Enhancing Mobility

in the Heartland

Sherry Sikes CarverCentral Florida Regional Planning Council

July 30, 2014

A comprehensive planning effort that was developed around 5 major goals:◦ Promote mobility within the Region. ◦ Support the Region’s economic development

opportunities. ◦ Provide coordination between the Region’s land

use development and promotion of smart growth. ◦ Promote mobility from the Region to other

regional destinations. ◦ Coordinate regional mobility governance,

planning and funding.

• Six Counties

• Four Communities

• 5,000 + Square Miles

• Diverse population – 300,000+

• Wide range of needs

• Rural Areas of Opportunities (RAO)

Region Characteristics and Demographics Identification of Transportation Resources Public Involvement Plan Overall Regional Mobility Needs Assessment Evaluation of Existing Transit Services Develop Goals, Objectives, Policies Identify and Evaluate Mobility Alternatives Rural Mobility Operations and Strategic Plan

12 pilot projects identified 2 have been implemented

◦ Lake Region Commuter Route – PalmTran Maintain existing fixed-route transit service (SR 80 Corridor) from

Clewiston in Hendry County to Belle Glade in Palm Beach County; started in 2002; and currently operated by Good Wheels.

◦ DeSoto – Arcadia Regional Transit (DART) A new deviated fixed-route service that provide 2 routes in and

around the City of Arcadia; Veolia Transportation is the system operator and service began on November 14, 2012.

•Trips for:•Employment

•Education

•Shopping

•Social/Entertainment

•Church

•Medical

•Recreation

•Other basic services

Jay Goodwill

The Center for Urban

Transportation Research (CUTR)

Richard Shine, M.S District Transit Programs

Administrator  and Title VI Program

Area Officer for TransitFlorida Department of Transportation, District

One 

The DeSoto County Board of County

Commissioners

The Central Florida

Regional Planning Council

The DART service provides DeSoto County residents with mobility and access to life sustaining activities,

including: health care services, jobs, employment opportunities,

government services and commercial centers. The route connects neighborhoods to a

variety of destination and activity centers.

Over 13,600 trips have been provided by DART in the last

12 months

20,000 trips were provided by

TD last year

• CREATING BUS STOPS

•INCREASING RIDERSHIP

•FUTURE FUNDING

“We’ll take you

there!”