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Luma Go Free On-Demand Rideshare

The City of Petaluma describes LumaGo as a free on-demand rideshare program launched in September 2024 as a pilot to complement fixed-route transit, serving as a first/last-mile option across Petaluma. The software platform is provided by VIA, and operations and maintenance are handled by MV Transportation, Inc. under a contract the City Council approved in June 2025.1,5,6,7

The pilot ran from September 30, 2024, through August 9, 2026. During that time the service completed more than 23,500 rides and maintained a 4.9-out-of-5 customer satisfaction rating. Facing a transit budget shortfall, staff proposed ending the program in April 2026; the pilot ultimately ran through August 9, 2026, and then transitioned into Access by LumaGo—a combined paratransit and microtransit service—starting August 10, 2026, funded through June 30, 2027.2,3,8,9,10,11,12

Access by LumaGo is booked through the LumaGo app or by phone, with priority given to ADA paratransit-eligible riders and those with the greatest mobility needs, meaning other riders may wait longer. It now serves as the weekend transit option following the elimination of weekend fixed-route and ADA paratransit bus service. Early results from the August 10 launch were reported to the Transit Advisory Committee in September 2026.2,3,4

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22 recorded milestones

Complete project timeline

Each entry links the meeting and documents it comes from.

  1. Program approved13

    The City approved LumaGo as a free on-demand rideshare pilot as part of an expanded transit strategy.

  2. Transit Advisory Committee receives microtransit pilot proposal14

    Staff presented the proposed service structure, zones, budget, and a target launch of June 2024 for a one-year microtransit pilot. The committee received the report with no vote taken.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Jan 11, 2024, item 4 →Boards & Commissions Report, p. 2 →

  3. Software contract with VIA executed5

    Staff reported that the service contract for the software-as-a-service platform provided by VIA had been executed, with the pilot zone being finalized.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Apr 11, 2024, item 4 →Boards & Commissions Report, p. 2 →

  4. Launch target shifted to August 20246

    Staff reported to the Transit Advisory Committee that implementation was rescheduled from June to August 2024 while service refinement workshops continued.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Jun 13, 2024, item 5 →Boards & Commissions Report, p. 4 →

  5. Program presented to Senior Advisory Committee15

    A City transit specialist presented information about the fare-free LumaGo on-demand rideshare program and transit accessibility resources to the Senior Advisory Committee.

    Senior Advisory Committee, Aug 8, 2024, item 2 →

  6. LumaGo pilot launches16,17

    LumaGo, the free on-demand rideshare pilot, launched on September 30, 2024, with app-based shared rides across its Petaluma service zones.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Nov 19, 2024: LumaGo Microtransit Update →Transit Advisory Committee, Oct 15, 2024, item 6 →Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →

  7. City Council approves $2,031,000 SCTA funding agreement18

    The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-144 N.C.S. (vote 7-0) authorizing a cooperative funding agreement with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority for the Petaluma Transit Expansion Project, which includes partially funding the first two LumaGo microtransit on-demand shuttle zones.

    City Council, Nov 18, 2024, item 5 →Staff Report, p. 2 →

  8. Transit Advisory Committee recommends MV Transportation contract19

    The Transit Advisory Committee unanimously recommended awarding an 8-year, $36,520,411 operations and maintenance contract to MV Transportation, Inc., covering fixed-route, paratransit, and LumaGo microtransit services.

    Transit Advisory Committee, May 20, 2025, item 2 →Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →

  9. City Council awards operations contract to MV Transportation7

    The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-078 N.C.S. (vote 7-0) authorizing award of the 8-year, $36,520,411 contract to MV Transportation, Inc. for Petaluma Transit operations and maintenance, including LumaGo.

    City Council, Jun 16, 2025, item 5 →Staff Report, p. 1 →

  10. TAC recommends FTA Section 5310 grant application; pilot presentation continued20,21

    The Transit Advisory Committee voted 6-0-1 to recommend that City Council authorize filing a federal FTA Section 5310 grant application seeking up to $200,000 over two years for LumaGo operating costs. A scheduled LumaGo pilot presentation was postponed to the next meeting.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Aug 19, 2025, item 2 →Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →Transit Advisory Committee, Aug 19, 2025, item 4 →Boards Commissions Report, p. 3 →

  11. Transit Advisory Committee receives update on future of LumaGo pilot22

    The Transit Manager reported that staff would present a one-year pilot update to City Council in September 2025 to seek guidance on the program's future, and that an ad-hoc group would be formed afterward to discuss next steps. The committee received the report; no vote was taken.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Aug 19, 2025, item 7 →Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →

  12. City Council authorizes FTA Section 5310 grant application23

    The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-128 N.C.S. (vote 7-0) authorizing filing of a federal FTA Section 5310 grant application with the California Department of Transportation requesting up to $200,000 over two years for LumaGo microtransit operating costs.

