For Partners
Revenue Hour Billing and Non-Dedicated Service Providers (NDSPs) in ADA Paratransit.
How Do You Fit an NDSP into a Revenue Hour Billing Model?
Ideally, You Don’t. Here’s Why (and One Way to Set Up Billing)
Rather than shoehorning NDSP billing into a revenue hour model – innovative agencies and transportation management companies have carved out, or set aside, a portion of the total paratransit budget appropriate for the amount and nature of the rides they want to assign to UZURV.
The revenue hour pricing model, typical for contracted paratransit service, makes a lot of sense for agencies managing the costs, and the productivity of operating a dedicated fleet of vehicles. This is the model used for most large, multi-year contracts for programs that provide hundreds of thousands to even millions of rides annually.
Grossly oversimplified: revenue hour billing essentially is the billed cost for every hour a vehicle is in service transporting riders.
For rail/subway, bus transit, and paratransit systems, the revenue hour model, paired with how many passengers are transported “productivity” in that hour, provides a reasonable measurement of the cost-effectiveness of those systems. This is a “productivity” measurement that gets to a reasonable measurement of a per ride cost.
The revenue hour pricing model, paired with productivity targets, enables contracting agencies to measure and manage its per-trip costs. One of the best ways to hit revenue hour goals in traditional paratransit (meaning dedicated fleets operated by hourly-wage drivers) is to “multi-load” as many rides as is practical without negatively affecting on-time percentage rates. That’s because the revenue hour is the same if a vehicle transports 1, 3, or 5 paratransit riders.
So for paratransit programs, one way agencies measure the cost-effectiveness of paratransit is to look at a per-trip cost.
Here’s an example:
Revenue Hour Model
A contract with a transit agency provides for $50 per revenue hour. Its fleet averages 1.3 rides per hour (productivity) – so divide the $50 per revenue hour cost by that 1.3 rides (this is a national average) and that means the system has a $38.46 per trip cost.
Now let’s look at using that model for a NDSP like UZURV, the Adaptive TNC.
UZURV bills literally per trip, and so each trip equals one ride – and for the sake of simplicity, it’s one paratransit rider per trip.
The same transit agency assigns three rides of varying lengths to UZURV. Between the three trips, the combined time it takes our drivers to complete those trips is about an hour. We then bill the following:
Trip A: $30
Trip B: $25
Trip C: $15
Our total bill to the agency or Transit Management Company (TMC) would equal $70 for an hour of active time it took our vehicles to complete the rides – yikes! Who is going to eat the $20 difference between our costs per “revenue hour” and the contracted $50 per revenue hour?!
Nobody actually will. In fact, everyone is typically saving money. And you can see why, look at our productivity – (the rides per hour – it’s 3). Take that $70 we billed and divide that by the three trips – and the literal per-trip cost (not a revenue hour divided by aggregated average productivity across a whole fleet – but the actual average cost of the three trips) – it’s $23.33.
This is a crude example, but when TransPro analyzed more than 4.6 million paratransit trips and compared our productivity and costs as compared to traditional paratransit programs it found that UZURV was 57% more productive and resulted in a 30% per trip cost savings.
How to Set-Up Billing for Non-Dedicated Service Providers
The bottom line is that the revenue hour billing model boxes out the savings inherent with high-productivity NDSP models like UZURV. Rather than shoehorning NDSP billing into a revenue hour model – innovative agencies and transportation management companies have carved out, or set aside, a portion of the total paratransit budget appropriate for the amount and nature of the rides they want to assign to UZURV. The contract is then set up with per-trip billing at the core of the negotiation.
Using a carve-out for NDSP’s fits the spirit of the revenue hour model – which is finding a predictable billing model, that incentivizes productivity, and fits the mode of service.
Let's talk about how UZURV can increase rider satisfaction and on-time performance for your ADA paratransit programs.
UZURV quickly onboards fully FTA-compliant drivers to provide a higher level of service for paratransit riders, real-time ride monitoring, and transparent reporting, all for up to 30% less per trip as compared to traditional paratransit.
UZURV + Spare: Full Integration Provides Innovative Paratransit Programs a Wealth of Real-Time Data and Reporting Tools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Integration Provides Transit Agencies Real-Time Dispatch, Tracking, and Ride Reporting of UZURVs Fully FTA-Compliant Drivers
Agencies can leverage the flexibility of UZURV’s Adaptive TNC model and pair that with the Open Fleets tool in Spare for transparent reporting across both dedicated and non-dedicated trip providers.
RICHMOND, Va., September 15, 2022 — UZURV, the Adaptive Transportation Network Company (Adaptive TNC), has partnered with on-demand transit software provider Spare to create a fully integrated solution supporting UZURV’s FTA-compliant paratransit trips. The solution links Spare’s Open Fleets module with UZURV’s mobility platform to book trips and provide comprehensive reporting that includes real-time data associated with trip execution and reporting information. The integration is in active service for fully FTA-compliant, ADA supplemental service rides in the US, and provides robust real-time data available to agency partners.
