Douglas County expands free Link On Demand rideshare service

Residents in Stonegate and parts of Parker now have access to Douglas County’s free Link On Demand rideshare service, a curb-to-curb option that is meant to get people to work, medical appointments, shopping and other daily destinations without relying on a personal vehicle. The service also continues in Lone Tree, Meridian and Highlands Ranch, creating a shared mobility network across some of the county’s fastest-growing areas.

Douglas County says anyone within the service area can use the app-based system, not just older adults or people with limited mobility. Riders can book through the app or by calling 719-212-2430, and the county says trips must begin and end inside the service zone. The service is wheelchair accessible, with vehicles available for riders who need them, and drivers receive accessibility training and background checks. It does not operate on Sundays or major holidays.

The county’s push has centered on practical utility. Commissioners approved a $2.9 million expansion into Highlands Ranch in 2025, and that service launched on May 27, 2025. In February 2026, the board approved a $4.4 million contract to continue service in Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch and expand east into Stonegate and Parker, with the Town of Parker contributing $250,000. Douglas County said the Parker expansion began in April 2026.

The numbers help explain why county leaders are leaning into the program. Douglas County said the service generated 72,000 trips in Highlands Ranch and 73,000 rides in Lone Tree in the prior year, while the overall rider rating stood at 4.9 out of 5 stars. Via said Link On Demand has provided more than 100,000 shared rides since its partnership began in September 2019, after the original Lone Tree Link started in 2014. A Denver Regional Council of Governments presentation said that earlier circulator produced 363,621 total boardings before the current on-demand model took over.

For many residents, the service works best as a first-mile, last-mile bridge. County materials tie Link On Demand to the Meridian area, the I-25 mobility hub south of Lincoln Avenue and future connections meant to link Bustang, RTD light rail and local rides. Via’s rider instructions say some cross-zone trips may require transfers at hubs such as Lincoln Station Transfer Hub or Safeway Transfer Hub, with typical waits of 15 to 30 minutes. That makes the service useful for getting to Sky Ridge Medical Center, Park Meadows Mall and downtown Parker, but also shows its limits: trips depend on the service zone, on operating days and on the need to connect through transfer points.

Douglas County says its own research suggests on-demand transit can return about $4 in economic and social value for every $1 invested. The test now is whether Link On Demand is doing more than patching gaps in a car-dependent county, or whether it is becoming a durable mobility system for residents who need reliable access to the places where daily life actually happens.