Winter Haven, transit agency discuss microtransit, circulator to link LEGOLAND, hospitals and downtown

Erin Killebrew Kinlaw, director of external affairs for Citrus Connection and the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District, gave a mid‑contract ridership update and outlined options for microtransit and a compact circulator to improve connections between downtown Winter Haven, the medical corridor and regional destinations such as LEGOLAND.

Killebrew Kinlaw told the commission the system serving Winter Haven has eight fixed routes and separate paratransit (door‑to‑door ADA) services, and reminded commissioners that ADA eligibility is tied to proximity to a fixed‑route stop: “If there's a stop right outside of here at City Hall, anything that's within 3 quarters of 1 mile from that stop is ADA eligible.” She said Citrus Connection captures where riders board (not where they disembark) via smart‑card data and noted two lightly used routes, the 21X and 17X, pass through only a few miles of Winter Haven.

The discussion turned to a proposed smaller “circulator” route to serve the Florence Villa and downtown CRA areas and a microtransit or express connection to LEGOLAND. A city staff speaker described preliminary routing that would hit medical facilities (Bond Clinic, Winter Haven Hospital, Central Florida Healthcare), shopping (Publix, Aldi) and recreation centers, and suggested funding could come partly from the Florence Villa and downtown CRA budgets with limited general‑fund support when the route extends beyond CRA boundaries.

Commissioners asked about stops and transfers. Killebrew Kinlaw described the Route 30 LEGOLAND service: “It goes from our terminal here. It goes down First Street... it pulls into LEGOLAND. It comes out to Walmart. It goes into Walmart... the mall is our transfer point for other services that run along 27.” City staff said the proposed circulator would be a tighter loop through the core of downtown and Florence Villa; riders going farther out (for example, Cypress Gardens Boulevard Walmart) would transfer at the terminal.

On vehicle technology, Killebrew Kinlaw said Citrus Connection is discussing electric vehicles but not autonomous vehicles: “We have not talked about autonomous at Citrus Connection yet.” Commissioners also raised the idea of an app‑driven, on‑demand microtransit (“boutique” or “squeeze” services and small EV circulators similar to gem cars) that could reduce wait times downtown; staff said the agency is exploring options and federal clean‑energy grant funding had been cut, reducing near‑term outside dollars.

Citrus Connection recommended at least a one‑year trial to evaluate a new route’s viability and to smooth for seasonal ridership variation: “We don't give it less than a year,” Killebrew Kinlaw said, citing prior launches that needed more than a single season to stabilize ridership. Commissioners directed staff and Citrus Connection to continue study of the circulator and microtransit concepts and to return with cost and routing details for budget consideration and potential CRA funding.

Details to watch: where CRA budgets may be committed, whether the city approves any municipal contribution increases, and whether future federal or state grant opportunities reemerge to subsidize electric vehicle purchases.