Lone Tree Link to expand into Highlands Ranch with $2.9 million; users call service a "godsend"

Douglas County event speakers announced a $2.9 million expansion of the Lone Tree Link on-demand service to cover an additional 24 square miles in Highlands Ranch and described the expansion as a response to demonstrated local demand.

Speaker 4 stated specifics of the plan: "The specifics are $2,900,000 to expand the wildly successful Lone Tree Link by 24 square miles in the Highlands Ranch." Speaker 3 and others framed the extension as a major benefit to the community — "Extending the link is huge for the entire community," Speaker 3 said, calling it "a game changer when it comes to transportation in our Highlands Ranch community."

Speaker 4 cited usage data as evidence of need, saying "Just last week alone, around Lone Tree and Meridian, we delivered over 1,600 rides." Speaker 5 described how residents can check scheduled rides and noted everyday uses such as dinner and shopping trips.

A service worker and user, Speaker 1, identified themself as "working for the Lone Tree Link, which is now the Highlands Ranch Link on demand," and gave a personal account of the service’s impact: the expansion "gives him mobility...It gives him freedom...This is an answer to prayer," and called the Link on demand "a godsend."

No formal funding ordinance or vote was announced at the event; the $2.9 million figure and the 24-square-mile expansion were stated by speakers during remarks.