Via Rideshare (On-Demand Rideshare Program)

Downtown Sacramento Service

West Sacramento On-Demand began service to select locations in Downtown Sacramento on October 7. The service is a limited pilot to assess demand, funded by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District.

These locations are Sac Valley Station, the intersection of 8th Street and N Street, and the Kaiser Downtown Commons Medical Offices. These locations were chosen to provide access to the SacRT light rail system, Capitol Corridor and Amtrak trains, and to vital medical services.

Via On-Demand Downtown Sac

YSAQMD logo

New Via App Released

On Thursday, Via released a custom app developed just for West Sacramento On-Demand.

Riders will have a short period during which they can continue to use the old app. The City and Via recommend downloading the new app and logging in with your same account information as soon as possible.

The new app will not automatically be installed on your phone. Riders must download the new app if they wish to continue calling for rides using a phone app.

Riders will still be able to call for rides and for customer service at (916) 318-5101. Via's telephone number will not change.

The new app can be found at:

• Google Play: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ridewithvia.vas.viawestsacramento
• Apple Store: http://apps.apple.com/us/app/via-west-sac/id6627339224

Get anywhere in West Sacramento for one affordable, flat fare!

The City of West Sacramento works with Via, a transportation technology company, to provide residents, employees, and visitors with on-demand rides from anywhere in the West Sacramento to anywhere in West Sacramento.

Via Rideshare and the City keep the price low ($3.50 per ride, $1.75 per ride for seniors and people with disabilities) by asking riders to take a short walk to an intersection or main road to be picked up and to share the ride with other passengers going the same direction.

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday	6:00am-11:00pm
Saturday	9:00am-11:00pm
Sunday	8:00am-8:00pm

The most convenient way to use the service is the Via Rideshare App on an Apple or Android phone or tablet computer. First, download the app and setting up an account. Then, turn on your device's location services so the app knows to pick you up. Then, enter your destination and request a ride. After the ride is scheduled, go to the pick-up location at the scheduled time, get in the van, and go!

Via app for Android devices

Via app for Apple devices

Riders with wheelchairs or other large mobility devices should select the wheelchair icon in the app before requesting a ride.

People without smartphones or tablets can set up an account and request a ride by calling (916) 318-5101. Press 1 when asked if you are a Via rider. Press 1 again when asked if you are an account holder who needs to book a ride over the phone.

Via's telephone number is (916) 318-5101.

Customer Service

For other customer service needs, including lost-and-found, contact Via directly at (916) 318-5101 or at support-wsc@ridewithvia.com. More information is available at Via's West Sacramento info page.

Senior and Disabled Rider Discount

Senior Riders and Disabled Riders can get a discount code by calling or e-mailing Steven Rosen in the City's Community Development Department. He can be reached at (916) 617-5043 or at stevenr@egitimmalta.com. See below for more details. Drop-in customer service for this purpose is not available at this time. Please call or e-mail to make an appointment.

Driving with Via

Via is an app-based "Transportation Network Company" that contracts with drivers to operate the vans. If you would more information about driving for Via, check out the Via Driver Portal.

What is Via? How does Via work?

Via is not a taxi; it's not paratransit; it's not the bus; it's Via. So, what is Via? They have prepared a guide to their service:

Via Explained

Via News

Broderick & Bryte Free Ride Program

Bryte/Broderick Free Ride Program Concludes

Starting on February 1, 2023, the City of West Sacramento expanded the 2022 Summer Free Rides program with a Clean Air Funds grant awarded by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District. The program made all trips starting or ending in the Broderick and Bryte neighborhoods free. This temporary program enabled residents from these neighborhoods to continue to use the on-demand rideshare program to reach destinations throughout West Sacramento. The program was intended to last until the allocated funds were expended. The program exhausted the funds on April 19, after just ten-and-a-half weeks. It provided 16,691 rides!

Free Rides in Broderick/Bryte Starting Feb 1st!

