The Lone Tree Link shuttle service returned Feb. 4 with a fully implemented version of its Link On Demand shuttle. The free shuttle serves rides to passengers to and from anywhere in the city.

The Link On Demand effectively replaced the Link Circulator shuttle, which looped from Lincoln Station to the RidgeGate neighborhood periodically.

“Our commitment to a visionary transportation network pushed us to think outside the box, and that's how we became the first city in the nation to form this type of partnership with Uber,” Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet said. “We knew there was a great demand for this type of service, and our pilot program confirmed that.”

During the pilot phase, which launched in August 2017, Link On Demand provided more than 20,000 rides in Lone Tree to major employers like Charles Schwab, Sky Ridge Medical Center and Park Meadows Retail Resort, as well as the library, recreation center and Lone Tree Arts Center.

The upgraded Link On Demand service features a new app and call-ahead ride scheduling. The city partnered with Uber for its original On Demand pilot program. Upon the relaunch, the city announced a private-public partnership with Via, an on-demand transit service based in New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Uber indicated it was currently not interested in continuing this kind of service.

To use, riders must download the new Link On Demand app available on Apple App and Google Play stores.  Once downloaded, riders simply enter their origin and destination within city limits, and they'll be picked up in one of the city's 12-passenger, wheelchair accessible, family-friendly shuttles driven by professional drivers. Riders can also request their rides by calling 720-990-0176. Hours of service are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“Our goal was to get cars off the road and to get people moving in and out of our city,” Millet said. “A wide variety of individuals took advantage of our pilot, and we recognized this is something we want to continue.”