In a nutshell
If approved, the item authorizes an approximately $10.46 million contract extension with Via, according to the meeting agenda. The contract assumes about 234,895 hours of van service estimated to cost about $42.11 per hour. Operations are expected to cost more than $9.8 million.
The customer service portion of the contract is broken into two six-month periods. Each period will cost $283,500, according to the agenda.
The contract extension is already budgeted for in the fiscal year 2023-24 operating and capital budget approved by the board in August.
The background
This is the first of two one-year extensions available under the current contract, which was awarded in 2021. The contract is slated to expire Sept. 30, but staff is requesting an extension through Sept. 30, 2024.
The transportation authority launched the GoZone service with Via in 2021. Its coverage area includes Highland Village, Lewisville and Denton, according to the transportation authority’s website.
As of mid-August, the service had completed more than 1.3 million rides, according to a transportation authority news release.
By the numbers
The contract extension is being considered after staff presented a detailed look at the service’s performance during an Aug. 24 meeting.
The service saw a 32% increase in rides between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023. Ridership in Denton peaked at 55,000 riders in May.In Lewisville, the service reported 21,000 riders in May, June and July.Highland Village ridership has more than doubled in 2023 with 938 riders reported in July.Get involved
The board will meet at 10 a.m. Sept. 28 at 1955 Lakeway Drive, Ste. 260, Lewisville. A Zoom link is listed on the agenda for those unable to attend in person.
The agenda can be accessed via the transportation authority’s website.