    City Council, Sep 8, 2025, item 7 →Staff Report, p. 3 →

  13. One-year performance review presented to Transit Advisory Committee8

    Staff presented a comprehensive one-year update showing LumaGo exceeded ridership and satisfaction targets, with 23,500+ completed rides, a 4.9/5 rating, and 6.2 boardings per hour, but with funding sustainability questions remaining.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Sep 16, 2025, item 2 →Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →

  14. Council receives LumaGo one-year update; expansion and funding discussed24

    City Council received an update on LumaGo ridership and reviewed funding considerations for the next one to two years. Expansion to the Petaluma North Station area was under consideration.

    City Council presentation →

  15. City Council accepts $150,000 state Access for All grant25

    The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-027 N.C.S. (vote 7-0) accepting a $150,000 grant from the SAFA Access for All Program through GCAP Services, Inc. to partially fund FY 2025-26 LumaGo operations, specifically wheelchair-accessible on-demand vehicle service.

    City Council, Mar 16, 2026, item 5 →Staff Report, p. 1 →

  16. Staff proposes ending LumaGo as part of transit budget cuts9

    Staff presented a proposal to discontinue LumaGo once SAFA Access for All grant funds are expended, expected around July 5, 2026. The Council received the presentation with no formal action taken.

    City Council, Apr 6, 2026, item 13 →Staff Report, p. 5 →

  17. TAC receives service modification plan wrapping up LumaGo pilot10

    Staff presented a service modification plan that includes ending the LumaGo pilot program and introducing 'Weekend Access by LUMA GO' as a micro-transit replacement for eliminated weekend fixed-route service. The committee received the report with no vote taken.

    Transit Advisory Committee, May 19, 2026, item 1 →Boards Commissions Report →

  18. FY26-27 budget direction sets end of LumaGo pilot12

    Budget direction established that the LumaGo pilot would end. According to the records, staff later kept the pilot running through August 9, 2026, after which it transitioned to Access by LumaGo (Transit Advisory Committee, June 16, 2026).

  19. Pilot extended to August 9; transition to Access by LumaGo announced11

    Staff reported that the LumaGo free on-demand pilot will continue through August 9, 2026, then transition into a targeted 'Access by LumaGo' service combining paratransit and microtransit starting August 10.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Jun 16, 2026, item 2 →Boards Commissions Report, p. 2 →

  20. TAC briefed on August 10 transition details3

    Staff reported on cross-training plans, wait time expectations, and community outreach ahead of the August 10 launch of Access by LumaGo, noting that traditional ACCESS riders should expect longer wait times of about 45 minutes versus 15 minutes.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Jul 21, 2026, item 3 →7.21.26 TAC Managers Report, p. 2 →

  21. Access by LumaGo launches2,3,11

    The LumaGo pilot ended August 9, 2026, and on-demand service continued from August 10 as Access by LumaGo, combining paratransit and microtransit, funded through June 30, 2027, and serving as the weekend transit option following elimination of weekend fixed-route service.

    Petaluma Argus-Courier, Jun 25, 2026; Petaluma Transit LumaGo page →Transit Advisory Committee, Jun 16, 2026, item 2 →Boards Commissions Report, p. 2 →Transit Advisory Committee, Jul 21, 2026, item 3 →7.21.26 TAC Managers Report, p. 2 →

  22. Early Access by LumaGo results reported to TAC4

    The Transit Manager reported encouraging early results from Access by LumaGo following its August 10 launch, including ridership statistics and service quality metrics.

    Transit Advisory Committee, Sep 15, 2026, item 2 →9.15.26 TAC Managers Report, p. 1 →

Ongoing work

From October 2024 through September 2026, the Transit Advisory Committee received regular updates on LumaGo and its successor Access by LumaGo at most monthly meetings, covering ridership counts, satisfaction ratings, service metrics, funding developments, and outreach activities.4,17,22,26,27,28,29,30,31

At the March 14, 2024 Transit Advisory Committee meeting, Staff Liaison Hall and Staff Member Arce reported that staff was finalizing contracts, zone areas, branding, and marketing for the microtransit pilot, with implementation targeted for June 2024; the software platform would be provided by VIA. The committee received the report and no vote was taken.32

Money

  • Funding for the program has included a $2,031,000 SCTA cooperative agreement partially covering the first two LumaGo zones (Resolution No. 2024-144 N.C.S.), a $150,000 state Access for All grant for wheelchair-accessible service (Resolution No. 2026-027 N.C.S.), a pending FTA Section 5310 grant application for up to $200,000 over two years, Go Sonoma Measure M funds, and city general fund contributions; FY25 operating expenses were approximately $330,000 and FY26 projections were approximately $397,000, with Access by LumaGo funded through June 30, 2027, by Go Sonoma.2,8,18,23,25
  • The 8-year, $36,520,411 operations and maintenance contract with MV Transportation, Inc. (Resolution No. 2025-078 N.C.S.) covers fixed-route, paratransit, and LumaGo microtransit services together, not LumaGo alone.7

Not in the record yet

  • Whether the FTA Section 5310 grant application (up to $200,000) was submitted and, if so, whether it has been awarded.
  • What funding, if any, will support Access by LumaGo after June 30, 2027.
  • Whether the City Council received the LumaGo one-year pilot update that staff planned to present in September 2025, and what guidance the Council provided on the program's future.
  • Whether the LumaGo app integration with fixed-route systems, planned for December 2025, was completed.
  • What the ridership and cost-per-ride figures are for Access by LumaGo now that it is running.
  • Whether service hours or zones for Access by LumaGo will change after the August–January data collection period.
  • Whether any service expansion (for example to Petaluma North Station or SRJC) is planned or funded.

