Going between LaGuardia Airport and Manhattan is a pain. Granted, it’s easy to get from JFK to Manhattan using public transportation, and the same can be said about Newark International Airport. But LGA has no public transportation that will get you to the city in a simple or timely fashion.
LaGuardia is also in the middle of an $8 billion construction project that has made driving to/from the airport a nightmare. In fact, this past summer, during the height of vacation season, passengers have even been known to leave their cars and walk to the airport in order to get to their planes on time.
Well, LGA construction continues and the holiday season is another time of heavy airport use. To help ease some of the vehicle congestion, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (they’re the government agency that runs the airport) has announced a simple and cheap way to get rides from LGA.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has teamed up with Via, a rideshare company that has given over 70 million rides in over 20 countries since it was established in NYC in 2013.
Via’s current deployment map
During this pilot program, for a $15 flat fee, passengers arriving at LGA can be driven via Via’s carpool to Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens, or to Staten Island or the Bronx for $20.
The Via app has added a special LGA Connect option on its menu. Once chosen, passengers can input their destination within the 5 boroughs of NYC, and the app’s algorithm will match up passengers that are heading to the same area so they will be picked up by the same car. Via says that all rides will leave within 10 minutes of booking and will be dropped off within a maximum of two blocks from their intended destination.
Rides will be available from 8am to 1am, 7 days a week. Payment will be made on the app, via credit card. Dispatchers will also be stationed at designated LGA Connect points outside Terminals C and D to assist passengers as needed.
“As the leader in vehicle utilization in New York City, we are proud to partner with the Port Authority to integrate Via’s technology and experience in shared rides into public transit through LGA Connect,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “Shared rides have the power to alleviate the heavy congestion experienced at LaGuardia Airport while allowing New Yorkers to travel into the city in a convenient and affordable way.”
“This pilot with Via builds on two Port Authority priorities: customer experience and sustainability, said Rick Cotton, Executive Director of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “We are in the peak of construction of an entirely new airport with the high-volume holiday travel season now upon us. Since the agency is constantly looking for ways to reduce congestion and improve the LaGuardia experience, we welcome Via’s LGA Connect service which offers LaGuardia travelers a sustainable, affordable option to reach their final destinations in all five boroughs, including travel public transit hubs.”
For more information, go to Via’s website.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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