BikeWalkLee and SWFL Council of the Blind continue to urge the Lee County Commission to restore the LeeTran service cutbacks that went into effect in November, which are causing hardship for riders and ridership declines.
Background
As part of the 2013-14 budget process,
the Lee County Board cut LeeTran evening and weekend services effectively in
half, extending intervals between buses to as long as two hours. These service cutbacks were intended to save
$500,000 in LeeTran’s budget; however, the county lost an equal amount of
matching grant funds and is now losing ridership (which means fare revenues are
down), so the “savings” is actually costing the county money.
BikeWalkLee, along with the Southwest Florida
Council of the Blind, Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast, and many
individual citizens who rely on transit services, opposed the cuts at the
September public hearings and have continued to speak out about the hardships
these cutbacks are causing for transit users in our community.
Ridership numbers are down
Since the cutbacks went into effect in
mid-November, ridership numbers have fallen for the first time in years, after
several years of record-breaking increases in ridership. In January (compared to previous Jan.),
ridership was down 8.5% and again in Feb., ridership was down 2.1% (compared to previous Feb.). While LeeTran has provided no analysis as to
the causes of the ridership declines, BikeWalkLee believes that the service
cutbacks are a significant factor, both directly and indirectly, as our overall
transit system is now perceived as less reliable as a way to get to work or meet
other transportation needs. Compared to this time last year, Lee County's employment and population numbers are up and the tourism season is one of the best on record, all indicating that absent the LeeTran service cuts, ridership numbers should have increased above last year's numbers, not declined.
Two hour intervals between buses is simply not a viable mode of transportation for many riders. Research shows that the functional viability
of any transit system hinges on two primary qualities: 1) punctuality or
reliability; and 2) the waiting time between buses (or headway time). The enormous headway extensions after 6 p.m.
and on Saturdays caused by the LeeTran service cutbacks have weakened the
entire transit system. The longer these service cutbacks are in
place, the more damage is being done to the long-term viability of our transit
system.
BikeWalkLee and SWFL Council for the
Blind urge restoring $500,000 now
In December, BikeWalkLee asked the Board to
restore the $500,000 cuts as soon as possible,
and reiterated that request again in its March 13th letter to BoCC: " If the BoCC considers spending any of this
$12.3 million now [unanticipated unspent funds in FY 2013], it would be
essential that you restore the $500,000 LeeTran cut. This cut has resulted in bus services after 6
p.m. being greatly curtailed, risking the long-term viability of our transit
system. "
At the March 18th BoCC
meeting, during open public comment period at the end of the meeting, the
President (Mary Ann Alexander) and four other representatives from the SWFL
Council of the Blind (A BWL supporter organization) urged the Board to restore the $500,000 cut in
LeeTran. Each of the 5 speakers made the case in personal terms re: the
importance of both regular transit and paratransit services for the blind if
they are to lead independent lives. The speakers thanked the board for
saving the 2 routes that were on the chopping block last year and urged them to
restore the $500 K. Chairman Kiker thanked the Council of the Blind for being on
top of the budget in the early stages and for helping the Board make its budget
decisions for next year. See News-Press 3/19/14 story (last paragraph).
Previous blog stories on LeeTran cuts:
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