County staff propose on‑demand pilot to boost ridership after fixed route averaged 1.6 riders/hour

Lake County staff and the county’s transit contractor, Downtowner, proposed converting the current fixed transit route to an on‑demand (on‑call) service inside a defined zone as a pilot to increase ridership and reduce empty vehicle miles.

Stuart Clark, Lake County facilities and fleet director, and Mike Fisher (Downtowner) told commissioners the fixed route established in November 2024 has low utilization and sometimes runs empty. Fisher said the system currently serves about "1.6 passengers per hour" on average and argued an on‑demand model — where riders request a pickup via a smartphone app or by calling a call center and a vehicle picks them up near the requested point — can provide closer, more timely service that better fits riders’ schedules.

County staff presented a Steamboat Springs case study where a similar conversion produced about 26% ridership growth in two years. The proposed pilot would keep the same service hours (including a midday driver lunch break), use the existing grant‑funded vehicles (two Ford F‑550 transit vans and one backup), and maintain ADA accessibility with wheelchair lifts. Staff said the CDOT grant that funds operations and vehicle capital would not change and that the operating cost is expected to remain within existing grant parameters.

Operational details: the on‑demand platform offers an app (English/Spanish), estimated time‑of‑arrival tracking, and a staffed call center for riders without smartphones; drivers are background‑checked and vehicles are equipped with dash cameras. The contractor noted that Via Transit (parent company) prefers passengers to be 13 or older but said driver policies about unaccompanied minors could be set locally; current practice is that children under ~10–12 require supervision.

Commissioners asked for cost‑per‑rider reporting and data the county can use to justify future grant applications; staff said monthly ridership and cost reports are already produced and the pilot will generate the evidence needed for grant competitiveness. Commissioners also raised equity and coverage concerns for lower neighborhoods (Leadville North, Eagle’s Nest area) that currently have limited access; staff said the on‑demand zoning could be adjusted during the pilot to include additional neighborhoods if demand and budgets allow.

Promotion and rollout: staff recommended phased outreach (signage on vehicles and at stops, flyers, newspaper notices, targeted direct mailers and partnerships with large events to inform visitors). They requested operational approval to pilot the on‑demand model and committed to returning ridership, cost‑per‑rider, and outreach reports to the board.

Next steps: Staff will coordinate a pilot launch timeline and communications plan, notify commissioners in advance of the operational switch, and provide ongoing performance reports to inform whether to expand the service area.