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Council weighs residency restriction vs. open zone for microtransit
Summary
Via told the council that making the service resident‑only is a policy choice (verifiable at signup) rather than a cost driver; councilmembers debated predictability for ridership versus accessibility for visitors and economic benefit.
A central policy question the Hutto City Council discussed was whether the microtransit service should be restricted to Hutto residents or open to anyone inside the service zone. Thomas DeRidder of Via said the choice ‘‘doesn't increase your cost’’ and suggested verifying residency during sign‑up (for example, by asking for an address) while noting occasional administrative review may be required to enforce the rule.
Some councilmembers favored a resident‑first approach to keep ridership predictable and prioritize residents with mobility needs; others noted opening the zone could support economic development during events and visitor activity. No final parameter was chosen; councilmembers asked staff to include residency scenarios in the requested demand and cost modeling.
