Routematch, an Atlanta-based software company that provides SaaS solutions to public transportation agencies, has been acquired by Uber to support cities in providing more accessible public transportation.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Routematch's 170 employees and CEO Pepper Harward will retain their positions under Uber.
"This acquisition brings together Uber’s expertise in on-demand, global mobility technologies with Routematch’s proven capabilities across paratransit, payments, fixed-route tools, and trip planning services. Both companies believe it will create new innovations that make it easier for agencies to provide the right transportation solutions to their riders, through an expanded suite of technologies," David Reich, head of Uber Transit, and Pepper Harward, CEO of Routematch, wrote in a letter announcing the acquisition on Thursday.
The deal is one of several moves the ride-hailing company has made to expand its services offered and expand into the public transit space. The company has been developing public transit-related services for the last five years in 15 cities around the world, including Las Vegas and Denver. One of the first partnerships announced was with Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) --- Atlanta's public transit system.
"Our shared vision of making individual car ownership a thing of the past has inspired innovative products and first- and last-mile solutions in cities across the globe. And while we’ve made a lot of progress together, more is needed, especially during these current times," the letter states.
In May, Uber secured its first software partnership with a public transit agency, according to TechCrunch; Uber agreed to manage the on-demand service for Marin County in the San Francisco Bay area using its SaaS product. The company also partnered with Masabi, a mobile ticketing platform, in 2018 that allowed users to book and use transit tickets in the Uber app.
Routematch develops software used by more than 500 transit agencies to plan trips, track vehicles, make payments and other tools for transit systems like buses and other services. The company, which has been in the space for 20 years, acquired 2g Transit Solutions Inc., a data analytics company for public transit services, in 2018.
"Public transportation will always be a vital artery that connects people to their cities and towns. But as many have told us, there are many challenges that simply did not exist when fixed route services and systems were created decades ago. We believe that inclusive transportation software can help transit agencies deliver more value for riders, businesses, and communities," the letter reads.
