GEORGETOWN, Texas — Growing cities in Texas with no transportation systems are using Uber to help bridge the transit gap.

This month, the City of Georgetown announced their own subsidized program, RideGTX to help residents travel around the city. Georgetown Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts said it made sense to use the popular rideshare app as their own transportation system.

“It’s 24 hours, 365 days,” he said. “All citizens can use it.”

Using up to 10 vouchers a month, riders will pay the initial $4, and the City of Georgetown covers the next $10. The rider then pays for anything over $14.

Along with Uber, the city has also launched its own program with zTrip, a rideshare service for people with disabilities. Riders only pay $4 and have an unlimited number of rides.

City officials predict 8,500 riders will use RideGTX in the first year. Pitts says the city will only cover a ride when it is requested, unlike the old, fixed rate system that was canceled in 2021 because of low ridership.

“Didn’t matter if anybody used it or not, we have to pay it,” Pitts said. “If nobody uses this system, the cost of the vouchers, we don’t have to pay that money.”

RideGTX is also expected to help connect people to needed resources like food.

Rita Turner is the community engagement manager at The Caring Place, a nonprofit organization in Georgetown that provides emergency shelter services, rental assistance and a food pantry to residents in need.

Turner says that, over the 18 years she has worked at The Caring Place, transportation for those she helps has been essential.

“We did a client survey, and 18% of them said transportation was a major factor of coming in to get help,” Turner said. “Last year, we helped over 11,000 people. This year through April, we have had over 7,500 so far.”

The new program, according to Turner, will help people get fed, and it also eliminates the worry of having to get to important appointments in a timely manner for an affordable rate, which is something her sister has to deal with. 

“So, I have a disabled sister. Twice a week she has to go to the hospital for procedures. It’s very hard on someone when you’re trying to work, but you also have to take care of a loved one," Turner said. 

Turner says with the vouchers, as well as another transportation program, her sister’s medical needs are covered.

“She feels bad sometimes that I’m tired but still having to get up at 6 a.m. to go to the hospital, so it really helps us out a lot," Turner said.

The City of Georgetown isn’t the only city using Uber as a transit system.

South of Austin, the City of Kyle rolled out a program called Uber Kyle $3.14 in 2020. The city says the program has been successful, averaging approximately 2,800 rides a year.

In North Texas, the City of Wylie, a growing suburb near Dallas, is another area with no formal transit system that is also using a subsidized Uber program, Ride Awake Wylie. According to deputy city manager for Wylie, Renae Ollie, using Uber for a city with only 60,000 residents is more efficient than a traditional bus system.

Turner says she is hopeful for the success of RideGTX but says ultimately it is not a true replacement for public transit.

“Hopefully, eventually, one day, we’ll have public transportation, and so people can get to doctor’s appointments and jobs, but it is a start," Turner said.