With UZURV, transit agencies across the country leverage a network of non-dedicated owner-operator drivers for ADA Supplemental and Rider Choice programs. Agencies can leverage the flexibility of UZURV’s Adaptive TNC model and pair that with the Open Fleets tool in Spare for transparent reporting across both dedicated and non-dedicated trip providers.
Platform Integration Features:
Integrated Dispatch
Assigned trips are auto-dispatched to the UZURV technology platform by Spare. For accepted trips, UZURV driver and vehicle info is visible in Spare — including: The drivers’ name, the vehicle color, make, model, year, plate state, and tag number.
Real-time Ride Status
Real-time vehicle tracking is available in Spare with GPS & timestamp on each status change, including: driver en route, pick-up arrived, in progress, drop-off arrived, and completed trip.
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Transparent Reporting
All UZURV ride execution data is seamlessly available via Spare reporting.
“Our mission at UZURV is to expand transportation opportunities for people with disabilities and older adults through our Mobility Platform and innovative, fully FTA-compliant, TNC model,” said John Donlon, Chief Executive Officer of UZURV. “Leveraging our respective technologies, UZURV and Spare are able to provide exceptional tools to our agency partners for easy service integration, transparent performance reporting, and improved efficiencies.”
“We are committed to helping transit agencies provide reliable and cost-effective paratransit rides through innovative partnerships,” said Kristoffer Vik Hansen, CEO, Spare. “Our integration with UZURV provides transit agencies a gateway to a deep network of fleets to efficiently improve paratransit rider experience.”
About Spare:
Spare is a leading provider of On-Demand Transit Software with a mission to make every ride possible. Its technology platform empowers transit and mobility innovators, both in the public and private sectors, to streamline their network’s day-to-day on-demand mobility operations. Spare’s philosophy, which rests on its open API, is that anyone can and should be able to launch an efficient, well-run transportation network with ease. Read more at https://sparelabs.com/.
About UZURV
Mobility independence is for everyone. UZURV helps communities lower the cost of transportation for people with mobility challenges – while delivering much more reliable, timely service that appropriately meets the needs of each rider. The UZURV Assisted Mobility Platform simplifies the operation and management of onboarding, managing compliance, dispatching, and monitoring assisted community mobility services. The platform provides powerful program management and reporting tools for mobility management, transportation systems, and service providers, including UZURV’s own Adaptive Transportation Network (Adaptive TNC) service model. UZURV’s Adaptive TNC onboards fully FTA-compliant drivers for ADA Paratransit and rider choice programs. UZURV holds contracts for assisted community mobility services with more than 35 organizations across the United States, including five of the top ten largest ADA paratransit programs by rider volume. UZURV was founded in 2017 and is based in Richmond, Va. For more information about UZURV, visit https://uzurv.com/.
UZURV Develops Assisted Mobility Service Integration Through Trapeze TripBroker for ADA Paratransit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Integration Provides Transit Agencies Real-Time Dispatch, Tracking, and Ride Reporting of UZURVs Fully ADA Compliant Drivers
RICHMOND, VA., May 24, 2022 – UZURV, the Adaptive Transportation Network Company (Adaptive TNC) has collaborated with Trapeze Group on a full integration with Trapeze PASS, its paratransit software suite, for booking trips on UZURV. The integrated solution is in active service for fully FTA compliant ADA paratransit rides and provides robust real-time data available right in the Trapeze product suite.
With UZURV, transit agencies across the country leverage a network of fully FTA compliant, non-dedicated owner-operator drivers for ADA supplemental and Rider Choice programs. Pairing UZURV’s technology platform with Trapeze’s TripBroker provides those agencies the flexibility of a TNC and a high level of transparent data, including real-time ride status updates, real-time vehicle tracking, and full trip reporting.
Platform Integration Features:
Integrated Dispatch
Assigned trips are auto-dispatched to the UZURV technology platform by Trapeze’s TripBroker.
For accepted trips, driver and vehicle info are visible in the Trapeze PASS system, including:
The drivers’ name, the vehicle color, make, model, year, plate state, and tag number.
Real-time Ride Status
Real-time vehicle tracking available in Trapeze with GPS & timestamp on each status change, including: driver en route, pick-up arrived, in progress, drop-off arrived, and completed trip.
Transparent Reporting
All UZURV ride execution data is seamlessly available via Trapeze reporting.
“Our mission at UZURV is to provide the highest level of service to people with disabilities and older adults, and we built our technology platform and Adaptive TNC service from the ground up to specifically service ADA paratransit and similar programs,” said John Donlon, Chief Executive Officer of UZURV. “Transit agencies with Trapeze’s TripBroker and UZURV get lower per-trip costs, high on-time percentages (OTPs), and extremely high customer satisfaction that is all integrated right into their transit management system – it is an incredibly powerful collaboration.”
