Ride Solutions says $1.2 million in nonrecurring funds will restore Putnam County transit

Ride Solutions executives briefed the Putnam County Board of County Commissioners on a plan to restore reduced transit service after funding cuts that forced the agency to stop extensive in‑county runs in December 2023.

"Via the work of our lobbyists in Tallahassee, we have been able to secure a nonrecurring funding of $1,200,000 to reestablish the service previously affected," said Boyd Thompson, identified in the meeting as Ride Solutions’ executive director. Thompson said the money funds a restart of the county’s cross‑county and Palatka routes and other intercity connections.

Thompson said Ride Solutions previously served about 2,043 county residents per month in 2023; after the December 2023 reductions that number fell to ‘‘less than 700’’ people. He told the board the restored services would include a Palatka city route operating 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. five days a week and a Cross County Express connecting Palatka, Interlachen and South Putnam. He said the Cross County Express will resume early October 2025 once FDOT grants and contracts are finalized.

Thompson gave a budget context: Ride Solutions’ annual operating need is roughly $2.3 million, and the newly secured $1.2 million is nonrecurring and likely will cover a year or slightly more of service. "If you don't get the 1.3 from the state, then you're you have very limited ability," he said, describing a scenario in which the agency could operate the funded year but not sustain full service without recurring funds.

Commissioners asked about alternatives and partnerships. Thompson and other presenters said they are pursuing a multi‑pronged sustainability strategy: (1) leverage local appropriations and FDOT match funding, (2) use Medicaid and waiver match where eligible, and (3) press for stronger statutory support that favors rural community transportation coordinators (CTCs). Thompson noted that recent Medicaid reforms have routed many rural Medicaid transport dollars to private contractors in larger counties; he argued Putnam’s limited rideshare availability (Uber/Lyft) makes local CTCs critical for service.

Board members pressed staff and Ride Solutions on timing and grant deliverables, and emphasized a need to recruit drivers. "We need to do something, I would imagine," Commissioner Harvey said, asking staff to give the contractor a timeline to clean up compliance items and asking Ride Solutions to accelerate hiring.

Why it matters: Ride Solutions provides lifeline mobility in rural Putnam County — linking riders to medical care, jobs and intercity connections. The sudden drop from more than 2,000 monthly riders to under 700 illustrates the scale of lost mobility. Because the $1.2 million is nonrecurring, commissioners were told the county must pursue recurring funding or match strategies if it wants long‑term restoration rather than a one‑year restart.

What’s next: Thompson said Ride Solutions is awaiting FDOT grant contracts and plans to restart services by early October 2025 if grants arrive on schedule. He asked the board for help with driver recruitment and for continued letters of support to help secure recurring funding in future legislative sessions.

Ending: Commissioners thanked Ride Solutions for the update and asked staff to continue coordinating with the agency on grant timelines and local support.