Shared Mobility Public-Private Partnership Guide

Shared mobility in Greater Minnesota | Resources

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) promotes the growth of innovative shared-mobility options in Minnesota. Shared-mobility services offer an opportunity to provide better overall mobility and quality of life, especially for those who do not have access to a private automobile due to income, age, or physical ability.

As these services grow, cities and transit agencies need to understand how to approach partnerships with shared-mobility providers to achieve the best results for their communities. In 2022, MnDOT partnered with the Resilient Communities Project (RCP) at the University of Minnesota for assistance creating this public-private partnerships (P3) guide to increase public sector knowledge of these types of agreements, and support local communities in identifying and implementing appropriate shared-mobility options. Much of the content is drawn from interviews with city staff in Minnesota and representatives of shared-mobility companies doing business in the state, based on their experiences planning for, implementing, and operating share-mobility solutions.

Content for this guide was adapted with permission from two RCP reports: "Exploring Shared Mobility Public-Private Partnerships" and "Shared-Mobility Public-Private Partnerships in Minnesota: A Resource Guide."

1: Introduction to Shared Mobility

Shared mobility is a form of transportation in which transportation services are shared among users, either at the same time or independently of one another. Shared mobility has recently emerged as a more flexible transportation alternative to traditional fixed-route public transportation, as it enables users to interact with intelligent technology systems to travel more efficiently.

2: Providing shared mobility in your community: Where to start

There are several key issues a municipality should consider as it explores adding shared mobility to the range of transportation options available to the community. The place to start is identifying your city’s transportation needs.

3: Shared-mobility options

Various types of shared-mobility solutions exist, from bikes and scooters to real-time ride sharing. Each option can provide solutions for specific types of needs.

4: Public-private partnership models

Public-private partnerships between local government agencies and private service providers are often the most effective way to implement shared-mobility solutions. Learn about the types of public-private partnerships that are most commonly used.

5: Potential funding sources

Identifying funding sources for shared-mobility solutions can be challenging. MnDOT is currently exploring how public transit funding may be used to fund shared-mobility services as an extension of existing public transit services in small urban and rural areas in Minnesota.

Shared mobility