This free ride program concluded after ten-and-a-half weeks. It provided 16,691 rides!

The City of West Sacramento received a Clean Air Funds grant from the Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District to provide free rides to and from the Broderick and Bryte neighborhoods. No code needed, just book your ride and go!

Free rides available for a limited time – until funding is fully expended. Via operates as a rideshare with hybrid Toyota Siennas, meaning that these rides reduce air pollution and vehicle miles travelled as compared to trips made in traditional internal combustion engine and/or single occupancy vehicles. Per the City’s 2018 Systemic Safety Analysis Report, Jefferson Boulevard, West Capitol Avenue, Harbor Boulevard, and Sacramento Avenue/Reed Avenue were identified as the highest ranked pedestrian and bicyclist crash corridors. These are high level of stress routes for pedestrians and cyclists that provide direct connections for the Broderick and Bryte neighborhoods to schools, services, commercial centers, and recreational opportunities. Via offers an alternative mode of safe, reliable, and accessible transportation for people who may not be comfortable, confident, or able to walk or bike along these facilities. This project is an opportunity for the City to analyze and identify the mobility needs of two disadvantaged communities, which comprises the majority of the City’s transit-dependent and zero-car households.

Via On-Demand Transit - Broderick Bryte Pilot - Free Rides

Senior & Disabled Discount

People age 62+ or with a qualifying disability may receive 50% of Via fares. To obtain a Senior or Disabled Rider discount, you must verify your eligibility with City Staff. Please contact Steven Rosen at stevenr@egitimmalta.com or (916) 617-5043.

For a Senior Discount, you must provide at least one (1) of the following forms of documentation:

Valid Driver's License, US Passport, Military ID or DMV issued ID Card
Valid Yolobus or SacRT Discount Rider pass with photo ID on the card (Connect Card)
Valid Medicare Card
Current Senior Membership on file at the West Sacramento Recreation Center

For a Disabled Rider Discount, you must provide at least one (1) of the following forms of documentation:

Current Medicare card or a Medicare, SSI, or SSDI Award Letter
Current DMV issued Disabled Person or Disabled Veteran placard ID
Valid Yolobus or SacRT Discount Rider pass with photo ID on the card (Connect Card)
Proof of current ADA Paratransit eligibility through Yolobus or SacRT

If none of the above are available, you must complete the Disabled Rider Account Application, which will require a Healthcare Professional to complete a verification form on your behalf. After staff verifies your eligible disability, you will receive a discount code.

You may complete the application form as a fillable PDF with e-signatures, or you may print and complete it by hand. The completed form with both your signature and your healthcare provider’s verification must be provided to City staff electronically or in hard copy by mail. See the Application form for additional details.

New Vehicles

Via and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

When West Sacramento On-Demand launched nearly four years ago, in May 2018, the city’s goal was simple, if ambitious: to offer an alternative to private-car transportation in a city with minimal local transit services and a difficult pedestrian network. The City feared that older residents, residents with disabilities, and lower-income residents were effectively left with no transit options if they did not own a private car, and sought to bridge these significant gaps in its mobility ecosystem.

West Sacramento On-Demand quickly proved that shared, on-demand transit has a place in a car-dependent city: the service delivers 10,000 rides per month on average, to a diverse rider base. But private car travel has another clear disadvantage: higher emissions than the same trip taken on public transit. Could West Sacramento On-Demand also make an impact on the city’s carbon footprint by reducing emissions?

The answer is a resounding yes: Via’s data scientists estimate that in 2021, the availability of shared, on-demand service reduced emissions by 22% when compared with previously-available transit modes.

Using rider survey data and transit density to determine the mode — private car travel, public transit, taxi and ride-hailing, walking or biking — likely replaced by each West Sacramento On-Demand trip, our team calculated the change in emissions-per-trip as a result of that mode shift. A bike trip replaced with an on-demand trip would lead to an emissions increase, but a private car trip replaced with an on-demand trip, shared with other riders, would lead to an emissions reduction. This analysis also takes into account a range of other factors, such as the empty miles on-demand vehicles drive in between trips, the fuel economy of different vehicles, and the time private vehicles spend looking for parking.

