New on-demand service slated for ‘23
The Kissimmee Connector, a free bus route started in January 2019 to connect bus and SunRail train riders from the downtown transportation hub to offices and health care facilities around town, will be replaced at the end of the year.
The current service, operated by the Lynx bus service that takes riders to city and county buildings, AdventHealth and HCA Osceola Hospital among 18 locations on a fixed route, will shut down on Sept. 30, the last day of the city’s contract.
It will create a 90-day gap in service the city said it will address. A plan to extend the Lynx service through Dec. 9 would have cost over $100,000.
In its place — if the city can negotiate a contract — will be the Miami-based Freebee service, which uses zero-emission Teslas to take riders wherever they want to go in the service area.
The Kissimmee City Commission voted last week to enter contract negotiations with Freebee, in order to start that free service on Jan. 1, 2023.
City officals said the current service carries about 500 riders per month — which averages to about 17 riders per day — and per the current Lynx contract for about $500,000 per year, ends up costing about $60 per rider. With mass transit ridership still on the low side following COVID-19 trends, the Freebee system, which requires routes only when they’re called for, would provide the city more cost flexibility.
The Freebee vehicles also have “wraps” that can feature paid ads, and the company would allow its drivers to be trained Kissimmee “ambassadors” to tell out-of-towners about the city and its features.
Freebee would be available at the same times as the Lynx Connector, from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. There would also be more flexibility for special weekend events not available through Lynx.
Freebee (ridefreebee.com) currently runs routes in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
City officials at Tuesday’s meeting said Lynx is okay with ending the contract this month, as it frees up drivers and buses for its other routes around the area.
