To: Members of the Public Works Commission
From: Dan Sailer, P.E., Public Works Director
Title
Discussion/Recommendation - Douglas County On-Demand Shuttle Service Proposal
Body
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Executive Summary
Douglas County has submitted a proposal for the Town of Castle Rock to participate in an on-demand rideshare service for residents. The service, known as Link On Demand (Link), would provide free rides to users age 13 and older within a defined service boundary. The proposed service area is shown on the attached map (Attachment A). The purpose of this item is to gain a recommendation to Town Council on the County’s proposal.
Similar to commercial services such as Uber or Lyft, residents would request rides through a mobile application. Typical wait times range from 10 to 25 minutes, and trips must both begin and end within the service area. Vehicles include minivans, and SUVs, and riders should expect to share vehicles with other passengers.
The Link program was originally launched by the City of Lone Tree, serving the area shown in green on the map. Douglas County later partnered with Lone Tree to expand service into Highlands Ranch (purple). The Town of Parker has agreed to participate in an expansion shown in blue. Douglas County has also proposed extending service to Castle Pines and Castle Rock; Castle Pines has chosen not to participate at this time.
Under the County’s proposal, Link service would be provided to Castle Rock (yellow area on the map). Service hours are proposed to be:
• Monday through Thursday: 7am - 7pm
• Friday: 7am - 10pm
• Saturday: 10am - 10pm
• Sunday: No service
The total estimated annual cost is $2,000,000. The Town’s share of this cost would be $400,000. Based on the total estimated number of rides in this first year (50,000 - 60,000), the cost per ride would be $33 - $40, with the Town’s share estimated at $6.7 - $8 per ride. Service would begin in the third quarter of 2026 and run through the third quarter of 2027. The County, in collaboration with the Town, would provide an evaluation of the service throughout the first year to help determine whether the Town wishes to continue participation.
Future federal transit funding may be available to support ongoing service; however, those funds would still require a local matching contribution. Local match for a service similar to Link would be approximately 35%. The actual dollar amount utilizing future federal transit funding would need to be flushed out.
As this would represent a new service level with no associated new revenue, funding would need to come from an existing source. If Council chooses to accept the County’s proposal, the Transportation Fund is the recommended funding source. This fund currently supports major Town services such as pavement maintenance, traffic and streetlight operations, and snow removal.
The Town has budgeted $90,000 this year to support the Senior Center’s transportation operations. In addition, the Town allocates $25,000 to subsidize taxi fares for certain residents. If Council moves forward with this proposal, staff recommends continuing support for the Senior Center’s transportation operations and replacing the Taxi Voucher Program with the proposed new service.
Background
Lone Tree has operated the Link since 2014, during which demand has steadily increased. Douglas County’s expansion into Highlands Ranch has also been successful based on ridership levels since implementation.
The program’s goals include:
• Improving short- and long-term mobility across the County, including access to jobs, medical services, shopping, and schools
• Connecting residents to rail stations, transportation hubs, and major activity centers
• Expanding multimodal transportation options
• Strengthening bicycle and pedestrian connections that support transit use
• Enhancing collaboration between the County and its municipalities
• Supplementing limited transit services provided by RTD and CDOT
Operations are contracted to a private company, Via, which manages all day-to-day service delivery. Douglas County administers the contract, and the Town would pay a flat annual participation fee of $400,000. The County has indicated it is open to alternative billing structures; however, any changes would require further evaluation and would be addressed through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) if Council chooses to move forward with the proposal.
Based on ridership data from Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch, the County estimates a range of 50,000 - 60,000 rides would be generated to and from the Castle Rock service area in this first year. At the full program cost of $2,000,000, this equates to an estimated cost of $33 - $40 per ride, with the Town’s share estimated at $6.7 - $8 per ride.
Castle Rock Senior Center Transportation Services Overview
The Castle Rock Senior Center provides transportation services to seniors and individuals with disabilities in Castle Rock and surrounding areas. Riders must be at least 50 years old to use the service. Trip purposes include medical appointments, grocery shopping, employment, and quality-of-life trips such as banking, haircuts, dining, and senior activities.
In the previous year, the Senior Center provided a total of 11,764 trips. Rides must be scheduled at least three days in advance, with medical trips prioritized. Service operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., subject to daily capacity limits. Drivers are volunteers. Transportation services provided by the Senior Center offer a higher level of customer service than the proposed on-demand service. Senior Center transportation provides door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. In contrast, because rides are shared under the proposed on-demand service, riders may be required to meet at a centralized location.
The Town has provided ongoing funding support to the Senior Center. In 2025, the Town contributed $90,000 for transportation services, with the same amount budgeted for 2026. The Senior Center also receives Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 funding through Douglas County. Most recently, the Senior Center and Aging Resources of Douglas County jointly received $84,000 in 5310 funds. The County intends to provide the Senior Center $852,101 for transportation services in 2026 from various federal, state and local grants (including $161,568 in 2025 and 2026 5310 funds). Some of these funds have been awarded but are still waiting final contracting from CDOT. Rider contributions are voluntary and confidential, and service is provided regardless of contribution.
Town Taxi Voucher Program
Since 2011, the Town has subsidized taxi fares for transit-dependent residents who lack access to a vehicle or have a disability that prevents them from driving. The program supports trips for work, grocery and pharmacy needs, and medical or dental appointments.
Service is provided by a third-party taxi company licensed in Colorado. All trips must begin and end within Town limits, and vehicles are wheelchair accessible. Eligible riders must be at least 18 years old, though 16- and 17-year-olds may apply for work-related trips only. Participants must register in advance by submitting an online application and are notified of approval within five business days.
The Town budgets $25,000 annually for this program. Riders pay the first $2 of each fare, the Town subsidizes the next $8, and any remaining balance is paid by the rider. Over the past three years, ridership has averaged approximately 1,500 trips per year. In 2025, the program provided 1,297 trips, primarily for work-related travel, followed by medical trips.
Service is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Riders must schedule trips at least one day in advance between 7:00 a.m. and noon. Rides are limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Next Steps
If Town Council supports Douglas County’s proposal, Town staff will work with the County to develop an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) outlining program terms and conditions. The IGA would then be brought back to Town Council for consideration and approval.
Recommendation
Town Staff does not have a formal recommendation on this proposal. The primary pro of this proposal is that it provides a new service to the community. The primary con of this proposal is that funding would need to be allocated from an existing service. Likely the Transportation Fund that covers pavement maintenance, snow removal, and traffic signal operations.
Motions
“I move that the Public Works Commission recommend Town Council accept the County’s proposal to implement Link On-Demand for one year.”
“I move that the Public Works Commission recommend Town Council accept the County’s proposal to implement Link On-Demand for one year with the following adjustments to their proposal (list adjustments).
Attachments:
Attachment A: Service Area Boundaries with Proposed Castle Rock Area