There are times that all of us could use a ride – home from the auto repair shop to a doctor’s appointment, to your high school summer job, to shopping centers or home from a happy hour. That’s why, in Douglas County, we are using microtransit to provide a new, free transportation option.
At their regular Business Meeting on March 25, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners unanimously approved a $2,901,410 contract with Via Transportation Inc. (Via) to provide microtransit within Highlands Ranch. This service was modeled after the Link on Demand program in Lone Tree and will serve anyone in Highlands Ranch needing a ride.
“As Commissioners, it’s our honor to serve our community and find new solutions that make our residents’ lives easier,” said Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle. “I know our Highlands Ranch community will be truly blessed by this new program.”
“As part of our Older Adult Initiative, we heard loud and clear that older adults need help getting to and from doctors’ appointments, the grocery store and entertainment,” said Commissioner George Teal. “We are excited to launch this program to help meet their needs.”
“Link on Demand in Lone Tree has been a successful model,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon. “We’re thankful for that example and look forward to this launch in Highlands Ranch and, eventually, countywide.”
When the program launches in late spring 2025, riders will be able to book an on-demand ride using a mobile app or by phone. It’s a flexible way to get around Highlands Ranch, connecting you to shopping centers, businesses, schools, parks, medical centers, and RTD hubs.
The proposed hours of operation would be:
- Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Details on how to utilize this service will be available closer to the launch. Stay up to date on all transit plans by signing up for our News and Events email list.
About Via
Founded in 2012, Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems — optimizing networks of buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicles around the globe. Building the world’s most efficient, equitable, and sustainable transportation network for all riders — including those with limited mobility, those without smartphones, and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car while reducing the environmental impact. At the intersection of transportation and technology, Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves, providing technology in 700 communities and more than 35 countries and counting.