Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Transit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press council on Via on-demand service and propose a Grand Prairie transit plan
Summary
During public comment on Jan. 20, 2025, residents urged improvements to Via on-demand service, with one speaker proposing a city transit system combining rail and expanded bus service and another reporting long waits and service irregularities for seniors.
Several residents used Jan. 20 public comment to urge the City Council to address reliability and coverage problems with Via’s on-demand transit service and to consider a larger city-run transit option.
Clayton Harrison, identifying himself as a lifelong Grand Prairie resident, told the council the current Via Grand Prairie service “lacks coverage, reliability, and scalability” and proposed a Grand Prairie transit system that would combine a central rail line with an expanded bus network. Harrison said Via’s limited coverage left northern and southern neighborhoods underserved, that on-demand service was unreliable during peak hours and that the city needs a plan that is “reliable, scalable, and environmentally sustainable.”
Steve Rankin said he had been locked out of his Via app for three days and described long wait times for rides, particularly during times when school is in session. Rankin said seniors were supposed to have priority but that students appeared to get more “seniority” during some runs, resulting in extended waits for older riders.
Councilmembers did not take action during the meeting; public comments were entered for council consideration and possible follow-up by city staff.