For West Sacramento, where private car travel is the dominant mode, the introduction of on-demand service has made the City more accessible and greener — a win for City residents, and for the planet.

Council & Commission Reports

City Council & Commission Reports

Upcoming Items: TBD

Past Items:

August 21, 2024 City Council
- Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 24-83 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE YOLO-SOLANO AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR THE WEST SACRAMENTO - DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PILOT
June 5, 2024 City Council
- Item #20 CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO NOMAD TRANSIT LLC FOR THE ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 24-61 APPROVING RELATED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
May 15, 2024 City Council
- Item #18 WORKSHOP ON THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM CONTINUATION AND FUNDING
May 6, 2024 TMI Commission
- Item #6 WORKSHOP ON CITY’S ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM BUDGET AND SERVICE PARAMETERS
November 15, 2023 City Council
- Item #11 WORKSHOP ON THE FUTURE OF CITY’S ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM
June 7, 2023 City Council
- Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A 1-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC EXTENDING THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 AND RESOLUTION 23-42 ALLOCATING UP TO $3,102,730 TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2023-24
June 5, 2023 TMI Commission
- Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF 1-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC FOR CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM AND DISCUSSION ON THE GOALS OF THE ONDEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM
June 15, 2022 City Council
- Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A 1-YEAR CONTRACT WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC EXTENDING THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2022/23 AND RESOLUTION 22-80 ALLOCATING UP TO $2,049,205 TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2022/23
March 7, 2022 TMI Commission
- Item #3 UPDATE ON THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM
July 14, 2021
- Item #5 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE 2-YEAR CONTRACT WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC ESTABLISHING THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021/22 AND RESOLUTION 21-54 ALLOCATING $1.138M TOWARD FISCAL YEAR 2021/22 OPERATIONS OF THE ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM.
January 20, 2021
- Item #3 CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE CONTRACT WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC FOR THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM TO COMPLY WITH CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 22
June 17, 2020
- Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A 2-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC EXTENDING THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2021/22 AND RESOLUTION 20-53 ALLOCATING UP TO $2.032M TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2020/21.

June 8, 2020 TMI Commission
- Item #3 UPDATE ON THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM

May 20, 2020 City Council
- Item #11 CONSIDERATION OF A WORKSHOP ON A 2-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC FOR CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM

May 1, 2019 City Council
- Item #7 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AN AMENDED AND RESTATED CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC AND RESOLUTION 19-56 ALLOCATING UP TO $2.02M TO EXTEND THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2019

April 17, 2019 City Council
- Item #16 WORKSHOP ON THE DRAFT CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH NOMAD TRANSIT LLC, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF VIA TRANSPORTATION, INC., OPERATIONAL OF THE WEST SACRAMENTO ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2019

March 4, 2019 TMI Commission
- Item #5 REGULAR UPDATE ON THE PILOT ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE SERVICE

February 20, 2019 City Council
- Item #17 WORKSHOP ON THE PILOT ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE SERVICE AND REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE NOMAD TRANSIT LLC CONTRACT AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 19-12 FOR RELATED BUDGET AMENDMENT

October 17, 2018 City Council
- Item #13 REGULAR UPDATE ON THE PILOT ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE SERVICE AND A WORKSHOP TO SOLICIT INPUT ON THE 6-MONTH VIA RIDESHARE USER SURVEY

August 22, 2018 City Council
- Item# 14 CONSIDERATION OF UPDATE ON THE PILOT ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE SERVICE
June 27, 2018 City Council
- ITEM #20 UPDATE AND WORKSHOP ON THE PILOT ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE SERVICE

May 7, 2018 TMI Commission
- Item #4 UPDATE ON THE PILOT ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE SERVICE

