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The Addison City Council approved an agreement with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) on October 13 that will provide up to $800,000 in funding for Addison Orbit, the Town's on-demand transportation service operated by Via Transportation.
The agreement will allow Addison Orbit to continue operating beyond its original six-month pilot period while DART evaluates potential improvements to its GoLink microtransit service. The agreement also calls for integrating Addison Orbit into DART's GoPass trip-planning application, simplifying how passengers plan trips using the two transportation systems.
The decision follows months of discussions about the future of local transportation in Addison, including a May election in which voters chose to remain members of DART, adjustments to the Orbit pilot program and increasing ridership.
Addison Orbit recorded 898 rides during the week of October 5, setting a new weekly record and representing more than seven times the 125 rides completed during its first full week of service in April. According to the Town, weekly ridership has exceeded 840 rides for four consecutive weeks.
Town officials attributed the increase in part to continued marketing, Addison Oktoberfest and recommendations from riders.
The transportation service began as a six-month pilot program following the City Council's March 24 approval of an agreement with Via Transportation. Addison Orbit officially launched April 25, offering shared, on-demand rides throughout Addison and connections to designated DART transit locations.
The program was developed to address first-mile and last-mile transportation needs, helping passengers travel between their destinations and regional transit services. Improving local mobility and connections to DART, including the Silver Line, has been part of Addison's strategic planning efforts since 2020.
During the service's first week, the Branch Herald rode Addison Orbit twice to evaluate how the system worked for passengers.
In its April 28 report, the Branch Herald documented both the convenience of the service and challenges involving pickup locations, navigation and coordinating connections with DART.
Addison Mayor Bruce Arfsten, who had been riding the service regularly, described occasional delays and difficulties with the application. He also expressed concern about passengers needing to use separate applications to coordinate Orbit rides and DART connections.
"You have to work both apps right now," Arfsten told the Branch Herald in April. "I don't know when to order the ride."
Despite those challenges, Arfsten said the service addressed an existing transportation need.
"Even though I want us to stay in DART … I see what they are doing for local transit, and it fixes that first mile, last mile problem," Arfsten said.
Addison City Council Member Randy Smith, who opposed continued DART membership, expressed support for Orbit as a potential alternative to DART service within Addison.
The pilot program launched shortly before the May 2 election, when Addison voters decided to remain in DART. Following the election, the Town adjusted Orbit's service model to better complement DART and focus on local transportation.
Those changes included discontinuing paratransit service and rally stops outside Addison's boundaries, with the exception of Knoll Trail Station. The Town also added a post-trip survey to the Orbit application to collect passenger feedback.
In a May 19 message published by the Branch Herald, Addison City Manager David Gaines explained that the pilot was intended to collect operational data and rider feedback to help guide future transportation decisions.
Gaines identified potential improvements to DART's GoLink service and the possibility of circulator routes as options for consideration. He also emphasized that the Council's upcoming May 26 discussion would not establish a permanent transportation arrangement.
During that May 26 work session, the Council directed staff to continue the Orbit pilot through mid-October while pursuing discussions with DART about future partnerships.
The Town subsequently waived Orbit fares throughout June, allowing passengers to use the service without charge as Addison continued encouraging ridership and collecting feedback.
In July, the Council directed staff to pursue negotiations with DART over financial support for continued Orbit operations. The Town also reduced individual fares to $1.50 for adults and seniors beginning July 20.
The October 13 funding agreement represents the latest development in those negotiations and provides a way for Addison Orbit to continue operating while the two agencies evaluate future transportation options.
The planned integration with DART's GoPass application could also address one of the concerns identified during the service's initial rollout by making it easier for passengers to coordinate local Orbit trips with regional transit connections.
Although ridership has increased considerably since April, the agreement does not establish Addison Orbit as a permanent replacement for other transportation services. DART will continue evaluating potential improvements to GoLink as the Town considers how on-demand transportation fits into its long-term mobility plans.
For additional information about Addison Orbit, including fares, service hours and booking options, visit city.ridewithvia.com/addison.
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