“We stand by our transit agency customers and their riders. This collaboration is especially important now when many agencies are facing driver shortages and operational efficiency issues,” said Teresa Domingo, General Manager of Trapeze Group. “The integration with Trapeze PASS and UZURV provides an innovative option to address these problems and accommodate a greater number of high quality on-demand rides.”
About Trapeze
Trapeze Group works with public transit agencies and their communities to develop and deliver smarter, more effective public transit solutions. For more than 25 years we have been “here for the journey,” evolving with our public transport customers around the world helping them to move people from point A to Z and everywhere in between. Learn more: www.trapezegroup.com.
About UZURV
Mobility independence is for everyone. UZURV helps communities lower the cost of transportation for people with mobility challenges – while delivering much more reliable, timely service that appropriately meets the needs of each rider. The UZURV Assisted Mobility Platform simplifies the operation and management of onboarding, managing compliance, dispatching, and monitoring assisted community mobility services. The platform provides powerful program management and reporting tools for mobility management, transportation systems, and service providers, including UZURV’s own Adaptive Transportation Network (Adaptive TNC) service model. UZURV’s Adaptive TNC onboards fully FTA-compliant drivers for ADA Paratransit and rider choice programs. UZURV holds contracts for assisted community mobility services with more than 35 organizations across the United States, including five of the top ten largest ADA paratransit programs by rider volume. UZURV was founded in 2017 and is based in Richmond, Va. For more information about UZURV, visit https://uzurv.com/.
What is UZURV?: For Communities and Transportation Providers - It’s a Win-Win Solution to an Age-Old Problem
“The enhanced level of service offered through this partnership between CARTA and UZURV will make traveling easier for the most vulnerable transit users. Direct, on-demand access to necessities such as doctor appointments, the pharmacy and grocery store is an unprecedented step forward for public transit in our region…”
“The enhanced level of service offered through this partnership between CARTA and UZURV will make traveling easier for the most vulnerable transit users. Direct, on-demand access to necessities such as doctor appointments, the pharmacy and grocery store is an unprecedented step forward for public transit in our region…”
– Mike Seekings, CARTA Board of Directors Chairman
For decades, communities, transit agencies and other transportation providers have struggled with the challenge of providing accessible curb-to-curb or door-to-door transportation for older adults, people with disabilities and other customers who cannot use other forms of transportation. The typical approach has been to provide curb-to-curb or door-to-door paratransit services that require customers to book trips in advance and share their rides. These services are highly regulated, costly to provide and often do not meet the needs of riders. Put simply, it’s a system that doesn’t really work well for anyone.
UZURV is an adaptive transportation network company (TNC) that utilizes an extensive network of credentialed drivers and a robust mobility on demand technology platform to provide fully compliant, accessible and affordable door-to-door transportation on behalf of communities, transit agencies, healthcare providers and an array of other organizations across more than 20 states. One size does not fit all, and UZURV is able to tailor a service approach that can meet the operational, administrative and financial needs of virtually any organization, regardless of size, geography and budget.
How UZURV Works for Riders
UZURV’s success depends on meeting the needs of real-world customers, and we do that by delivering on-demand transportation services that are accessible, convenient, reliable and safe.
UZURV Is Accessible
- UZURV apps follow W3C accessibility guidelines
- The UZURV fleet capable of transporting virtually any customer
- UZURV is designed to be a door-to-door service
- UZURV is able to accept payments from riders in virtually any format
UZURV is Accessible
Every aspect of the UZURV business model has been designed to be accessible for people with disabilities, older adults and other transportation disadvantaged people to use. Equity and accessibility form the basis of everything we do. Here’s how:
- Customers can request, monitor, modify and pay for service by phone or through fully accessible mobile apps that have been designed and tested to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines published by the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C).
- The UZURV fleet includes sedans as well as accessible minivans and vans capable of transporting virtually any customer, including those who use mobility devices and/or who travel with service animals.
- UZURV is designed to be a door-to-door service, and drivers are able to provide assistance to riders with boarding and exiting vehicles upon request.
- UZURV is able to accept payments from riders in virtually any format, including those riders who do not have access to banking smartphones, banking accounts or credit/debit cards.
UZURV is Convenient
- Riders can schedule trips as far as a month out or even as close to an hour before travel
- UZURV riders can manage any aspect of their ride with accessible mobile apps.
UZURV is Convenient
Like all other people, riders have busy and unpredictable lives. As a result, UZURV has built its mobility on demand platform to support the value of convenience.
- Riders are able to schedule trips up to 30 days before travel, but they can also request trips in as little as one hour before travel. UZURV is also able to schedule will-call returns for those hard-to-predict appointments.
