Douglas County's free rideshare is heading west. At a Tuesday, Sept. 22 transportation planning meeting, the Board of County Commissioners approved expanding Link On Demand into Sterling Ranch and Roxborough by the end of 2026, 2-0.
They also voted 2-0 to have staff build the next phases into the proposed 2027 budget: Castle Pines Village, Franktown, Surrey Ridge and additional Parker-area communities.
How Link On Demand works
It's an app-based rideshare that's no cost to ride. Right now it serves Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Castle Rock and parts of Parker. For how to book, hours and the current map, see the County's Link On Demand page and our guides for Castle Rock and Parker.
The numbers
Per the County:
- More than 130,000 rides so far in 2026
- 18-minute average wait
- 4.9 out of 5 average rider rating
- The Sterling Ranch and Roxborough expansion: an estimated $500,000 in operating cost
- Proposed 2027 operating budget: about $9.5 million, paid for with County, municipal partner and grant funding. RTD awarded the program $1.5 million a year for three years, and CDOT is contributing $1.125 million.
- With the grants and the savings from scaling up, the County says the expansion doesn't increase its existing cost of $6 million a year.
When
"By the end of 2026" is the target for Sterling Ranch and Roxborough. The County hasn't posted a launch date or the new service map yet. We'll update this when it does.
Moving to the area? Our Douglas County moving guides cover how Link On Demand fits into getting around.
Source: Douglas County Board of County Commissioners, "Weekly Update from the Board of County Commissioners," Sept. 26, 2026 ([email protected]), and the County's Link On Demand page. Map: Douglas County.