VOLUME 20 NO. 15
SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026 
VOLUME 20 NO. 15 


CITY TO CONSIDER UBER 
TRANSIT PILOT PROGRAM 

SIERRA MADRE 
LAUNCHES NEW 
WEBSITE 

March 2, 2026 – The City of Sierra Madre 
is proud to announce the launch of its redesigned 
website at sierramadreca.gov, 
which went live on February 24th. The 
new site makes it faster and easier for 
residents, businesses, and visitors to find 
City services, get answers, and stay connected 
with their community. 

The redesign focuses on what residents 
need most: a clean, intuitive layout that 
works seamlessly on any device — phone, 
tablet, or desktop. Improved search functionality 
means fewer clicks to find permits, 
meeting agendas, utility information, 
and more. 

One standout feature is Sierra, the City's 
new AI-powered chatbot. Available 
around-the-clock, Sierra helps users 
quickly locate services and get answers 
to common questions without having to 
navigate multiple pages or wait for business 
hours. 

The new site also debuts a CommunityCalendar, where local organizations can 
submit events directly for City review 
and publication — making it a one-stop 
resource for what's happening in town. 

“This website reflects our commitment 
to transparent, accessible government.” 
said Mayor Kristine Lowe. “We want every 
resident to be able to connect with 
City Hall easily, whether they're paying abill, attending a meeting, looking for information 
about building in town, or just 
finding out what's going on at Memorial 
Park.” 

Visit the new City website at:

sierramadreca.gov. 

Sierra Madre has a transportation problem for 
those who do not drive or have a vehicle. It 
haws no public transportation systerm. 

To bridge the service gap while the Sierra 
Madre Transportation Ad Hoc Subcommittee 
evaluates long-term alternatives, the CityCouncil requested a temporary transit solution 
for the community. Since that time, staff and 
the Transportation Ad Hoc Subcommittee have 
met with Uber Transit to review a pilot program 
that could be implemented quickly, provide 
flexible local transportation services, and operate 
within the City’s available Proposition A 
Local Transportation Funds. The council will 
consider a proposed program at the April 24th 
council meeting. 

The proposed pilot program would operate similarly 
to a standard Uber rideshare service, with 
the City subsidizing a portion of eligible trip 
costs. Participants may request standard, electric 
vehicle (EV), or wheelchair accessible vehicle 
(WAV) trips through Uber, subject to availability. 
Approved participants would receive 
electronic Uber vouchers generated through 
the Uber Transit dashboard and distributed in 
accordance with the applicable voucher program 
terms. Transportation services provided 
through the pilot program would be furnished 
by independent third-party providers using the 
Uber platform. If the cost of a trip exceeds the 
available voucher value, the remaining balance 
would be charged to the participant’s payment 
method on file with Uber. 

Staff has worked to ensure the program is accessible 
to a broad range of users. The proposed pilot 
program would use a four-tier subsidy model 
tied to trip location and destination parameters.
Tier 1: applies to all rides within the City of Sierra 
Madre. It also includes rides originating within 
the City and traveling to designated hospitals 
and doctors’ offices, as well as the Arcadia and 
Sierra Madre Villa Metro Stations. Tier 1 return 
trips terminating in Sierra Madre would also be 
eligible. The proposed City subsidy would be 
$20.00 per trip, with a $2.50 rider share.
Tier 2: applies to rides extending up to one mile 
beyond the City’s borders. It also includes Pasadena 
City College, The Shops at Santa Anita, the 
Los Angeles County Arboretum, and the Hastings 
Ranch shopping area. Tier 2 return trips 
terminating in Sierra Madre would also be eligible. 
The proposed City subsidy would be $15.00 
per trip, with a $2.50 rider share. 

Tier 3: applies to rides extending up to three 
miles beyond the City’s borders. It also includes 
Downtown Arcadia, Old Town Pasadena, and 
Old Town Monrovia. Tier 3 return trips terminating 
in Sierra Madre would also be eligible. 
The proposed City subsidy would be $10.00 per 
trip, with a $2.50 rider share. 

Tier 4: applies to rides originating or terminating 
in Sierra Madre that extend beyond three 
miles from the City’s borders and are not otherwise 
included within Tiers 1 through 3. The 
proposed City subsidy would be $5.00 per trip, 
with a $2.50 rider share. 

Using this proporal, riders would be responsible 
for the first $2.50 of each trip, as well as anyfare amount exceeding the applicable City subsidy. 
The pilot program would also limit each 
participant to 10 subsidized trips per month.
City staff believes the pilot program can be 
funded within available Proposition A Local 
Transportation Funds; however, the high-use 
scenario would substantially utilize the City’s 
annual allocation. If actual demand materially 
exceeds current assumptions, staff may return 
to the City Council with recommended program 
modifications to maintain fiscal sustainability 
within available funding. 

During the pilot period, staff will monitor ridership, 
trip patterns, voucher utilization, and 
program costs to evaluate program performance 
and determine whether adjustments 
are warranted. Based on actual program usage 
and available funding, staff may return to the 
City Council with recommended adjustments 
to subsidy levels, tier definitions, designated 
destinations, participant eligibility standards, 
or monthly trip limits. Uber Transit would also 
provide reporting and program data to assist the 
City in evaluating pilot performance. It is estimated 
that the program will be up and running 
within 30 days of contract execution. 

The City Council had previously authorized 
$100,000 for the pilot program using Proposition 
A funds for the remainder of the current fiscal 
year as part of the FY 2025-26 midyear budget 
adjustment. Future years funding is subject 
to avialable Proposition A funding. The City of 
Sierra Madre receives approximately $170,000 
annually in Proposition A Local Transportation 
Funds. 

The matter will be discussed at the April 24th 
Council meeting. MVNEWS 


SIERRA MADRE 
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 
JOIN 
IN 
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP 
MEETING 
Speakers & Presentations by 
Alex Vasquez 
helping small businesses grow with better 
Google listings, owning & controlling your 
online presence 
& 
Sierra Madre City Manager 
Michael Bruckner 
Not a member yet? 
Come join us and become one! 
Let’s celebrate local business & thank you to our Meeting Sponsors 
www.sierramadrechamber.comCelebrate ~ Connect ~ Grow Local 
Get Ahead of the Spring Market 
Judy Webb-Martin 
626.688.2273 
DRE #00541631 
Whether you’re buying, selling, or just exploring your options, I’m here to Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides 
by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Lic. #01991628. All material present 
ed herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from 
sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price 
condihelp. Give me a call, and let’s get you ahead of the spring market. tion, sale or withdrawa 
may be made without notice. No statement is made 
as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are 
approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.