- UZURV’s IOS and Android compatible mobile apps make it easy for riders to manage any aspect of service on-the-go, and the apps are accessible for people using screen readers, screen magnification or other types of smartphone-based assistive technology. And for customers who need it, our Customer Service Center is also available.
UZURV is Reliable
Unpredictability 
is a pain point for paratransit riders. Federal law allows paratransit providers to negotiate pick-up times that are up to one hour before or after the time the rider requests. Then, the rider is expected to be available for a 20 or 30 minute pick-up window.
Combine this fact with the fact that traditional paratransit rides are sometimes shared, and sometimes not, and you have a service that often gets riders to their destinations very early or very late, and customers can rarely predict what to expect. As a result, although most customers appreciate this most costly of services, few of them actually enjoy using it. This means more complaints and diminished customer perceptions about the sponsoring agency and the provider delivering the trips.
Because UZURV provides each trip individually, we are able to offer more certainty about when the ride will arrive, and we can predict the travel time. For the rider, this means less time waiting, less time riding, and less uncertainty about how long each trip will take. Additionally, UZURV drivers are expected to arrive on time, and UZURV offers driver incentives for doing so. As a result, UZURV runs on-time for more than 98% of the trips we provide. And to further promote high-quality service, UZURV’s “Favorite Driver” feature allows paratransit riders to identify the drivers who provide the best service. Favorited drivers get a higher preference for future trips, which promotes high-quality service. Driver ratings may not be uncommon in the world of TNCs, but they are revolutionary for paratransit and healthcare transportation.
UZURV is Built to be Safe
The COVID-19 health emergency highlighted the need for safety, and UZURV is proud of the fact that to date, none of our drivers or customers have acquired COVID-19 through an exposure resulting from their use of the UZURV service. But our commitment to safety goes much farther than highly effective health and safety protocols.
- UZURV drivers must pass agency-specified criminal and driving background checks and federally mandated substance abuse testing protocols before transporting customers.
- UZURV provides materials, online videos and other information designed to ensure that drivers are competent and confident when serving older adults and people with disabilities.
- Vehicles operating on the UZURV platform are required to meet stringent age, mileage, maintenance and cleanliness requirements.
- UZURV customers are able to rate their drivers and request favorite drivers. This helps to ensure that customers are never required to travel with a driver who makes them uncomfortable.
- Every UZURV trip is monitored by our national Customer Service Center in real-time, meaning that no customer is ever alone and unaccounted for.
But What About the Agency?
UZURV doesn’t just offer a great product for riders. We deliver technology, transparency and cost savings, all of which make it possible for the communities, transit agencies, healthcare providers and other organizations who fund service to do more with their transportation budgets.
The UZURV Technology Platform
UZURV’s technology platform gives our clients the ability to implement, manage, and scale transportation programs seamlessly–without stretching budgets or resources. In fact, UZURV’s clients report per-trip savings over the cost of more traditional paratransit services. The UZURV technology platform allows us to deliver impeccable service on behalf of our clients for each customer, from the trip request through the drop-off. UZURV supports every aspect of service delivery, including trip scheduling and dispatching, provider and driver assignment, payment transactions, and data collection and reporting. Using the UZURV technology platform frees agency and/or provider staff to focus on other critical tasks.
Transparent Access to Information
Implementation of a new technology platform can be challenging, but UZURV is able to be tailored to fit the operational needs of virtually any program partner and technology configuration. The platform integrates with many transportation SaaS providers including Trapeze and Ecolane DRT, and additional integrations can be created when requested by a client. This means that an agency or provider staff can continue to interact with UZURV services in the same native environment as other services, and it means that all UZURV-related service data is available to the agency or organization just as it is for other services.
Additionally, UZURV’s experienced Client Strategy Team is available throughout the implementation process. Client Strategy assists with technology integrations, program launch plans, driver recruiting, program marketing and media relations, and much more. Plus, the team provides regular updates and reporting to ensure agency and/or provider staff have the data they need to make informed decisions. The team is also on hand to provide consulting whenever a shift in strategy is needed to meet operational, budgetary, policy, or federal regulatory changes.
How UZURV Saves Money for Clients
Savings vary, but UZURV has been able to save our current clients between 15 and 52 percent over the cost of trips delivered through more traditional paratransit services. Here’s how.
- The agency is able to purchase transportation without needing to invest in a costly fleet, facilities and technology.
- When UZURV is operated in conjunction with shared-ride paratransit that serves major trip generators such as senior centers, social service agencies and rehabilitation centers, agencies can focus a smaller number of dedicated vehicles on trips that should be shared while leaving the rest to UZURV.