March 21, 2018 City Council
- Item #22 CONSIDERATION OF THE WEST SACRAMENTO/VIA ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PILOT SERVICE FEATURES, BRANDING, AND PROGRESS REPORTING FRAMEWORK

March 5, 2018 TMI Commission
- Item #6 CONSIDERATION OF A WORKSHOP ON THE WEST SACRAMENTO/VIA ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PILOT

January 17, 2018 City Council
- Item #6 CONSIDERATION AND AWARD OF CONTRACT TO NOMAD TRANSIT LLC, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF VIA TRANSPORTATION, INC. FOR THE PILOT FLEXIBLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE

November 1, 2017 City Council
- Item #15 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A SHORTLIST FOR ADVANCEMENT IN THE PILOT FLEXIBLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PROCUREMENT PROCESS

August 16, 2017 City Council
- Item #15 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A SHORTLIST FOR ADVANCEMENT IN THE PILOT FLEXIBLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PROCUREMENT PROCESS

August 15, 2017 TMI Commission
- Item #3 REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A SHORTLIST FOR ADVANCEMENT IN THE PILOT FLEXIBLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PROCUREMENT PROCESS

July 26, 2017 City Council
- Item #26 FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF A WORKSHOP ON THE WEST SACRAMENTO MOBILITY ACTION PLAN AND TRANSIT PILOT PROJECTS

April 19, 2017 City Council
- Item #23 WORKSHOP ON WEST SACRAMENTO TRANSIT PILOT PROJECTS AND MOBILITY ACTION PLAN (MAP)

Staff Contact:

Steven Rosen, Associate Transportation Planner

Phone: (916) 617-5043

Email: stevenr@egitimmalta.com

FAQs

What is rideshare?

Using West Sacramento's Via rideshare service, you can catch a ride anywhere in the City for an affordable, flat fare. Request a ride in real time using a Smartphone App or over the phone, and a Via van will pick you up in just minutes. And by sharing your ride with others heading in the same direction, you'll save money and avoid the hassle of traffic and parking- without sacrificing convenience!
How does Via rideshare work?

Passengers can book a ride using the free Via App. Customers enter their pick-up and drop-off locations and a vehicle will pick them up at their doorstep or within a block or two. Those who don't have a smartphone or tablet can book a ride over the phone by calling 916-318-5101. Please note, an account must be set-up before attempting to book-by-phone.
How much does it cost?

Regular one-way fares currently cost $3.50 each. Seniors age 62 and up and individuals with eligible disabilities receive a 50% discount off of the regular fare price and ViaPass price.

Riding with friends? Each additional passenger rides for just $1 when you add (+) passengers to your Via trip!

Are you a frequent rider? Consider ViaPass, which offers a $15 weekly pass allowing you to ride up to 4 times a day, every day of the week (during normal operating hours).
What are the hours of operation?
West Sacramento's Via rideshare service is now offered 365 days a year !
- Monday- Friday 6 am to 11 pm
- Saturday 9 am- 11 pm
- Sunday 8 am- 8 pm.
- We also operate on all holidays
Where can I go on Via rideshare?

West Sacramento is proud to be one of the first cities in the world to provide a CITYWIDE on-demand ridesharing service as part of their public transportation system. This means you can get a ride to or from any location within the City of West Sacramento boundaries! Based on customer feedback and use, the City may explore connections with surrounding areas in the future.

Heading to Downtown Sacramento? Yolobus offers a high frequency downtown shuttle service connecting from the West Sacramento Transit Center through downtown every 20 minutes. Take a Via van to the transit center and transfer to Yolobus. Paratransit services to downtown are provided by Yolobus Special.
How long will I wait to be picked up?

Customers are able to view estimated wait times when they enter their pick-up and drop-off locations in the Via app (or over the phone), before approving any payments. Wait times will vary depending on nearby driver availability, but on average a Via Van should arrive within 10-15 minutes. Riders typically don't wait longer than 30 minutes to be picked up.
Why won't Via always pick me up at my door?

