#AskDCTA: What are DCTA’s Microtransit Services and How Can I Use Them?

February 19, 2019

Have a question for DCTA’s customer service team?  Now you can #AskDCTA! In our monthly blog series, our customer service team answers frequently-asked rider questions to better engage with our riders and improve their experience when riding DCTA.

For the month of February, Samantha Balderas – our customer communications specialist – provided insight on our on-demand programs and partnerships.

 

1. What is DCTA’s new Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand service?

Our Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand Service is a microtransit service that provides travel options to those needing access to the Lakeway Business Park area in Lewisville and surrounding business within the designated zone. Microtransit service offers real-time flexible routing and scheduling of vehicles, similar to Uber and Lyft. DCTA branded vehicles will transport a handful of riders at a time.

There is a stop at our Hebron station for connections between Lewisville Connect Routes 21 and 22, A-train and the Lewisville Lakeway Zone.

Service hours are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

How to Ride

Passengers can book a trip in real time through the Spare Rider mobile app which can be downloaded from the Apple and Google Play store. Passengers can also book a trip by calling our customer service team at 940.243.0077.

To view step-by-step instructions on how to book a trip on the Spare Rider mobile app, visit RideDCTA.net.

Service Area

The service area includes the Lakeway Business Park area and surrounding businesses within the zone as pictured in the map below. The service uses a mixture of current physical bus stops as well as virtual stops within the app. The mobile app or DCTA customer service representative will direct riders to the most appropriate stop for pickup and drop-off locations.

Have feedback or suggestions for our Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand service? Let us know here!

 

Cost to Ride

A DCTA Local Day or AM/PM Passes gives riders access to the A-train, Connect Bus Service, Connect Shuttle, Campus Shuttles, Denton Enterprise Airport and Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand services.

University of North Texas (UNT) and North Central Texas College (NCTC) students, faculty and staff can ride the Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand service at no cost with a valid ID.

 

2. What is the Denton Enterprise Airport On-Demand service?

The Lewisville Lakeway Zone isn’t the only on-demand service area we provide — there is also one in Denton. The Denton Enterprise Airport On-Demand Service is a microtransit service that provides travel options for riders needing to access the Denton Enterprise Airport and other businesses in the service zone.

Riders can travel to the Denton Enterprise Airport Zone from anywhere within the designated zone or from UNT’s Fouts Field. Service hours are Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

How to Ride

Passengers can book a trip in real time through the Microtransit mobile app which can be downloaded from the Apple and Google Play store, online or by calling our customer service line at 940.243.0077.

To view step-by-step instructions on how to book a trip on the Spare Rider mobile app, visit RideDCTA.net.

Service Area

The Denton Airport Zone includes the following stops:

• UNT Recreational Sports Complex and Peterbilt Employee Entrance (Eastside)
• WinCo Food Distribution Center
• ALDI Distribution Center
• Fastenal Distribution Center
• Target Distribution Center
• Denton Enterprise Airport
• UNT Fouts Field (only stop outside of the designated zone that will be served

These are not the only stops within the zone. Riders can travel anywhere within the Denton Enterprise Airport Zone using this service. Passengers who ride the on-demand service can also connect to other DCTA services such as Denton Connect Routes 7 and 8, North Texas Xpress and UNT Campus Shuttles.

Cost to Ride

A DCTA Local Day or AM/PM Passes gives riders access to the A-train, Connect Bus Service, Connect Shuttle, Campus Shuttles, Denton Enterprise Airport and Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand services.

University of North Texas (UNT) and North Central Texas College (NCTC) students, faculty and staff can ride the Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand service at no cost with a valid ID.

 

3. Do I have to have a smartphone to schedule my trip?

A smartphone is not required to schedule a ride for the Lewisville Lakeway or Denton Enterprise Airport On-Demand services.

Passengers can schedule trips by calling our customer service team at 940.243.0077. Our customer service hours are as followed:

• Monday – Friday: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

 

We hope Samantha helped answer all your questions about our microtransit services.

Have another question you want our customer service team to answer? Here’s how you can submit them:

• Send your feedback via our GORequest online customer service tool and choose the menu option “#AskDCTA Series”
• Post your question on our Twitter or Facebook page (be sure to use #AskDCTA)
• Drop a note in the comments section on our Hop on Board blog.

While we can’t guarantee that every question submitted will be answered, we will consider all inquiries and will feature questions that will greatly benefit most of our riders!

 

 

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