$100M transportation-safety program reports early wins: sidewalks, lighting and transit ridership increases

County public-works staff and LYNX officials told the board the Accelerated Transportation Safety Program—$100 million across five years—has produced measurable safety and mobility gains at the program's midpoint.

Kelly (Public Works chief) described program structure and outcomes: $55M for sidewalks, roadway lighting and safety countermeasures and $45M for transit service improvements and bus shelters. Staff reported 117 completed projects so far — 19 miles of sidewalk, more than 26 miles of roadway lighting and corridor safety upgrades — with $40.6M spent to date. The program uses bundling and term contracts to accelerate delivery and reduce costs.

James Boyle, LYNX chief development officer, said transit investments produced ridership gains after frequency increases and route extensions. “The more often a bus comes, the more likely you are to get people to use it,” Boyle said, summarizing data showing ridership increases on routes that received frequency improvements and a new Links route (3-11) connecting airport, SunRail and Disney Springs.

Staff cautioned reprioritization will be required as inflation and grant availability affect budgets; they expect to return in spring 2027 with recommendations for reprioritized sidewalks and lighting. LYNX said transit service improvements add 735,000 annual trips on improved routes and that opportunities exist to seek operational and capital grants to preserve gains beyond the ATSP funding horizon.