Innovative alternatives to paratransit trips save riders time, add convenience, allow for more independence
TriMet’s paratransit riders are saying yes to new options that save time and money, reduce unnecessary transit trips and provide a greater sense of independence. In recent months, hundreds of LIFT riders have signed up for LIFT+, an extension of TriMet’s paratransit service that partners with providers such as Uber to fulfill some paratransit trips. They’re also sharing praise for TriMet’s innovative partnership with Instacart to have food, prescriptions and other necessities delivered, rather than booking multiple paratransit trips and spending most of the day on a routine task.
More than 450 riders have signed up for LIFT+ and 300 more opted in to our Instacart grocery delivery program since April.
These cost-saving alternatives expand options for older adults and people with disabilities who have relied on TriMet LIFT services to connect with employment, education, health care, shopping and other necessities, while helping TriMet curb costs and address our long-term budget deficit.
Instacart partnership saves time and money
TriMet LIFT covers the cost of Instacart+ memberships, making it easier than ever for pre-qualified LIFT riders to shop at grocery stores, pharmacies and other retailers, from the comfort of their home. Riders who helped test the grocery delivery service during our pilot project described it as a game changer.
“Going to the store can be a stressful experience when you’re blind,” explained a rider in our follow-up survey. “Grocery delivery is much more convenient and a relief.”
“I have serious health conditions, and using grocery delivery helps me have physical energy to do other things I need to do and reduces my risk of getting sick too,” said another.
“This is (an) excellent program to provide to disabled and elderly riders,” read another response. “It saves so much time but more importantly it eases the physical burden and pain that going to the grocery store and carrying groceries causes.”
Following the successful pilot, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recognized TriMet’s Instacart program in 2024, for innovation and scalability, noting that it showed potential for significant savings. The program saved TriMet about $350,000 in the first six months. If half of our 12,000-plus LIFT-qualified riders adopt the program, we estimate it could save as much as $4.5 million per year.
LIFT+ brings in transportation partners
TriMet has also partnered with trusted Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), such as Uber, to expand options for LIFT paratransit riders. With our LIFT+ program, riders can grant approval for our scheduling team to send some of their trips to transportation partners that meet TriMet’s safety and accessibility standards. The result for riders is shorter wait times and faster, more direct trips, all for the same fare as TriMet LIFT.
For TriMet, the difference comes in the actual cost of the ride. Whereas the true cost of a single paratransit ride is estimated at about $68 per trip, rides can be provided with a trusted partner for about a third of that. TriMet estimates that as the need for paratransit service grows, LIFT+ could save the agency tens of millions of dollars every year.
And there’s more to come
We are pursuing new opportunities to expand and improve options for our riders, while continuing to navigate budget challenges. Earlier this summer, the Uber Transit Innovation Fund awarded TriMet a $50,000 grant to bring new options for LIFT paratransit riders.
Many of the people who use TriMet LIFT would ride fixed-route buses and trains if they could more easily access transit hubs throughout our service area. But basic infrastructure issues such as broken or missing sidewalks can create barriers, especially for people with mobility challenges.
The grant will allow a select number of TriMet LIFT riders to take no-cost Uber rides to and from transit hubs, where they can connect with TriMet’s reliable bus and light rail networks via a fully subsidized Honored Citizen reduced fare Hop Fastpass® card. This innovative approach helps solve a common barrier known in the public transit industry as “first mile/last mile,” which is the gap between a person’s starting/ending point and the nearest bus or train. If adopted, it would help TriMet save money, by replacing long and costly paratransit trips with shorter rides that connect riders to TriMet’s fleet of accessible buses and trains.
TriMet is already engaging with LIFT riders who may be good candidates for the new pilot, which is set to begin in the next month.
Staying connected as options expand
Because riding LIFT requires pre-authorization, TriMet has contact information for all of our paratransit riders and can easily inform them of changes and new ways to use our services. Pre-qualified riders receive direct communication from TriMet, including our UPLIFTED newsletter and occasional emails. We’ve also established a new education initiative called LIFT & Learn, a drop-in virtual meeting where people can learn more about the resources TriMet has available through our LIFT program.
TriMet LIFT paratransit service
TriMet’s LIFT paratransit service provides transportation options for people who are unable to use fixed-route buses and trains due to disability or disabling health condition. All LIFT riders pre-qualify to utilize the service by completing an in-person assessment at our Jan Campbell Transit Mobility Center in Northeast Portland. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, TriMet provides LIFT paratransit service to areas within ¾ mile of our fixed-route service. Fares are $2.80 per trip, but the real cost of providing paratransit service is much higher. While all transit trips are subsidized, meaning taxpayers and the federal government cover a portion of the cost, LIFT paratransit trips are subsidized at a significantly higher rate.