City Issues Update on the Shared Mobility Pilot Program in Santa Monica

On Friday, August 10, the City of Santa Monica released recommendations for its Shared Mobility Pilot Program set to start on September 17, 2018.

These recommendations are not final. The City's Planning and Community Development Director David Martin will make the final decision based on the applications, the selection committee's recommendations, public comment, and any additional information he requests on or after August 30. Public comment is open through Friday, August 17 at 2 p.m. To weigh in, email kyle.kozar@smgov.net with "Shared Mobility Pilot Program" in the subject line.

This administrative process for operator selection for the Shared Mobility Pilot was approved by the Santa Monica City Council after substantial public testimony at its June 12 meeting. Read more about that meeting at https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2018/06/13/santa-monica-city-council-approves-shared-mobility-pilot-program. Applicant scoring was based on criteria outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA). The RFA was shaped by City Council direction at the June 12 meeting.

Existing shared mobility operators – Bird and Lime – can continue service in Santa Monica under the terms of their current permits through September 16. Mobility partners selected to participate in the 16-month Shared Mobility Pilot Program are expected to begin operation on September 17. The City of Santa Monica is not involved in any decisions that current operators make to stop or suspend service.

There are no agenda items at tonight's City Council meeting related to e-scooters and dockless mobility. The official process to weigh in on the selection committee recommendation is via the e-mail public comment process outlined above by Friday, August 17 at 2 p.m. The only way to provide public comment at the City Council meeting is at the close of the meeting as a 14 Item. That will likely come up between 11 p.m. and midnight, and those comments will not be a part of the official record for the Shared Mobility Pilot selection process.

Learn more about the Shared Mobility Pilot at http://www.smgov.net/sharedmobility.

Constance Farrell, Public Information Officer, City of Santa Monica