New Transport Service Model Piloted in Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County

The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, in collaboration with Taksikuutio Oy, has launched a pilot project for a new, budget-based transport service model. This model is designed for clients who cannot use public transportation and are therefore eligible for transport services. The piloting started in early July.

Under the new model, clients are provided with a budget rather than a set number of travel kilometres. This budget is tailored to each client’s individual needs. Clients can book rides from any passenger transport provider and pay through a dedicated app.

One pilot participant, Jarkko Setälä, appreciates the expanded travel options across different municipalities. He finds the booking process easier without time-based restrictions. Setälä joined the pilot because he was interested in the change and the opportunity to participate in developing the new model. Since he often makes short trips, the budget provided allows him multiple rides. In the conventional transport service model, clients are generally granted a set number of 10 or 18 rides per month.

-The budget-based model is the best thing to happen to transport services in a long time. It provides a level of flexibility in utilizing the transport service, Setälä remarks. However, he hopes the model will eventually allow bookings via phone calls, as it currently requires using an app.

A total of 26 clients are participating in the pilot, using the service for work and errands. To date, almost 1700 trips have been taken. The pilot will run through the end of 2024.

The Wellbeing Services County is now preparing a competitive tender process for organizing the budget-based transport service model. Once this process concludes in 2025, the budget-based model will become a permanent option for transport services in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.