IRVING, Texas — The Irving City Council has approved a contract with Via Transportation to launch new transit services aimed at replacing recently discontinued DART bus routes and improving mobility throughout the city.
The council voted on Thursday, May 7th, to move forward with the approximately $1.7 million agreement, which will provide replacement service for former DART bus routes 225 and 255 and introduce a new circulator route in Las Colinas.
According to city officials, the new Irving Connector Routes 225 and 255 are intended to help residents impacted by the elimination of the DART routes by maintaining access to key destinations across Irving, including higher education institutions, the University of Dallas Orange Line station, and other commonly traveled areas.
Officials said the new connector routes will follow the same routing and stops previously used by DART.
In addition to the replacement routes, the city will introduce a new circulator service called Irving Connector: The Loop at Las Colinas. The route will operate in a figure-eight pattern along Las Colinas Boulevard and Lake Carolyn Parkway, with through access at O’Connor Road and Promenade Parkway.
“The City of Irving is a strong supporter of mass transit,” Mayor Rick Stopfer said in a statement. “We are committed to stepping in with solutions that keep our community connected and ensure residents, visitors and commuters can continue to get where they need to go.”
The city said the transit service will operate as a walk-on system using ADA-compliant Ford Transit vehicles equipped with one wheelchair-secured space and seating for up to nine passengers. Riders will not need reservations and will be able to use Via Transportation’s Citymapper mobile application to track schedules and purchase tickets.
Fares for Irving Connector Routes 225 and 255 will remain $3 per trip, matching the previous DART fare structure.
City officials said Route 225 will operate with two vans daily from 5 a.m. to midnight with 27 stops and service frequency ranging from 35 to 60 minutes.
Route 255 will also use two vans operating daily from 5 a.m. to midnight with 26 stops and similar frequency.
The Loop at Las Colinas is expected to cover nearly four miles along Las Colinas Boulevard, Lake Carolyn Parkway, O’Connor Road, and Promenade Parkway. Officials said stop locations are still being finalized.
The contract includes a one-year commitment with four optional one-year extensions available to the city. Officials said Irving will continue working with Dallas Area Rapid Transit in hopes of restoring the original bus routes under DART operations in the future.
Irving Connector Routes 225 and 255 are expected to launch in June, while The Loop at Las Colinas is scheduled to begin service in July.
Via Transportation is also currently used by the City of Arlington for public transit operations.