Sources

  1. The City's description of the project
  2. City project record: Relaunched as Access by LumaGo
    Petaluma Argus-Courier, Jun 25, 2026; Petaluma Transit LumaGo page →
  3. Transit Advisory Committee, Jul 21, 2026, item 3: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → 7.21.26 TAC Managers Report, p. 2 →
  4. Transit Advisory Committee, Sep 15, 2026, item 2: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → 9.15.26 TAC Managers Report, p. 1 →
  5. Transit Advisory Committee, Apr 11, 2024, item 4: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards & Commissions Report, p. 2 →
  6. Transit Advisory Committee, Jun 13, 2024, item 5: Transit Manager Report to Transit Advisory Committee
    Meeting → Boards & Commissions Report, p. 4 →
  7. City Council, Jun 16, 2025, item 5: Resolution Authorizing Award of Contract to MV Transportation, Inc. for the Operations and Maintenance of Petaluma Transit Services
    Meeting → Staff Report, p. 1 →
  8. Transit Advisory Committee, Sep 16, 2025, item 2: Presentation on the LumaGo Pilot Program
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  9. City Council, Apr 6, 2026, item 13: Recommendation to Receive a Staff Presentation and Discuss the FY26­27 Petaluma Transit Budget and Service Modification Options
    Meeting → Staff Report, p. 5 →
  10. Transit Advisory Committee, May 19, 2026, item 1: Service Modification Update
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report →
  11. Transit Advisory Committee, Jun 16, 2026, item 2: June Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 2 →
  12. City project record: FY26-27 budget direction: LumaGo pilot to end
  13. City project record: Luma Go program approved
  14. Transit Advisory Committee, Jan 11, 2024, item 4: Discussion of Microtransit Service
    Meeting → Boards & Commissions Report, p. 2 →
  15. Senior Advisory Committee, Aug 8, 2024, item 2: Maria Arce, MA, Transit Specialist, Marketing & Outreach, City of Petaluma | Public Works and Utilities will present information that will cover fare free,…
    Meeting →
  16. City project record: Luma Go launches
    Transit Advisory Committee, Nov 19, 2024: LumaGo Microtransit Update →
  17. Transit Advisory Committee, Oct 15, 2024, item 6: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  18. City Council, Nov 18, 2024, item 5: Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Cooperative Funding Agreement No. G31301E1J between the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) and…
    Meeting → Staff Report, p. 2 →
  19. Transit Advisory Committee, May 20, 2025, item 2: Recommendation to Award a Contract to MV Transportation, Inc. for the Operations and Maintenance of Petaluma Transit Services COMMITTEE COMMENT STAFF COMMENT
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  20. Transit Advisory Committee, Aug 19, 2025, item 2: Receive a presentation on the LumaGo Pilot program.
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  21. Transit Advisory Committee, Aug 19, 2025, item 4: Recommendation to City Council of the Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application for Federal Funding Under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)…
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 3 →
  22. Transit Advisory Committee, Aug 19, 2025, item 7: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  23. City Council, Sep 8, 2025, item 7: Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application for Federal Funding Under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 With the California…
    Meeting → Staff Report, p. 3 →
  24. City project record: Ridership and expansion reviewed by Council
    City Council presentation →
  25. City Council, Mar 16, 2026, item 5: Resolution Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Accept the Statewide Access Fund Administrator/GCAP Services, Inc. Access for All Program Grant Award of…
    Meeting → Staff Report, p. 1 →
  26. Transit Advisory Committee, Aug 8, 2024, item 1: Microtransit Update Presentation
    Meeting → Boards & Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  27. Transit Advisory Committee, Nov 19, 2024, item 4: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  28. Transit Advisory Committee, Jan 21, 2025, item 5: Transit Manager's Report
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  29. Transit Advisory Committee, Mar 18, 2025, item 4: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 2 →
  30. Transit Advisory Committee, Apr 15, 2025, item 3: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 2 →
  31. Transit Advisory Committee, May 20, 2025, item 3: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards Commissions Report, p. 1 →
  32. Transit Advisory Committee, Mar 14, 2024, item 3: Transit Manager Report
    Meeting → Boards & Commissions Report, p. 2 →

This page is written with AI from the City's meeting records, staff reports, minutes and adopted budgets, and reviewed before it's published. Every statement links to its source. Last updated Oct 13, 2026. Report a problem.