The City of St. George held a public hearing at City Hall to discuss a proposed pilot program with Uber Transit. The initiative is designed to offer a 24/7 on-demand transportation alternative to supplement the Capital Area Transit System (CATS) and CATS On Demand.
Under the proposed 12-month pilot, St. George residents would receive a 50% discount on up to 10 Uber trips per month. To qualify, rides must start and end within St. George city limits, though exceptions are carved out for trips to and from area hospitals.
To launch the program, the City of St. George plans to allocate $500,000 for the first year, while Uber has pledged a $50,000 grant. St. George Mayor Pro Tempore Andrew Murrell stated the program is a low-risk trial, noting that if residents do not use the service, the city will not spend the allocated funds. Murrell said the city would review the pilot every quarter to determine if subsidies or ridership possibilities should be increased.
The proposal met with skepticism from some community members regarding the $500,000 price tag. Resident Helen Mason questioned if the expense would impact the budget or lead to increased property tax millages, particularly alongside a new $25 million construction project.
Mason also noted that key decision-makers were not present to answer questions regarding research, specific needs, or contract terms. In response to community hesitation, Murrell urged patience as the new city establishes its services, stating the city must look at what is best for the 86,000 people in St. George.
The proposed partnership is not finalized. The St. George City Council must approve the formal contract and terms before any discounts or quarterly reviews can begin. City leaders are encouraging residents to participate in the planning process by sharing feedback.
