve as a gateway to other forms of transit as many pick-up locations will be at bus stops and areas served by existing Kansas City transit and bike-share systems. Additional routes will be added based on rider demand as identified through Bridj technology.
“Only 18 percent of jobs in the Kansas City region are accessible within 90 minutes when using existing mass transit options,” says Bridj’s George, citing figures from the Brookings Institute. “By improving access to jobs, Ride KC: Bridj is a catalyst for social and economic opportunity, and an example of what is possible when cities adopt technological innovation and work in collaboration with private entities to create a truly modern city.”
Source: Ford Motor Co.