The Lake County Public Transportation Division and Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) are seeking public input as it works to update its Transit Development Plan (TDP), a 10-year strategic planning, development and operations guide for providing public transportation in Lake County.
The 2010 Annual Update to the Lake County TDP includes 89 pages that are organized into six sections: Introduction, Overview of Update, Fiscal Year 2010 Analysis, Status of Goals & Objectives, Updated Implementation Program and Revised Financial Plan. According to the annual update, which was prepared by Wilbur Smith Associates, ridership on LakeXpress’ four routes continues to grow.
· Route 1: Ridership on the Cross County Connector has grown by approximately 18 percent over the last year, with ridership up to an expected 112,689 annual passengers for FY 2010.
· Route 2: Ridership on the Leesburg Circulator has grown approximately seven percent over the last year, with ridership up to an expected 38,177 annual passengers for FY 2010.
· Route 3: Ridership on the Mount Dora Circulator has grown approximately 17 percent over the last year, with ridership up to an expected 29,345 annual passengers for FY 2010.
· Route 4: Service was initiated for the Zellwood Connector on July 1, 2009. A significant transit dependent population lives along this corridor and this service offers the potential of attracting current paratransit patrons to the fixed-route service. Ridership on this route for FY 2010 is expected to reach 21,215, exceeding ridership projections outlined in the most recent Lake County Transit Operation Plan by over 1,000 trips.
“As Lake County continues to grow, public transportation will become increasingly important,” said Ken Harley, Lake County Public Transportation Division Manager. “The County welcomes the opinions of the public as we develop plans that will guide public transit services in Lake County over the next 10 years.”
To view the 2010 Annual Update to the Lake County TDP, log on to www.ridelakexpress.com. Comments on the plan must be submitted to Mike Woods, Lake-Sumter MPO Senior Planner, by Tuesday, Aug. 31, at [email protected].
For questions about the 2010 Annual Update to the Lake County TDP, call Lake-Sumter MPO at (352) 315-0170 ext. 228, LakeXpress at (352) 326-8637 or Lake County Connection at (352) 326-2278.