What is UZURV – A Service that Unites Agencies, Drivers and Customers Alike
UZURV has been designed to meet the needs of everyone involved in the on-demand transportation marketplace—the agencies who fund the services, the drivers who deliver it, and the riders who need it. Put simply, we are transforming mobility, and a growing number of customers, drivers and agencies are experiencing the UZURV difference. To learn more, please visit our website or give us a call, and let’s discuss what accessible and affordable on-demand transportation can do for you.
So What is UZURV, and Why Does it Matter?
Why This Matters – The Problem
Millions of Americans, including older adults, people with disabilities and economically disadvantaged people, lack access to safe and reliable transportation. For individuals, a lack of transportation means reduced access to work, essential services such as groceries and medical care, and a lower overall quality of life. For communities, inadequate transportation perpetuates economic and societal inequity and can result in more poverty, more crime, and higher costs for everything from public assistance to law enforcement.
Why This Matters – The Goal
Providing safe and reliable transportation that is accessible for everyone makes it possible for all people, including those who are not able to use conventional forms of public transportation to participate more equally in everything that communities have to offer—from jobs to schools, to shopping, and everything in-between. In short, providing transportation that is accessible and equitable for everyone results in communities that are more accessible and equitable for everyone.
Introducing UZURV
For decades, communities, transit agencies, healthcare organizations and other transportation providers have been working to develop an approach for meeting the unique transportation needs of people with disabilities and older adults. And while tremendous progress has been made, surveys of people with disabilities, older adults and other stakeholders continue to identify access to accessible, convenient and affordable transportation as one of the top two or three barriers to equal participation in society.
UZURV was founded in 2017 to solve for this seemingly intractable challenge. Our idea was to tweak the wildly popular Transportation Network Company (TNC) model to make it accessible for people with disabilities, older adults and others who were often unable to use traditional TNC services, and then offer this new “Adapted TNC” model to transit agencies, healthcare providers and managed care organizations as a cost-effective alternative to traditional shared-ride paratransit services.
We began our journey in 2017 through a partnership with our hometown transit agency, the Greater Richmond Transit Company, and we have been growing ever since. Today, UZURV provides thousands of trips each day across 20 states, and we are planning for additional growth in the weeks, months and years to come.
How UZURV Works
UZURV brings public transit agencies, local transportation providers, non-profit organizations, health care providers and a network of credentialed drivers together under a single Mobility-on-Demand platform that is designed to deliver safe, reliable and affordable transportation, and we create tremendous value for all involved. Here’s how.
- For Riders – UZURV provides an accessible on-demand transportation service through a network of well-qualified, highly-trained drivers operating safe, clean and comfortable vehicles.
- For Drivers – UZURV offers extra income and flexible part-time work that is meaningful, impactful, and pays well.
- For communities, public transit agencies, and health care providers – UZURV offers a safe, fully compliant, flexible and cost-effective on-demand transportation service that customers enjoy using and that costs less than traditional shared-ride paratransit.
We’ve all been conditioned to believe in trade-offs. For example, you can have good service, or you can create a good environment for your drivers, but you can’t have both, and you can’t do either unless you’re willing to pay extra. At UZURV, we’re proving that you can have a good service that costs less, and we can meet the needs of riders, drivers, and communities at the same time. Over the next three installments of this four-part series, we will dive deeper into the UZURV approach for meeting rider needs, for creating rewarding opportunities for our drivers, and for addressing the transportation needs of our community. This all starts with helping transit agency and healthcare provider organizations who are looking for solutions that deliver on both quality and affordability. So stay tuned and get ready to learn more about our drive to deliver improved paratransit results for riders, drivers, and mobility agencies alike.
UZURV partners with First Transit in Ten Year Contract to Provide Paratransit Services to Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
RICHMOND, VA. — UZURV and First Transit have partnered to win a 10-year contract with Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) to provide paratransit service to Pinellas County, Florida.
In this relationship, UZURV will act as a sub-contractor for First Transit and leverage its unique Adaptive TNC model, featuring credentialed and FTA compliant drug and alcohol tested drivers, to serve the majority of ambulatory trips operated by First Transit under the contract.
“We look forward to using UZURV’s innovative mobility platform and service model to help First Transit reduce capital and fleet costs for PSTA, while improving productivity, on-time performance, and providing an exceptional rider experience to the community,” says John Donlon, CEO of UZURV. He added, “The program further expands the relationship that UZURV and First Transit have built in partnership with other transit agencies, allowing us to continue to deliver compelling and innovative solutions for the paratransit market.”
UZURV is not new to Pinellas County. For three years, UZURV has been active in Pinellas and surrounding counties providing the very popular Advantage Ride and TD Tampa Bay programs serving transportation disadvantaged riders and persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) across the region. UZURV will continue to leverage their extensive local experience for PSTA and deliver high quality mobility service to local riders.
