Counties debate transit costs, ridership and whether vouchers or microtransit could cut subsidies

Representatives from Citrus and Hernando County transit agencies spent the bulk of the meeting answering commissioners’ questions about how many trips each system provides, how trips are counted and what each trip actually costs taxpayers.

"We did 56,086 trips in fiscal year 24," Joanne Granger, transit services director for Citrus County, told the MPO board while walking through her county’s operating figures. Granger said the National Transit Database door‑to‑door cost is about $70 per trip and fixed‑route about $35 per trip, with roughly 18% of the cost paid locally; she highlighted that the Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged covers fare reductions for many riders.

Hernando County transit administrator Darlene Lolly described a different operating model and funding mix: "Hernando, fortunately for us, we are 100% grant funded," she said, noting Hernando relies primarily on federal and state grants and a local 9‑cent gas tax allocation rather than broad ad valorem support. Lolly and commissioners debated how trips are counted (unlinked passenger trips versus unduplicated riders) and whether the transit development plans are binding or advisory.

Board members repeatedly asked staff to produce clearer per‑rider and per‑client cost breakdowns so elected officials can compare alternatives — for example, vouchers for ridesharing services or contracted paratransit versus fixed‑route expansion. Several commissioners said an accurate unduplicated rider count and year‑over‑year operating cost comparison are necessary before making policy or funding changes.