San Antonio has amended transportation rules for e-vehicles for hire, doubling the number of permits operators can apply for and paving the way for more microtransit operators.
Previous rules allowed for 10 e-cars that offer microtransit to operate in San Antonio. After a recommendation to increase that number by 20 more permits from a split Transportation Advisory Board, the San Antonio Police Department’s Ground Transportation Unit, which oversees the transportation rules, amended the rules on April 29 to allow 10 more e-cars, bringing the total number of permits to 20.
Current permit holders include SAGo, E-GO Ride, Dest and Austin-based eCab of North America, which hold five permits each.
eCab of North America operates The Little Runner, a microtransit service from Centro San Antonio, VIA Metropolitan Transit and UTSA for students to get across downtown campuses. The Little Runner permits are limited, six-month permits, because the pilot program ends Aug. 30.
After permits were issued on Monday, Centro SA announced it expanded its pilot program for residents, employees and tourists to use in some parts of downtown for free.
The TAB said it would reconvene to review Centro San Antonio’s UTSA shuttle pilot data to determine if the number of permits are enough. After the six-month permits expire, “general ridership will provide necessary data for the remaining months,” according to Centro SA, even though current operators, like SAGo, collect microtransit ridership data.
SAPD Police Chief William McManus ultimately amended the transportation rules to allow half the number of new permits the board recommended. Some board members wanted to recommend more, but others worried too many e-car permits would flood the market and contribute to downtown traffic.
Board members also worried adding more permits would affect current operators’ business.
