Irving council reviews VIA plan to restore DART routes and launch free urban circulator

Irving — City staff and VIA representatives told the Irving City Council at a March 26 work session that they are proposing to restore former DART bus routes 225 and 255 using 12‑seat, ADA‑compliant Ford Transit vehicles and to launch a free Los Colinus Urban Center circulator aimed at moving convention and urban‑center visitors and workers.

Melissa Baker, the city’s public works manager, summarized the three parts of the proposal: “We would be looking at three vehicles, 12 seat… Monday through Sunday, 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., 24 stops. The frequency 35 to 60 minutes, the $3 rider fare, same as DART,” and a separate free circulator for the urban center running mid‑day and evenings.

VIA representatives said the operator would provide a turnkey service — fleet, drivers, technology and marketing — and emphasized rapid deployment if the council approves a contract. “When we launch a turnkey operation, we are doing everything end to end,” a VIA presenter said, adding the company can typically begin full operations about 30 days after contract signature and will share ridership data with the city.

Council members pressed staff and VIA on several operational and financial points: whether payment and transfers could be seamless with DART’s GoPass app (VIA said it can be integrated), how the fare revenue would be handled (VIA said fares would be remitted to the city), what the likely ridership and revenue recovery would be (VIA estimated 10–20% of operating costs might be covered by fares initially), and how much was being requested in one‑time and ongoing funds (staff presented a “not to exceed” year‑one cost and an annual operating estimate; staff said the city would seek GMP funding reimbursement from DART to offset upfront costs).

Several council members urged a strategy that leverages private partners and nearby property owners to help underwrite the circulator. Council member Al suggested engaging landowners and business associations in the urban center to develop additional funding or partnership models; others said that a free circulator could improve connectivity to hotels, the convention center and entertainment venues.

Outcomes and next steps

Council members indicated consensus to move the contract forward for formal review. Staff said they will return a contract for council consideration (staff referenced an April council meeting target), continue negotiations with DART regarding GMP funding reimbursement, and proceed with cooperative procurement steps. The council did not take a formal recorded vote during the work session.