Expansion Progress
Progress Report
The Polk Transit Authority Board of Directors approved the framework for a Countywide Transit Service Plan on December 9, 2009. When the Polk High Speed Rail Station was announced subsequent to the December 9 plan approval modifications were made to the framework to serve the Polk High Speed Rail station to be located in Lakeland either at Kathleen and I-4 or at the new USF Polytechnic campus.
On December 16, 2009, at the Authority’s Board of Directors request, the Polk Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution to place a referendum, on the November 2010 ballot, for the voters of Polk County to consider the use of one half cent of the Charter County Transit System Surtax to fund the countywide transit plan. The resolution was approved by the Board. The use of the Charter County Transit System Surtax was made possible, for Polk County use, by legislative changes made during the 2009 Regualr Session of the Florida Legislature and signed by Governor Crist on June 10, 2009. The only option prior to the June 10th signing was a property tax to secure a dedicated source of funding.
On May 5, 2010, the Board of County Commissioners approved an Ordinance placing a referendum on the November 2010 General Election to remit ½ cent of the Charter County Transit Surtax to the Polk Transit Authority. The Ordinance contains the language that will be placed on the ballot.
On November 2, 2010, the referendum to obtain a dedicated funding source for the Polk Transit Authority was not approved by the voters of Polk County. The Authority will spend the next couple of months conducting surveys and focus groups through an independent contractor to evaluate the position of the citizens of Polk County on public transit needs. The results of these surveys and focus groups along with the desire of County officials will determine if the Authority will ask the Board of County Commissioners to once again place the referendum on the ballot for November of 2012.
Service Plan
Existing Enhancement
The purchase and delivery of new buses can take anywhere between 18 months and 24 months. Due to the delay in receiving new buses, existing service in the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (Citrus Connection) and Winter Haven Area Transit will be the first to benefit from the countywide expansion. These service changes are the easiest to make because they do not require the purchase of additional buses, just the employment of additional bus operators, maintenance technicians, and support staff to extend service earlier in the morning and later at night.
Lakeland Area Mass Transit District:
The service hours on the existing routes will begin at 5:15 a.m. instead of 5:45a.m. and end at 10:20p.m. instead of 7:45p.m. Monday thru Friday and begin at 6:45a.m. instead of 7:15a.m. and end at 9:10p.m. instead of 6:15p.m. Saturdays. Additionally, routes will increase in frequency.
Winter Haven Area Transit:
The service hours on existing routes will begin at 5:15a.m. instead of 5:45a.m. and end at 9:15p.m. instead of 7:10p.m. Monday thru Friday and begin at 7:15a.m. and end at 9:15p.m. instead of 4:15p.m. Saturdays. Additionally, routes will increase in frequency.
New Fixed Route:
- Hwy 27 from Lake Wales via Dundee, Lake Hamilton, Haines City, and Davenport and connecting with Orlando’s LYNX Bus Service in Lake County.
- Poinciana to Dundee.
- Auburndale to the new USF Polytechnic campus.
- Lakeland to Polk City to Auburndale with transfers to Connector Route and USF Polytechnic.
- Mulberry to Bartow.
- Routes to the High Speed Rail station when location is known.
- Winter Haven to Haines City via Lucerne Park (Hwy 544).
- Restoring service on portions of the Winter Haven Route 10 eliminated in 2008.
- Lakeland to Tampa Connection.
- Lakeland to new USF Polytechnic campus.
- Kathleen Dr./Banana Rd. area.
- Medulla Loop/Willow Oak area.
- South Lakeland area to Bartow via 540A.
Service to Elderly/Disabled
Extended hours and new fixed routes will increase the paratransit service to disabled individuals in Polk County. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires public transit agencies provide paratransit service to eligible individuals within ¾ of a mile of a fixed route during the same hours.
While the exact increase is hard to calculate, the number of eligible citizens’ is expected to double. The expanded hours and area of service will further increase the quality of life for these individuals to include enjoying restaurants, shopping, and entertainment later at night.
The Community Transportation Coordinator service, which provides transportation services to the elderly and transportation disadvantaged individuals, will see an increase of over 14,000 new trips annually.
Customer Service
Whether riding a fixed route bus, a paratransit van, or traveling by the Community Transportation Coordinator program, customers will receive improved customer service through a united call center with customer service representatives that are familiar and able to coordinate a trip using the various buses and services that the Polk Transit Authority will offer.
Public workshops will be conducted in June to review the plan with citizens, in various areas of the county, and receive their comments and suggestions for improvement of the plan.
See calendar for complete list of workshop dates, times, and locations.