In honor of the pilot program's launch, Sugar Land on Demand is free from March 18 through April 18.
SUGAR LAND, Texas — Getting around Sugar Land is about to become easier and more affordable, thanks to a brand-new rideshare service set to launch early next week.
"Sugar Land On Demand" will offer a more convenient transportation option, all while helping reduce traffic congestion and promoting sustainability.
In honor of the program's launch, you can ride for free from March 18 through April 18.
KHOU 11’s Michelle Choi got an inside look at one of the service’s electric vehicles, a sleek Tesla.
Melanie Beaman, Transportation and Mobility Manager for the City of Sugar Land, was excited to show off the new addition.
“We wanted to make sure we were doing things that were innovative, so using an electric vehicle so there won't be as many emissions on the road,” Beaman said.
Innovation, sustainability and listening to the community's needs are what drove the city to create "Sugar Land on Demand."
“This is basically like an impromptu carpool,” Beaman said. "We've heard our citizens, and we know that there's a real demand for something like this, and I think it's really going to help people, and that was the whole goal of this project, was to help people,” said Beaman.
The service will offer a fleet of five electric vehicles and eventually four hybrid vans, which are all wheelchair accessible.
The program is the first of its kind in the Gulf Coast region and is funded by a federal grant as well as the Fort Bend County voter-approved Mobility Bond.
For Beaman, this project has been two years in the making.
"How excited are you that it's finally about to roll out next week?" Choi asked Beaman.
"Yeah, when I came by the lot to see the vehicles to see if they'd been delivered, I almost cried," Beaman responded.
Beaman said the goal of the service is not only to ease traffic congestion but to address a growing need in Sugar Land for more public transportation.
While they do have demand type services with the Fort Bend County transit program, she said it has its limitations, since you must reserve a ride a day before.
"This will be strictly day of, you're ready to go somewhere, there's an app, you schedule a trip and within 8 to 15 minutes and takes you where you want to go," she said.
That includes popular destinations like:
You can also request a ride to go to the grocery store, but since it's still a pilot program, for now, the city will only be servicing areas in central Sugar Land.
At times, you’ll also have to share a ride with other people, but Beaman said that's what makes the service affordable.
The rides will cost just $2 per person, with an additional $1 for each additional rider.
To request a ride, you can download the “Sugar Land On Demand" app and sign up. The app will let you track your driver is in real time.
As for the future of the program, Beaman said the goal is to expand the service city-wide and possibly even partner with neighboring cities.