Via rideshare works on a "Virtual Stop" model. This means, depending on where you are when you request a ride, you might be asked to walk across the street or around the corner. The distance riders may be asked to walk is quite minimal, usually 100-200 feet and never more than 500 feet. By meeting your Via van at a "Virtual Stop" this allows Via to avoid U-turns or other odd maneuvers which might otherwise add time to your trip- and others who might be sharing the ride!

If you are physically unable to walk to a Virtual Stop but wish to book a ride, please contact city staff at 916-617-5043 for additional assistance. Riders requiring a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle will always be picked up at their curb.
How can I pay?

Customers pay by credit/debit or prepaid credit card, which is entered when they set up an account on the Via app using a Smartphone or table. For customers who wish to book rides over the phone, please call Via at 916-318-5101 to arrange to have an account set up.

Want to say thanks for the ride? At the end of your trip, the Via Smartphone App offers riders the option of leaving a tip for their Driver. Tips are never expected, but always appreciated by Via Drivers.
Can I pay with cash?

No, Via is a cashless service. Don't have a credit card? Use your cash to purchase a pre-paid credit card in the dollar amount of your choosing at any local drugstore or grocery store. Note that re-loadable cards are preferable because they can be refilled when empty without requiring the purchase of a new card. Once you have a prepaid credit card, you can set up an account on a Smartphone or tablet, or by calling Via at 916-318-5101.
I don't have a Smartphone or tablet. Can I still book a ride?

Yes! Customers may call 916-617-4980 or visit in person at any of the below locations for help setting up an account. After your account has been created, you can call to book a ride at (916) 318-5101.

City staff are available to assist with account set up at:

City Hall Utility Billing (M-F, 9am-5pm)
Community Center (M-F, 9am-5pm)
Recreation Center (M/W/F 9am-11am, or T/TH 6pm-8pm, or by appointment 916-617-4770)

Please Note: If you are applying for a Senior/Disabled Rider discount, you must submit verification in person one of the above locations , or to a qualified City representative at a "Learn-to-Ride" event.
Can customers with wheelchairs or mobility devices ride?

Yes! Customers requiring a wheelchair accessible vehicle can go to the home page on the Via app and slide the Wheelchair accessible button. If you book your rides by phone please just let a customer service representative know. Once the wheelchair accessible button is selected or you let a representative know an accessible vehicle will be sent each time you request a ride. Via vans have ample space for walkers, canes or other mobility devices to be stored. Just let your driver know if you need a hand loading or unloading.
How old do I have to be to book a ride?

West Sacramento's Via rideshare service is available without restrictions to anyone age 18 or older. However, youths age 13 to 18 are permitted to set up an account and book rides with their parent or guardian's consent. Minors under the age of 13 MUST be accompanied by an adult.
How is Via rideshare different from other ride-hailing transportation services like Lyft and Uber?

As part of our public-private partnership, Via is available to offer customers a flat fee per trip unlike traditional ride-hailing services, which use variable pricing that can surge with demand and result in prices that are out of reach for many. Customers using West Sacramento's on-demand rideshare service will pay one flat rate, ensuring an affordable price point no matter where you're heading. In addition, West Sacramento's partnership with Via includes a fleet of vans, which are the best type of vehicle to use for ridesharing and avoid putting wear-and-tear on the personal vehicles of Via's driver partners.

Vans used for the rideshare program are clearly marked with both the City of West Sacramento On-Demand and Via logos for easy identification. Customers can also take comfort in knowing that their Via driver has undergone a robust background check to be eligible to participate in the City's public transportation pilot program.
Can pets ride on Via?

Licensed service animals are welcome to ride with their owners on Via without restrictions. Other dogs and cats must be in an airline-approved carrier in order to ride with Via.

More FAQs

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