I’ll take the Taxi Coupon Program for $1000, Alex
Sophia Ashebir (she/her) is a 2021 Summer Fellow with the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, working with the Age Strong Commission on evaluating and modernizing the Taxi Coupon Program.
Boston is home to a wide variety of public transportation options. One of those being the local subway, called the “T” (Short for the MBTA). I’m currently enjoying my time sitting at the Orient Heights T-station in East Boston. A T-station is one of many wonderful spaces where Bostonians are able to interact with their community. A parent and their kids carrying their groceries home. A man who appears to have come back from the gym. A T-worker who knows all the regular folks. And the loud voice over the intercom continues to remind us that “the next blue line train to Wonderland will arrive in 5 minutes.” (I definitely read that quote in the T-intercom voice). Public transportation allows residents the freedom to not only navigate their own community, but also the ability to explore new areas. Whether that’s a beach trip (I went a couple weeks ago!) or to all the museums, historic sites, and community pop-up events Boston has to offer. Transportation connects people.
This summer I’m working with the Age Strong Commission to evaluate and modernize the Taxi Coupon Program. Currently the program provides taxi vouchers to adults over the age of 65 and/or people with disabilities. The current program uses paper coupons with no expiration dates, which provides challenges on the back-end. As we look to improve the program, it’s crucial we speak to participants to preserve what’s working and address what’s not.
Why am I reporting to you live from a T-stop? I’m currently on my way to meet with a program participant to hear about their experience. Through long form interviews we are able to better understand how residents use the program. We’ve been generously invited into their homes to chat with them and receive critical feedback. For an hour or so we ask questions like, “Describe the journey of how you purchase coupons?” and “What would your life be like without the coupon program?” I have also had shorter conversations with residents at coupon selling locations and have sat in cabs with taxi drivers to talk about their experience (a bit of a cash cab ~moment~)!
Doing the user interviews would not be possible without our project partner, Agncy. Agncy is a user design research firm that specializes in these 1:1 conversations. Thus far, I have been able to watch and assist them at their craft and learn about what the user interview and design process looks like. I’ve also been able to see firsthand how much thought and intentionality they put into their work.
Outside of speaking to users, other aspects of the project includes talking with other city governments about their own taxi coupon program and considering the goals of the program. By speaking to local governments, the hope is to learn of other models and systems that could strengthen our own. These conversations have been super helpful in terms of thinking about costs associated with making adjustments, what a digital program may look like, and residents feedback after transitional phases. In terms of program goals, I have been exploring ways the program could further support folks who consider the program a necessity, which will develop into a policy memo!
Taking a few steps back to reflect thus far, it’s mind boggling to see how far I have come in four short weeks. Dua Lipa said it best, “Did a full 180, crazy” from experiencing imposter syndrome the first week to now feeling (fairly) confident in the project and my abilities. Also having an amazing cohort of fellows to chat and be vulnerable with has been a great support system. Okay okay okay before the waterworks begin at this T-station and people start to stare, I’m going to wrap up this blog post here. I feel like I would typically say something cheesy like, “Life’s like the T, you never know where it’s going to take ya.” However two things, 1) the T that just passed is supposedly going to Bowdoin and 2) (so far)I have a pretty clear idea of what the project’s end will look like, now it’s just a sprint to get there.
Sophia enjoys creative problem solving and is enthusiastic about creating spaces and events that engage the community. Her interests lie in inclusive community building, affordable housing, and third places. She also enjoys bike riding and ice cream, specifically vanilla with LOTS of hot fudge! A native of the Midwest (Springfield, IL), Sophia was formerly a Contact Tracer with Partners in Health and a research intern at the Observer Research Foundation — Mumbai. She graduated with a degree in economics and comparative race and ethnicity from Wellesley College.
About the Fellowship:
The New Urban Mechanics Summer Fellowship is designed for entrepreneurial students and professionals interested in working in public service. During this highly selective eight-week program, summer fellows work as a team and on their own projects, generating and implementing creative and thoughtful new prototypes to benefit the City of Boston.