About First Transit
First Transit, Inc. has more than 60 years of experience and is the largest private-sector provider of mobility solutions in North America, moving more than 300 million passengers annually. First Transit, Inc. provides operation, management, and consulting for more than 300 locations in 39 states, Canada and Puerto Rico for transit authorities, state departments of transportation, municipalities, universities, and private companies. First Transit employs more than 19,000 dedicated transit professionals. For additional information, please visit FirstTransit.com. To see how First Transit is leading the way in shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) initiatives, please visit FirstAV.com .
About PSTA
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is the public transit provider for Pinellas County, providing more than 12.1 million rides per year. PSTA operates 40 bus and trolley routes with a fleet of 210 vehicles. More information is available at www.psta.net .
About UZURV
Mobility independence is for everyone. UZURV helps communities lower the cost of transportation for people with mobility challenges – while delivering much more reliable, timely service that appropriately meets the needs of each rider. The UZURV Assisted Mobility Platform simplifies the operation and management of onboarding, managing compliance, dispatching, and monitoring assisted community mobility services. The platform provides powerful program management and reporting tools for mobility management, transportation systems, and service providers, including UZURV’s own Adaptive Transportation Network (Adaptive TNC) service model. UZURV’s Adaptive TNC onboards fully FTA-compliant drivers for ADA Paratransit and rider choice programs. UZURV holds contracts for assisted community mobility services with more than 35 organizations across the United States, including five of the top ten largest ADA paratransit programs by rider volume. UZURV was founded in 2017 and is based in Richmond, Va. For more information about UZURV, visit https://uzurv.com/.
UZURV and Accessible Avenue Announce Partnership for Expanding On-Demand Transportation for People with Disabilities
Today Richmond-based Adaptive Transportation Network Company, UZURV, announced a partnership with Phoenix-based Accessible Avenue, a start-up focused on transforming mobility for everyone, including people with disabilities.
Accessible Avenue was founded by Ron Brooks, a 28-year veteran of the public transit industry who has spent his entire career planning and managing accessible transit and paratransit services in locations across the country. Including a recent six-year stint at the Valley Metro Regional Public Transit Authority in Phoenix, which partnered with UZURV to provide accessible, on-demand trips to the community in 2019.
“Over the course of the last five years,” says UZURV’s CEO John Donlon, “UZURV has developed an amazing team and technology platform that is revolutionizing transportation for people with disabilities. We have experienced tremendous growth as more and more transit agencies have begun to recognize that it is possible to provide on-demand transportation that delivers independence and freedom while also saving money over more traditional paratransit services. Our partnership with Accessible Avenue will help us further refine our services to meet the needs of communities who need it most.”
Ron Brooks
Founder, Accessible Avenue
“For me,” says Ron, who, in addition to being an experienced industry insider is also blind, “UZURV represents the next step in the evolution of transportation for people with disabilities who cannot always use conventional public transit service. In the past and in many locations to this day, customers who depend on paratransit have to schedule every aspect of their lives at least a day in advance. Which is extremely challenging for anyone with a family or a job or the desire to live a spontaneous life. By building a network of specialty-credentialed drivers that have been vetted, trained and certified to provide safe, high-quality and accessible transportation on-demand, UZURV is changing the game, and the chance to contribute to their efforts is a dream come true. Because it’s not only benefitting my industry, it’s benefitting me and other people with disabilities who want to travel with dignity and flexibility.”
With technology playing an increasing role in expanding public transit and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) mobility, this partnership will build and establish strategic practices and services to ensure seniors and people with disabilities have access to on-demand transportation when they need it. Together, UZURV and Accessible Avenue will assist transit agencies and NEMT providers in effectively providing an excellent rider experience catered to the unique needs of paratransit and transportation disadvantaged riders.
About UZURV
Mobility independence is for everyone. UZURV helps communities lower the cost of transportation for people with mobility challenges – while delivering much more reliable, timely service that appropriately meets the needs of each rider. The UZURV Assisted Mobility Platform simplifies the operation and management of onboarding, managing compliance, dispatching, and monitoring assisted community mobility services. The platform provides powerful program management and reporting tools for mobility management, transportation systems, and service providers, including UZURV’s own Adaptive Transportation Network (Adaptive TNC) service model. UZURV’s Adaptive TNC onboards fully FTA-compliant drivers for ADA Paratransit and rider choice programs. UZURV holds contracts for assisted community mobility services with more than 35 organizations across the United States, including five of the top ten largest ADA paratransit programs by rider volume. UZURV was founded in 2017 and is based in Richmond, Va. For more information about UZURV, visit https://uzurv.com/.
CARTA Partners with UZURV to Expand Access of Medical Transportation in Charleston
RICHMOND, VA., January 29, 2021 — Charleston, South Carolina has chosen to partner with UZURV to provide a new transit solutions pilot for eligible riders. The pilot begins February 1st, 2021. The program provides riders served by ADA paratransit services and clients over the age of 55 expanded access to transportation with greater flexibility to and from medical appointments as well as to the grocery store and pharmacy.
