Stepping Away From the Car

If you build it, they will come. That seems to be the case in Southwest Florida: those who can drive, do. And as more roadways come into being, there is less likelihood that drivers will consider other forms of transportation that help clear congestion. "As long as you make it easy for someone to make long distance trips, they will," says Gavin Jones, head of the Collier Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Locally, the biggest users of public transit are older folks who no longer drive, two-income families who can't afford two cars, children too young to drive and the handicapped. As many as 2.5 percent of the local urban population uses public transportation to get to medical appointments, day jobs, night shifts, shops and activity centers.

"Public transportation systems are seen as a relief valve. They serve specific needs," says Tom Conrecode, executive vice president of the V Group, a consulting branch for the Southwest Florida Transportation Initiative group.

When will the rest of us decide to use cost-effective, environment friendly public transit? When traffic congestion overwhelms the convenience of private vehicles. It could be as soon as 10 to 15 years. Ridership in other densely population urban areas reaches as high as 23 percent of the population.

"Existing data show a clear need for public transportation in Southwest Florida, in some areas more than others," says Edward Kant, transportation services director for Collier County. "Debate will center on the fee levels, service areas and subsidies needed."

Lee County has a more developed public transportation system. Newly arrived division director of Lee County Transit, Jon Myers, is taking the system to the next level. One of his first moves was to extend bus operating hours, 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., to 10:30 p.m. This immediately increased ridership by 29 percent. Expanded schedules, fine-tuned routing, uniformly identifiable orange and white paint jobs (yes, the massive mobile advertisements painted on the busses are soon to disappear), and broadcast advertising continue to have ridership on the rise, at a steady 5 percent a month.

"We have most of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Lehigh covered," says Myers, who reports that 38 of Lee County's 43 buses are on the street at any given time. "San Carlos and Bonita Springs service is coming as new buses become available."

Both Lee and Collier Counties rely heavily on federal and county public transportation subsidies. Typical fares range from $1 to $2 per ride, covering up to a fifth of expenses.

In Lee, 43 percent of riders are over 55 years of age, 29 percent are working adults, and 28 percent are school age children. That may set a reasonable benchmark for Collier County, which historically has focused its service only on caring for severely transportation disadvantaged populations. Recent operating constraints had further reduced service to use of vans only for trips to and from medical appointments.

Renewed and expanded interest now has Collier County re-examining its responsibilities in providing a larger scope of public transportation alternatives. A study of the situation is finding efficiencies that will enable Collier to provide more types of trips for more types of people.

Cost of equipment, a major roadblock in the past, may be solved through leasing and securing state and federal grants. Contracting a private operator is likely. Vehicle format -- buses, trolleys, taxis or vans -- has yet to be determined, although the local preference seems to point decidedly to smaller-scale vehicles like trams to avoid an urban feel.

Jones says the plan will be workable if the scope is kept to the areas where there's a high demand, for example, Immokalee and areas where workers travel back and forth. "(There) you've got the ability to pick up enough people to generate a fair box recovery," he says. "It doesn't have to go to all corners of the county."

Other ideas for traffic control? Jones points to a toll system as a theoretical possibility. Lee County is already operating a toll facility at three bridges -- at two of the locations, the county has specifically implemented programs that encourage travel during non-peak times with reduced fares. It may not be a favorite for some commuters, but it could work to reduce congestion where it hurts most -- drivers' pocketbooks.

Within both counties, commissioners and planners also continue to work within density-reduction guidelines to encourage communities that provide close-by commercial areas, so that residents will have shorter spans to travel to go fetch that gallon of milk from the grocery store.

What's the next step? How about a park-and-ride passenger train program with Seminole Gulf Railway? It's a thought.