The University Park City Council tabled a paratransit services contract on April 7 after council members questioned the cost of services, noticed a typo, and requested additional clarification.
Staffers have been researching paratransit options since a city council vote earlier this year authorized University Park to provide services itself in the event of DART withdrawal.
On April 7, council members considered a contract with Via, which already partners with the cities of Arlington and Grand Prairie, the Denton County Transportation Authority, and the Trinity Metro to provide transportation services.
Via’s services would have an upfront cost of about $83,000. The city would pay for provided paratransit and microtransit services. The annual cost of paratransit would not exceed $596,000 and of microtransit would not exceed $378,000.
If voters opted to continue with DART and the city did not use Via’s services, it would still be responsible for $132,500 in termination and installation fees.
Council member Phillip Philbin questioned the potential cost of the Via. He pointed out that, according to DART, a maximum of 1,727 riders have used paratransit annually over the past three years. He said that DART estimates that each ride costs about $65.
“I get that we’re providing better service than DART. But are we providing five to six times better service than DART?” he asked.
A Via representative explained that its model anticipated an increase in ridership and reminded the city that it pays millions to DART each year.
Philbin also questioned why, if the contract showed May 18 as the earliest possible launch date, the city would owe a termination fee if it chose not to continue with the contract after the May 2 special election.
The representative explained that the May 18 date was a typo from an earlier version of the contract.
“Before we can vote on an agreement like this, we certainly need to clean up any typos or other errors in the agreement, so we make sure we understand what we’re voting on,” Philbin said.
Council member Melissa Rieman requested that Via add additional content and definitions to the contract.
“I’m in favor of the city providing paratransit services,” Philbin added. “I’m not so in favor of the microtransit that’s also in this contract, but I am in favor of the paratransit. I just want to do so in a cost-effective manner for the city.”
The council plans to consider the revised contract at its April 21 meeting.
In other business, the city council:
- Recognized police sergeant John Trussell and director of parks and recreation Sean Johnson, who are both retiring.
- Approved a plan from Highland Park ISD to add a locker room and covered batting cage building to the softball field.
- Approved a plan from HPISD to construct parking lots and a new practice field on property the district purchased with 2015 and 2024 bond funds. The project will include directional LED lights and add 138 parking spaces. The district hopes to break ground as early as June. The entire project could be completed in spring of 2027, HPISD’s interim assistant superintendent for business services Scott Drillette explained after the meeting.
- Heard an update on progress toward the creation of a Snider Plaza public improvement district and voted to continue its employee parking program through the end of the month.
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