Denton County Transportation Authority Expands Mictrotransit Options with the Launch of its New Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand Service

The Denton County Transportation Authority is expanding its microtransit service footprint in the Denton County area. On Monday, January 14, 2019, the agency will launch a new on-demand, microtransit service that will provide travel options for those needing to access the Lakeway Business Park area in Lewisville and surrounding businesses in the designated zone. DCTA is utilizing software from Spare Labs – a company focused on building shared mobility technology – which will enable the agency to provide on-demand service for passengers to request a ride in real time and be able to optimize service.

The agency’s new Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand service will replace the portion of Lewisville Connect Route 21 through the Lakeway Business Park area. There will also be a stop at DCTA’s Hebron station for connections between Lewisville Connect Routes 21 and 22, the A-train and the Lewisville Lakeway Zone. 

Expansion of DCTA Microtransit Services to Provide More Real-Time Mobility Options for Riders

Microtransit service is a trending mobility option that public transit agencies across the country are quickly adapting that offers real-time flexible routing and scheduling of vehicles. Similar to Uber and Lyft,

DCTA-branded vehicles will carry a handful of riders at a time. The vehicles can hold multiple passengers and are accessible to passengers with a motorized device or wheelchair. The driver will have an iPad showing the shortest route to get passengers to their individual destinations.

This service uses a mixture of current physical bus stops, as well as virtual stops within the app. The Spare Rider mobile app or DCTA customer service representative will direct riders to the most appropriate stop for pick up and drop off locations. Wait times are estimated between 20 to 25 minutes.

“Service innovation is a key priority for DCTA, and the expansion of our mictrotransit on-demand service in Lewisville is another way we can meet the changing needs of our riders by providing alternative, affordable and convenient modes of transportation that improve mobility for the many communities we serve,” said Raymond Suarez, DCTA CEO.

The Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand service will cost the same as DCTA’s standard fixed route service. A Local Day pass will give riders access to the A-train, Connect Bus Service, Highland Village Connect Shuttle, Campus Shuttles and the new Lewisville Lakeway Zone On-Demand service. 

How to Book a Trip

Riders can book a trip in the Lewisville Lakeway Zone in real time via the Spare Rider mobile app which can be downloaded from the Apple and Google Play store or by calling 940.243.0077. The service will operate Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. DCTA will not operate this service on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Passengers can follow the easy steps below to book a trip:

• Open the Spare Rider app on your mobile device and link your account to DCTA.
• Enter your destination in the "Where to?" box.
• When selecting your pickup location and drop off location you can use the designated stops or you can enter in an address for your specific location.
• Add in any additional information by tapping on the “Passenger” or “Wheelchair” icon and tap “Request Ride” when ready. If you want to schedule your trip in advance, you can select a later time and/or date by tapping “Schedule” in the lower right corner.
• Receive real-time prediction of pick-up time via text and the app.

Once a rider has created a trip, they can track the vehicle on the trip view in the Spare Rider mobile app. Passengers will be able to see where the vehicle is driving to, and an estimated time arrival (ETA) for when the vehicle will arrive. In addition, helpful information about the vehicle will be available including color and license plate.

DCTA’s Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand service is the next step in the agency’s plan to explore newer, more cost-effective ways to provide service to its customers.