Highland Park’s Town Council recently authorized implementation of a public transit partnership with Via Transportation, an on-demand microtransit and paratransit company.
Town Administrator Tobin Maples, who presented the program, indicated it would provide similar access and service levels to current Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) users while also connecting riders to nearby DART facilities and regional transit options.
The decision positions the town to respond if voters decide on May 2 to withdraw from DART. If the town continues its DART membership, then the program could complement existing transit services, the town wrote in an email message sent after the meeting.
The agreement with Via includes general on-demand and paratransit services for an initial term of six months, with options to extend, Maples reported. The structure is intended to provide the Town with the necessary flexibility to evaluate program performance, collect and analyze operational data, and scale or refine the service model as appropriate following implementation.
The council approved a $1.55 million amendment to the FY26 budget to fund the transportation program.
During the Town Council meeting on April 21, council members also addressed increasingly complex traffic flow issues from cars cutting through Highland Park neighborhoods and on-street construction parking. Officials reported conditions have attributed to traffic delays, limited access for emergency vehicles, and caused safety concerns for pedestrians.
Other service components such as a Workforce Circulator Builder Shuttle to transport construction workers from off-site parking areas were also discussed during Town Council Study Sessions on February 17 and April 7.
Due to the operational complexity and ongoing refinement for the introduction of a Workforce Circulator Builder Shuttle, separate consideration will be brought to the Council later as details for it are finalized, Maples said.
Highland Park’s On-Demand services are set to launch Wednesday, May 13.
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