Expansion Progress
Progress Report
The PT 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 PT. 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 PT was not approved by the voters of Polk County. The PT will spend the next year and a half 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 PT will ask the Board of County Commissioners to once again place the referendum on the ballot for November of 2014.
Upcoming Projects
REGIONAL MOBILITY CALL CENTER (RMCC)
The goal of the Regional Mobility Call Center is to provide customers with a single point of access to receive regional transportation, human services, and community transit information facilitating a greater personal mobility for all residents of Polk County. The RMCC will be located in Bartow. Overall project timeline is under development.
The RMCC will provide:
- A single phone number where customers can receive information about transit schedules, fares, & routes.
- Assist customers with eligibility of specific transit programs (ADA, TD, Medicaid)
- Offer a source of travel training & travel orientation
- Link one call service to overall service delivery process
Regional Mobility Call Center – Business Plan
PARK AND RIDE LOT
Florida Department Of Transportation has leased the 1.313 acre parcel of land located at on US Highway 98 North, south of Interstate 4, between Robson Road, and Pyramid Parkway to the District for construction of a Park and Ride Lot. Overall project timeline is under development.
TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT WITH POLK STATE COLLEGE (PSC)
Tri-party Agreement between Polk State College (PSC), Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (LAMTD), and the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) for universal access to all Citrus Connection and Winter Haven Area (WHAT) Transit Fixed Routes for current faculty, students, and staff. The agreement will provide PSC students, faculty, and staff unlimited access to public transit when the students, faculty, or staff show the appropriate PSC identification card. Overall implementation timeline under development.