RTC Washoe-Lyft and Uber Rides Voucher Programs
The RTC Washoe Lyft or Uber Rides is a subsidized Lyft or Uber rides voucher program of the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) and funded by the ¼% of Washoe County sales tax allocated for public transportation. This program and the subsidy are subject to available funding and may be changed or terminated by the RTC at any time. The RTC Washoe Lyft or Uber Rides Voucher Program provides alternative, reliable, and affordable transportation to Washoe County residents 60 years and older, RTC ACCESS clients (any age), and Washoe County Veterans (any age).
Each month registered participants will receive a $60 Lyft or Uber Voucher subsidy, which can be used to pay any part of a Lyft or Uber ride. The Lyft or Uber voucher subsidy automatically loads each month for the duration of the program, and unused Lyft or Uber voucher do not roll over to the next month. If your Lyft or Uber fare is over $60, the remaining balance will be automatically charged to the user’s debit or credit card on file on their Lyft or Uber account.
PLEASE NOTE: THE RTC WASHOE Lyft or Uber RIDES PROGRAM CANNOT BE INTERCHANGEABLE AND/OR
CANNOT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RTC WASHOE SENIOR RIDE TAXI BUCKS PROGRAM.
Program details:
- Eligible rides can be taken 24/7/365.
- Subsidy will apply only to Lyft or UberX trips.
- Eligible trips must start AND end in the Reno-Sparks area. Trips that begin or end outside of the service area are not eligible for subsidy.
What users need to get started?
- A smartphone with access to the internet
- An active Lyft or Uber account
- A valid debit or credit card on file on your Lyft or Uber account
How to enroll in the program:
Participants will need to complete and sign the registration and agreement form. Applicants 60 and over need to provide a copy of a government-issued photo identification and Washoe County residency. RTC ACCESS clients and Veterans need to provide a copy of a current RTC ACCESS or Veterans ID card.
Submit the completed forms and required documents by:
Mail: Regional Transportation Commission, 1105 Terminal Way, Reno, NV 89502
Fax: 775-348-3261
Or email rtcaccessapplication@rtcwashoe.com
Once the applicant has been enrolled, they will receive a text with instructions on how to claim their Lyft or Uber voucher.
How to take your first trip:
After successfully enrolling and accepting your voucher, you are ready to take your first ride. To request a ride, riders open the App, enter the target destination, and the app automatically sets a pickup location using GPS. After setting the destination and pickup location, press the “Request” button at the bottom of the screen and are subsequently matched with a nearby driver who accepts the ride request. If the trip is covered by the voucher, the discount will appear above the “confirm” button.
In addition, you’ll also know:
- Estimated time of your driver’s arrival.
- Type of car to expect, including color, license plate number, and picture of your driver!
- The estimated cost of your discounted ride as a RTC Washoe-Lyft or Uber customer.
- You will receive a text message when your driver arrives.
NOTE: Lyft and Uber provide “curb-to-curb” service so you will be required to be ready at your pickup location.
How to pay for the portion of trips RTC Washoe does not cover?
You do not need cash or physical tickets to ride with Lyft or Uber. Your credit or debit card on file will automatically be billed the appropriate discounted rate.
Tipping:
Tipping is optional. You can tip your driver right on your Lyft or Uber app, with the tip amount being charged to your form of payment on file with your account. The RTC Lyft or Uber fare value cannot be used to tip the driver.
How are Lyft or Uber fares calculated?
For eligible rides taken through this program, the fare you pay will be the total fare minus the subsidy of the applied voucher. Fares for trips on Lyft or Uber are calculated as follows: the upfront price is calculated using the base rate, plus the per-minute rate and/or per-mile rate. It may be adjusted due to marketplace factors, promotions, and/or other discounts, and includes applicable taxes, fees, surcharges and estimated tolls.
Fares shown when scheduling your ride are approximations and may change based on factors including wait times, etc.
Visit Uber’s web site for details at www.uber.com.
Visit Uber’s web site for details at www.uber.com.