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D.C. Is Piloting New Transportation Solution: Free Taxi Rides To Grocery Stores In Lowest-Income Neighborhoods

D.C. Is Piloting New Transportation Solution: Free Taxi Rides To Grocery Stores In Lowest-Income Neighborhoods

Via U.S. Department of Agriculture

More than 40 percent of households in the Washington, D.C .Ward 8 are carless, according to the DC Policy Center. This makes it difficult for residents to do some basic things such as grocery shopping as there are no stores nearby that offer nutritious food. 

To aid those in the city’s lowest-income neighborhoods, there is a new D.C. transportation program.

“The city is offering free three-mile taxi rides for residents and visitors to buy groceries at Safeway, Giant, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, and Martha’s Table food pantry in Wards 7 and 8, or across the Anacostia River in Ward 6. Libraries, pools and recreation centers in Wards 7 and 8 are also part of the expanded pilot program for subsidized taxi rides set to run through the end of September,” Taxi Intelligence reported.

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The city is expanding the program. Prior, the city’s “Taxi-to-Rail” pilot was limited to trips to or from eight Metro stations east of the Anacostia in the District and Maryland. Then, the city added two more Metro stops. The new proposed expanded program backers will include grocery stores and public facilities. 

“I think that’s going to add extra flavor. That’s really the constituency you’re trying to get: people that need to do these short runs and have no other way to get it done,” said Roy D. Spooner, the general manager of Yellow Cab Company of D.C., one of two taxi companies taking part in the pilot program.

Here’s how it would work: The city pays the first $10 of the taxi fare (or about 3.5 to 4 miles). City officials have budgeted $65,000 for the pilot. There are no requirements in the participating wards.

“Those using the service must be going to or from one of the listed store locations, public facilities, or Metro stations and cannot simply be traveling from home to a friend’s house, city officials said,” Taxi Intelligence reported.

“We wanted to make sure that those neighborhoods and residents who don’t have a car don’t need to carry those groceries for a long period of time. We also wanted to make sure they could connect to the freshest and most nutritious foods as possible,” said David Do, director of the District’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles. 

In a statement, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said: “In addition to providing free Circulator [bus] rides and expanding Circulator routes into Ward 7, the Taxi-to-Rail program is another investment we’re making to help working families access the services and amenities they need.”

Besides the city’s program, Lyft and Martha’s Table recently announced a six-month partnership to provide low-income residents in Wards 7 and 8 with low-cost rides to the grocery store. The pilot program will offer rides to  500 families. To qualify, a family must have a child enrolled in an elementary school in either ward, according to Greater Greater Washington.