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Link on Demand expands into Highlands Ranch; county panel outlines other local transit pilots
Summary
Via's Link on Demand service began operating in Highlands Ranch two weeks before the town hall, reporting about 2,000 rides; county and nonprofit providers said they will continue piloting shuttles and on-demand options across Douglas County.
Via Transportation representative Joe Martin said Link on Demand began service in Highlands Ranch two weeks prior to the town hall and has provided more than 2,000 rides in that period. "We launched 2 weeks ago... we've seen over 2,000 rides in just over 2 weeks," Martin said.
Link on Demand is a shared-ride, technology-enabled service available by smartphone app or phone booking. Riders can travel anywhere within the designated service area (Highlands Ranch or Lone Tree), request wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and be grouped with other riders heading in the same direction. Joseph Martin said a phone booking option is available at (719) 212-2430 for riders who are not comfortable using a smartphone.
Nonprofit and county providers described complementary services intended to reach residents who need more hands-on assistance. Carrie Erickson of Aging Resources said her organization provides door-through-door service for clients who need help getting into an appointment and back home, while Castle Rock Senior Center uses volunteer drivers and said it recently completed over 1,163 rides in a month. Aging Resources and the senior center also said they operate wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
A pilot shuttle in Castle Rock will begin as a two-day-a-week service stopping at three low-income apartment complexes (identified at the meeting as Meadowmark, Renrock and Oakwood) and common destinations such as grocery stores, the hospital and the library. Aging Resources staff described the shuttle as a fixed-time route intended to give residents predictable options for errands and appointments.
Panelists and county staff said the long-term vision is to expand Link on Demand and other partnerships to additional Douglas County communities, including possible service extensions to Parker, though no formal schedule or funding commitment for that expansion was announced at the town hall.
Contact information provided at the meeting: Link on Demand phone booking (719) 212-2430; Aging Resources phone (303) 814-4300; Castle Rock Senior Center (303) 688-9498.
