Near the end of its three-year pilot program, Cupertino’s on-demand shuttle service is set to receive state funding to transition to electric vehicles and expand into areas like Sunnyvale and San Jose. The Cupertino City Council approved the pilot program for Via-Cupertino in July 2019 to help area residents traverse what it termed the city’s “transit desert.
Similar rideshare programs have already been established in Palo Alto and Milpitas. Mountain View has MVgo’s Mid-Day Mobility Program, which offers reimbursements of up to $15 for Uber, Lyft or taxi rides that start or end in the city between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The program is advertised as being student- and accessibility-friendly. Teenagers from 13 to 17 can use the hopper independently with parental consent and those with disabilities can receive door-to-door service. One-way fares are $3.50 with 50% discounts available for seniors, students and those who are low income or disabled.
The second option is for Sunnyvale to apply for a state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant that would last five years and require a 50% local match. The money would be used to fund Hopper expansion into Sunnyvale and would allow riders to travel anywhere within Cupertino, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara.
“Right now, if you want to go to a restaurant in Sunnyvale, or go to a movie in Sunnyvale, you can’t do thatBedord, who is also president of the Cupertino Senior Center Volunteer Advisory Council, said such a service can also help Sunnyvale residents trying to access resources at the senior center. Seniors prefer the Hopper, she said, as it is both affordable and can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers.
The option might also encourage students to continue their higher education at nearby De Anza College in Cupertino and Foothill College’s Sunnyvale center.