Taking a Ride Share from Burlington? You Could Be Benefitting Burlington's Transportation Programming
Popularity of limited program raises discussion about future of public transportation in Burlington
In 2024, more than 430,000 ride shares – rides facilitated through apps like Uber and Lyft – were initiated within Burlington. If you were one of those ride-sharers (and in a town of 26,000, chances are that you were), a portion of your fare will be used to support a popular transportation program.
A 20₵ surcharge for each ride initiated in Burlington (paid by the rider) is collected by the state, and the state keeps half of that surcharge and returns the other 10₵ back to the town for transportation-related uses, said Town Administrator John Danizio. Sums over $25,000 must go through appropriation, and this year's amount is $43,148.40 – equating to 431,484 rides initiating in Burlington in 2024. (That's not even accounting for those coming into town.)
The town's subsidized Lyft program, approved by Town Meeting in 2019 when the town's B-Line bus service was discontinued, is currently used by many seniors, residents who meet certain income requirements, and those with disabilities throughout town. And, users aren't require to have an app or a smartphone; they can simply sign up with GoGoGrandparent and arrange a ride via a phone call.
"It makes sense for us that [the revenue] comes from the ride share to help fund the ride share," said Danizio at the January 12 Select Board meeting, citing a decision made several years ago by a now-dissolved Transportation Committee.
But with the rise in popularity of both the Lyft program and ride sharing at large since 2020, town officials are considering whether the program is the best way to provide transportation options in Burlington. The widespread use of ride shares just goes to show, Select Board member Nick Priest said, "If we had an appropriate public transportation infrastructure we wouldn't need to be generating 430,000 rides in a single year; people would be using public transportation instead." He added, "Perhaps this [funding] could help offset an additional program instead of a rideshare program."
The question is fraught, though, as the B-Line service was discontinued because, in town officials' eyes, its operating costs had outpaced its benefit to the town. Danizio said town administration considers the rideshare program each year during budget season. "It has grown to a point where now we have to decide, 'What are the limitations of this program?'" said Danizio.
Funds originating from the rideshare surcharge must be used for transportation-related expenses; some examples of other uses are paving roads, sidewalks, and bike paths, as well as installing crosswalks.
The appropriation of this ride share surcharge revenue will be one item among many discussed at Town Meeting on January 26. Stay tuned to Burlington Buzz for the full Warrant Summary later this week.
