CHICAGO — Uber was named the official rideshare partner of Metra on Wednesday.
The partnership, which is scheduled to start in February 2017, will be a three-year agreement, Metra officials said.
“Now more than ever, it’s essential that we look for creative ways to generate revenue that can impact our agency’s bottom line,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “In addition to generating much-needed revenue for Metra, we believe this partnership with Uber will help address the ‘first mile/last mile’ challenge for customers who need a quick and easy way to get to and from a Metra station.”
The partnership will be the first time Metra has entered into an agreement that will not only generate non-fare revenue but will also attract customers who need a first-mile/last-mile connection.
“We already know that many Chicagoland residents use Uber to get to and from public transit stations during the first or last mile of their commutes. By embarking on this first-of-its-kind marketing partnership with Metra, we hope to encourage even more Chicago residents to opt into multi-modal transit options instead of driving solo," said Marco McCottry, general manager of Uber in Illinois and Indiana. 'When more people choose to share the ride instead of driving themselves, we can reduce congestion and pollution in our city."
Uber’s name will be featured on a wide range of promotional materials, including posters displayed at train stations and on Metra trains, timetables, mailing inserts and at ticket office windows, officials said.
The rideshare company's message will be featured on the railroad's website, social media channels and in the agency’s customer newsletter. Uber will also be able to distribute promotional information at Metra’s train stations, officials said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
