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Okaloosa moves to restructure transit: airports assumes operations, board backs ITN to shift to paratransit model
Summary
After a month under airports administration, staff told commissioners fixed‑route ridership is low and operating costs high; the board unanimously approved an aggressive ITN schedule to seek a contractor and move toward a paratransit‑focused model with possible micro‑routes to address post‑release jail transport.
Okaloosa County officials on March 24 endorsed a plan to restructure transit after the airports department assumed oversight a month earlier. Airports director Tracy Stage presented ridership and cost data showing steep declines in fixed‑route use, routes with single‑digit daily riders and a current operating cost that staff characterized as unsustainable without one‑time COVID/ARPA grants.
Stage told commissioners the county averages roughly 1.8 passengers per revenue hour on fixed routes — far below national benchmarks — and that monthly payments under the current contract plus in‑kind county costs total…
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