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Seminole commissioners direct staff to seek bids and pilots as LYNX proposes major route cuts and microtransit expansion
Summary
After a multi-hour presentation from LYNX and county staff, the board approved staff’s recommended next steps: issue a solicitation/RFP for microtransit options (inviting LYNX to bid), explore parallel pilots, and return with a timeline — while stressing protections for paratransit riders.
Seminole County commissioners on Tuesday directed staff to pursue an open solicitation to evaluate microtransit and restructured fixed-route options for the county’s share of the LYNX regional system. The board agreed staff should invite proposals from LYNX and private vendors, consider pilot projects, and return with a public timeline.
Assistant County Manager Christian Swinson and LYNX planners presented three options to the board, one of which would reduce fixed-route service and expand on-demand NeighborLink zones. LYNX’s James Boyle told the board the plan would “combine the length 103 and the length 34 into 1 route” and expand on-demand NeighborLink service where fixed routes are cut. Staff estimates roughly $3.85 million in annual savings from reduced fixed-route hours under one model.
Commissioners pressed staff on equity and paratransit impacts; LYNX CFO Lenny Yemen confirmed that reduced fixed-route coverage would change the fare environment for some paratransit riders and could raise the one-way paratransit fare from $4 to the standard $7 when the 0.75-mile fixed-route buffer is removed. “We are here to make this better for you, not worse,” Commissioner Lockhart said, urging robust public outreach and safeguards for riders who depend on transit.
The board unanimously adopted staff’s next steps — continue regional dialogue, develop an RFP/solicitation that allows multiple vendor models (including inviting LYNX to bid), and test pilot programs — and asked staff to return with a more detailed timeline and community engagement plan.
