By Ilana Siyance
Via, NY’s leader in public mobility solutions has partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to announce an initiative providing a new flat-rate shared ride service from LaGuardia Airport to the five boroughs of NYC. The launch of the new pilot program, named LGA Connect, should be just in time for the busy holiday season, and hopes to help offset the extra traffic LaGuardia’s been experiencing during construction. As per a press release by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, it aims to reduce private vehicle trips to and from the airport, relieving congestion while simultaneously providing more affordable shared rides. LGA Connect promises full transparency and price consistency, with $15 flat-rate rides from LaGuardia to Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and $20 to Staten Island and the Bronx.
LGA Connect rides can be booked on Via’s app using a credit card, between the hours of 8 am and 1 am. Alternately, rides can be booked by a dispatcher at a designated “LGA Connect” pickup location outside of Terminal C/D. Via’s algorithm pairs up multiple passengers headed in the same direction. Passengers are given information for identifying the vehicle and an ETA. Rides set off within 10 minutes, and passengers are dropped off at a nearby corner close to their destination.
“As the leader in vehicle utilization in New York City, we are proud to partner with the Port Authority to integrate Via’s technology and experience in shared rides into public transit through LGA Connect,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “Shared rides have the power to alleviate the heavy congestion experienced at LaGuardia Airport, while allowing New Yorkers to travel into the city in a convenient and affordable way.”
Via was co-founded in 2012 by Israeli entrepreneurs Daniel Ramo and Oren Shoval, based on their experience with Sherut shared taxis in Israel. Headquartered in NYC, Via is now a real-time ride sharing company in select cities in more than 20 countries around the world. As per TLC data, last year Via riders saved over $90M, 16M vehicle miles and 12.2M pounds of carbon dioxide by choosing to ride share rather than hiring a private vehicle.
“This pilot with Via builds on two Port Authority priorities: customer experience and sustainability”, said Rick Cotton, Executive Director of the PANYNJ. “We are in the peak of construction of an entirely new airport with the high-volume holiday travel season now upon us. Since the agency is constantly looking for ways to reduce congestion and improve the LaGuardia experience, we welcome Via’s LGA Connect service which offers LaGuardia travelers a sustainable, affordable option to reach their final destinations in all five boroughs, including travel public transit hubs.”
