Round Rock to roll out new on-demand transit service

Fernanda Figueroa, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read

Round Rock residents will have access to an on-demand transit service in the coming months following approval of a contract on March 23 with ridesharing company zTrip.

The company will start offering services in mid to late June, officials said. The service will be similar to Uber and Lyft, which allow residents to book a ride from an app on their phone. The city will continue to offer its fixed-route bus services through Cap Metro.

The mobility on demand service will be available to anyone traveling in the service area, which will only cover parts of the city. Clients must create an account prior to the trip. Rides can be shared depending on the capacity of the vehicle.

Rock Rock residents will soon have a new mobility on demand, or MOD, service in parts of the city, as shown in green. The other color shows the city's paratransit service. In grey is the city's boundary lines.
Rock Rock residents will soon have a new mobility on demand, or MOD, service in parts of the city, as shown in green. The other color shows the city's paratransit service. In grey is the city's boundary lines.

The on-demand service will operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. City officials said wait times will vary but are expected to average 12 to 15 minutes. Riders will pay $3 to $5 depending on the distance. Senior citizens, people with disabilities and veterans will have a fare of $2.

Vehicles will be able to accommodate wheelchairs.

The contract with zTrip is for five years for a total cost of $6,258,565. The cost will be paid through the city's general fund. zTrip operates in over 20 cities nationwide, including Austin, Houston and Dallas.

The addition is part of the city's updating of its Transit Development Plan. Gary Hudder, Round Rock's director of transportation, said the new services comes as the city works to serve the most residents while managing its funds.

The transit plan addresses the city's rising population and ridership and serves as a guide to develop the future of public transportation in the city over the next 10 years. The plan aims to attract new riders, improve routes, increase efficiency and provide recommendations for updates and additional services to improve the city's transit system.

More:Changes coming to Round Rock's transit services

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Round Rock to roll out new on-demand transit service