A Canadian tech startup that thinks it can solve rush hour traffic? Ok, we’re listening.
Driving the news: Toronto-based Argo is launching a service that will shuttle riders across the GTA between their homes and major transit stations. The first-and-last-mile platform aims to boost public transit ridership and make a dent in reducing the city’s worsening traffic.
- Co-CEO Praveen Arichandran told The Peak that the first and last miles of public transit trips currently account for about half of Canadians' total commuting time.
How it works: Similar to hailing an Uber (no surprise here, since one of the founders is an Uber alum), Argo works by plugging in where you are and where you want to go. A vehicle would then pick you up at your door and drop you off at a station in time to catch your ride.
- Arichandran says the app will be fully integrated with public transit systems and that its rides will be offered for the same price as local transit fares.
Bottom line: Traffic isn’t just annoying, it’s also a productivity problem. Giles Gherson, the CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, says Toronto’s congestion — currently ranked as the worst in North America — costs $11 billion annually in lost productivity.—LA