Plano’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for Vonlane, a luxury regional bus service to operate out of the Renaissance hotel in Legacy West.
Senior Planner John Kim presented the proposal for a bus transit service serving residents and visitors around the Legacy Business area, including Legacy West, Legacy North and the Shops at Legacy. The transit center will be located near Communications Parkway and Legacy Drive in the hotel parking lot.
Riders will have access to the hotel lobby and some amenities. Buses will park along Legacy Drive and exit via Communications Parkway. The service will operate daily with 22- to 24-seat luxury buses. Only one bus can be on site at a time, and the hotel owns the facility, Kim said.
Alex Danza, CEO of Vonlane, said the company operates regional bus service between Dallas and Austin. The 45-foot buses include attendants, restrooms and connect cities 200 to 250 miles apart. The new service would connect Plano to Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Houston. The service recently expanded to Georgia and Tennessee.
Vonlane currently partners with hotels for meal service and catering, Danza said. The company charges an average $135 one-way fare and has transported more than 2 million passengers.
The company relies heavily on rideshare services for passengers and uses minimal parking, Danza said. On high-demand days, passengers are encouraged to use rideshare rather than park. Buses arrive during off-peak times to avoid conflicts with hotel events.
Commission members raised concerns about parking strain. Staff noted the hotel would need to establish a rideshare waiting area.
The permit restricts operations to one bus at a time with no on-site bus storage. Buses must enter through Legacy Drive and Communications Parkway and cannot use Windrose Avenue, Kim said.
Staff requested a parking study to assess demand, but the applicant provided only a parking space inventory. The applicant agreed to file a letter with the county allowing city council to require additional parking if nuisances arise on public streets or adjacent properties.