South Florida's publicly funded passenger train, Tri-Rail , has helped passengers pay for thousands of rides on Uber, Lyft and taxis since it expanded its rideshare discount program in July, the same month it launched a new late-night train.
Rail passengers in July took more than 7,000 partially paid-for rides on taxis and the rideshare services, Tri-Rail spokesman Victor Garcia said. At least 988 people have signed up so far for the discounts.
Tri-Rail in July began offering what is effectively $180 a month in vouchers for passengers taking Uber, Lyft or taxis to and from train stations. Metro Taxi provides cab service for Palm Beach County. Applicants get $5 credits for 12 rides monthly on each of the three ride providers.
Previously: Tri-Rail now offers $5 subsidy on Uber / taxi services at Palm Beach, Broward stations
The discount is $15 between Tri-Rail's downtown West Palm Beach station and Palm Beach International Airport. Tri-Rail offers no discounts to and from its stations in downtown Miami or Miami International Airport. The train service runs shuttles between the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the Dania Beach station near it. Tri-Rail connects directly to Miami International Airport.
How far can ride credits take passengers for their money?
An Uber or Lyft trip between Tri-Rail's West Palm Beach station and Palm Beach International airport can cost $15 to $20 in the late afternoon, according to prices the app listed on Thursday, Aug. 22. With Tri-Rail's discount, the ride can cost about $5 at most.
A late afternoon rideshare trip from the West Palm Beach station to the Palm Beach Outlets, more than two miles away, can cost at least $10. Tri-Rail's discount knocks $5 off the fare.
Passengers would save $5 on a rideshare trip between the Boca Raton station, off Yamato Road near Interstate 95, and Mizner Park that would normally cost $15 to $20.
How to sign up for Tri-Rail's discounts for Uber, Lyft, taxis
Passengers can go online to Tri-Rail.com/pages/view/ride-partners or call 1-800-874-7245 to learn how to sign up for what the passenger train calls its Ride Partner Service. An applicant must have a valid Tri-Rail EASY card. Those are dispensed at ticket vending machines at each train station. Riders must show them to taxi or rideshare drivers. They function like debit cards, allowing passengers to add money, or tap them at stations to pay fares before boarding.
Rail riders taking Uber or Lyft must sign up for accounts with those companies. They send Tri-Rail rideshare applicants vouchers within 48 hours of signing up, Tri-Rail says.
Before July, Tri-Rail offered $5 credits to and from its stations in Palm Beach and Broward counties, for Uber and taxi riders only. The credit could be used twice daily.
Midnight train from Miami attracts dozens nightly
Tri-Rail also launched a new late-night route in July along its 18 stations, departing Miami International Airport at midnight, arriving in downtown West Palm Beach by 1:45 a.m., and ending at Mangonia Park on 45th Street at 1:55 a.m., Monday through Friday.
The route averaged 50 passengers nightly in July, Garcia said. Tri-Rail created the route after hearing that night-shift airport workers wanted to take the train, but it did not run late enough for them.
Tri-Rail express trains attract hundreds daily
Tri-Rail's morning and evening rush hour express trains, meanwhile, have averaged more than 200 riders daily in July, Garcia said.
On weekday mornings, that route leaves downtown West Palm Beach at 6:30 a.m., arriving in downtown Miami 8:05 a.m., stopping along the way at stations servicing Boca Raton, the Fort Lauderdale airport and the Miami Metrorail transfer station in Hialeah. In the evenings, it leaves Miami at 5:35 p.m., arriving in West Palm Beach at 7:05 p.m.
Tri-Rail launched this route after the for-profit passenger train Brightline hiked rates for South Florida commuters earlier this year.
Brightline's bottom line: Train focuses on trips to Orlando over South Florida commuters. Is it working?
Brightline on June 1 ended what was effectively a $10-per-ride monthly pass program for South Florida commuters. The package of 40 trips cost $399 for passengers looking to ride between downtown West Palm Beach and downtown Miami. Now Brightline offers $350 for a 10-ride pack, more than triple the price per ride.
What are Tri-Rail's fares?
Tri-Rail's one-way trips between West Palm Beach and Miami for a non-disabled adult are $8.75. One-way trips between West Palm Beach and Boca Raton cost $5. One-way trips shorter than that in Palm Beach County are as cheap as $2.50. Fares are the same for the train's new express and late-night services.
Tri-Rail's regular northbound and southbound routes each run at least once an hour between Mangonia Park in Palm Beach County and Miami International Airport. They run twice an hour, in each direction, during rush hour. Unlike its express trains, Tri-Rail's regular service requires passengers traveling to or from downtown Miami to change trains at the Metrorail transfer station in Hialeah.
Tri-Rail stations in Palm Beach County are in Mangonia Park, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton.
Information on schedules, trip planning, fares and more can be found on tri-rail.com .
Chris Persaud is The Palm Beach Post's transportation reporter. Send tips to cpersaud@pbpost.com .
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Nearly 1,000 Tri-Rail riders take advantage of $180 monthly discounts for Uber, Lyft, taxi
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