Cedar Park council approves two‑year microtransit pilot with $800,000 cap

Cedar Park—The City Council voted to authorize a two‑year microtransit pilot program with Tripp Consulting, approving a contract with a not‑to‑exceed budget of $800,000 intended to subsidize on‑demand rides within city limits.

Randy Skinner, engineering capital projects, said the pilot follows an RFP process that yielded seven respondents and a staff evaluation. "This is a 2 year contract that's, with a not to exceed of $800,000," he told the council, describing a $155,000 one‑time implementation fee and ongoing monthly reporting that will let the city monitor expenses against the cap.

Under the agreement rideshare services will be provided by Uber. The initial fare charged to riders will be $5; the city subsidy will be up to $10 per qualifying trip, with a proposed cap of 10 subsidized trips per rider per month. Wheelchair‑accessible service will be provided through Z Trip with a per‑trip subsidy and mileage and availability fees as outlined by staff.

Trip Consulting representative Rick Coach described how the discount will appear to riders: "It'll slash that price out and then show them what... the discount on that," he said, explaining the subsidy will be applied automatically when trips originate and end within the geofenced service area.

Council members debated operational details, including how the geofence will treat parcels with Leander addresses but located in Cedar Park, how the city will enroll eligible users and how marketing funds will be used to reach seniors and other target groups. Staff said Tripp will work with communications and engagement on a marketing plan and that some marketing and outreach costs are included in the pilot budget.

The resolution passed following a motion and second; the clerk recorded the tally as five in favor, one opposed, with one council member absent. Staff said the pilot will begin after the agreement is executed and that monthly performance reports will inform long‑term decisions.

A next step for the program will be implementation of the geofence, rider onboarding procedures for wheelchair‑accessible trips, and developing the city‑facing marketing and outreach plan.