The new program, called CARTA OnDemand will greatly enhance accessibility, schedule flexibility, and customer experience for ADA and non-ADA transportation, providing eligible riders direct, private rides to appointments in the Medical District from across the Charleston peninsula.
UZURV’s mobility platform will provide CARTA riders with credentialed drivers trained with the ability to assist riders who need a little bit of extra help. UZURV provides life-changing non-emergency medical transportation with the option of wheelchair accessible vehicles to serve all members of the rider community.
“The pilot program that CARTA has undertaken with UZURV is focused on one thing: putting our riders first,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “The enhanced level of service offered through this partnership will make traveling easier for the most vulnerable transit users. Direct, on-demand access to necessities such as doctor appointments, the pharmacy and grocery store is an unprecedented step forward for public transit in our region, and it is something we hope to replicate in the future.”
The valuable new pilot service will provide rides across the Charleston Peninsula with hopes of service expansion throughout the Charleston area.
“UZURV is grateful for the opportunity to help provide increased access to medical centers to the CARTA community, so that eligible riders gain access to the medical care they need to live happier and healthier lives,” said John Donlon, UZURV CEO.
UZURV brings three years of Adaptive TNC expertise and is a trusted innovation partner to transit agencies across the country, providing more than 400,000 rides to clients with disabilities while helping lower the overall systemic cost of paratransit and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service delivery.
UZURV’s unique technology and mobility platform prioritizes safety and makes sure proper assistance is available to the rider, while allowing transit agencies to increase overall paratransit system efficiency. The flexibility and security of UZURV’s Adaptive TNC stems from technology-assisted credentialing and testing, and real-time ride oversight by a proven operations team that keeps trips on time and drivers and riders safe and supported.
About UZURV
Mobility independence is for everyone. UZURV helps communities lower the cost of transportation for people with mobility challenges – while delivering much more reliable, timely service that appropriately meets the needs of each rider. The UZURV Assisted Mobility Platform simplifies the operation and management of onboarding, managing compliance, dispatching, and monitoring assisted community mobility services. The platform provides powerful program management and reporting tools for mobility management, transportation systems, and service providers, including UZURV’s own Adaptive Transportation Network (Adaptive TNC) service model. UZURV’s Adaptive TNC onboards fully FTA-compliant drivers for ADA Paratransit and rider choice programs. UZURV holds contracts for assisted community mobility services with more than 35 organizations across the United States, including five of the top ten largest ADA paratransit programs by rider volume. UZURV was founded in 2017 and is based in Richmond, Va. For more information about UZURV, visit https://uzurv.com/.
UZURV partners with TBARTA to expand mobility for the transportation disadvantaged
RICHMOND, VA., November 4th, 2020 – UZURV, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA), received a significant investment in the form of an Innovation and Service Development grant from the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD) to increase a transportation disadvantaged person’s access to job training, employment, healthcare, education, and other life-sustaining services across TBARTA’s five county region.
This award will provide cross-county and after-hours service for persons with disabilities and the elderly persons in Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas Counties. With this grant, UZURV will serve the five counties via the TD Tampa Bay program from December 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. UZURV is an experienced partner serving the transportation disadvantaged in Florida, including programs such as the well-regarded Advantage Ride program in the Tampa Bay area with the CTD, and has delivered a 98%+ on time performance rating plus consistently high customer satisfaction across programs in Florida.
“When you look at the positive outcomes for the Transportation Disadvantaged community that the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida reported to the Florida Legislature summarizing the outcomes of the original Advantage Ride pilot program last year, there’s no question that the leadership role TBARTA has taken with TD Tampa Bay program with the CTD will be of significant impact to the Tampa Bay region. UZURV is excited to continue to serve the region and community, and I sincerely believe this program, especially with its regional transportation footprint, is one of the most innovative and effective programs in mobility for the transportation disadvantaged in the country.” said John Donlon, UZURV CEO.
As mentioned, this is the second program UZURV has delivered in the Tampa Bay area for the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged. The Richmond-based company partnered with the Commission to provide reliable and safe transportation for the Advantage Ride program in 2019-2020. During this time, UZURV provided 20,000 trips to more than 500 persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
“TBARTA is working to improve regional transit options across Tampa Bay, and TD Tampa Bay demonstrates our commitment by providing new mobility to our most deserving riders, those who rely on public transportation because of age, income, or disability.” said TBARTA’s Executive Director David Green.
UZURV brings three years of Adaptive TNC expertise and is a trusted innovation partner to transit agencies across the country, providing more than 400,000 rides to the transportation disadvantaged while helping lower the overall systemic cost of paratransit and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service delivery.
UZURV’s unique technology and mobility platform prioritizes safety and makes sure proper assistance is available to the rider, while allowing transit agencies to increase overall paratransit system efficiency. The flexibility and security of UZURV’s adaptive TNC stems from technology-assisted credentialing and testing and real-time ride oversight by a proven operations team that keeps trips on time and drivers and riders safe and supported.
About UZURV
Mobility independence is for everyone. UZURV helps communities lower the cost of transportation for people with mobility challenges – while delivering much more reliable, timely service that appropriately meets the needs of each rider. The UZURV Assisted Mobility Platform simplifies the operation and management of onboarding, managing compliance, dispatching, and monitoring assisted community mobility services. The platform provides powerful program management and reporting tools for mobility management, transportation systems, and service providers, including UZURV’s own Adaptive Transportation Network (Adaptive TNC) service model. UZURV’s Adaptive TNC onboards fully FTA-compliant drivers for ADA Paratransit and rider choice programs. UZURV holds contracts for assisted community mobility services with more than 35 organizations across the United States, including five of the top ten largest ADA paratransit programs by rider volume. UZURV was founded in 2017 and is based in Richmond, Va. For more information about UZURV, visit https://uzurv.com/.
St. Lucie County and UZURV partner to Increase Cross-county Mobility across Treasure Coast
RICHMOND, VA., November 2nd 2020 – St. Lucie County, Florida has awarded UZURV, an Adaptive Transportation Network Company, a contract to provide transportation services to increase a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities access to job training, employment, health care, and other life-sustaining services in St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee counties.
The Advantage Ride – Treasure Coast program, funded through the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged , will officially start on November 2nd, 2020 and will offer ambulatory and wheelchair accessible transportation until June 30th, 2021.
With this award, St. Lucie County and UZURV will partner to enhance regional connectivity for a person with an intellectual or developmental disability by providing cross-county transportation between the counties in the Treasure Coast. UZURV has a proven track record of service in the state of Florida and a 98%+ on time performance rating.
“St. Lucie County is honored to be the grant recipient and have an opportunity to expand the transportation service options for individuals with disabilities. We would like to thank the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged and Florida Legislature’s Transportation Task Force, which addresses transportation priorities for those with disabilities. Advantage Ride is definitely a move in the right direction for transportation options in our community.” said St. Lucie County Commission Chair Cathy Townsend.
This program’s unique focus on providing transportation to persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities allows eligible Floridians more opportunity to lead independent lives through the freedom to schedule, arrange, and take safe, reliable rides via the UZURV platform. The UZURV platform is a life-changing mobility option and provides affordable and accessible transportation that is safe and flexible to persons’ needs.
“We are thankful for this opportunity to work with St. Lucie County in expanding our services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities from the Tampa Bay area to the Treasure Coast. The Advantage Ride program in the Tampa Bay area provides persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their caregivers more freedom in their day-to-day lives. We look forward to providing this valuable service in the Treasure Coast.” says John Donlon, UZURV CEO.
UZURV brings three years of Adaptive TNC expertise and is a trusted innovation partner to transit agencies across the country, providing more than 400,000 rides to clients with disabilities while helping lower the overall systemic cost of paratransit and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service delivery.
UZURV’s unique technology and mobility platform prioritizes safety and makes sure proper assistance is available to the rider, while allowing transit agencies to increase overall paratransit system efficiency. The flexibility and security of UZURV’s adaptive TNC stems from technology-assisted credentialing and testing and real-time ride oversight by a proven operations team that keeps trips on time and drivers and riders safe and supported.
About St. Lucie County
St. Lucie County is located on Florida’s east coast between Orlando and Miami. The county’s public transportation program, the Treasure Coast Connector serves an extensive area in eastern St. Lucie County, with connections in northeastern Martin County and southeastern Indian River County. The fixed route network extends for nearly 25 miles north to south and nearly 9 miles west to east at its widest points, covering the densest urban development in the County while the western parts of the County have much lower population density. With a population of roughly 320,000 residents, St. Lucie is comprised of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, which is the seventh largest city in the Sunshine State.
About UZURV
Mobility independence is for everyone. UZURV helps communities lower the cost of transportation for people with mobility challenges – while delivering much more reliable, timely service that appropriately meets the needs of each rider. The UZURV Assisted Mobility Platform simplifies the operation and management of onboarding, managing compliance, dispatching, and monitoring assisted community mobility services. The platform provides powerful program management and reporting tools for mobility management, transportation systems, and service providers, including UZURV’s own Adaptive Transportation Network (Adaptive TNC) service model. UZURV’s Adaptive TNC onboards fully FTA-compliant drivers for ADA Paratransit and rider choice programs. UZURV holds contracts for assisted community mobility services with more than 35 organizations across the United States, including five of the top ten largest ADA paratransit programs by rider volume. UZURV was founded in 2017 and is based in Richmond, Va. For more information about UZURV, visit https://uzurv.com/.