FEBRUARY 23, 2010

YOUR NAME GOES HERE

Public Transportation:

Benefits the Economy Each $1 invested in public transportation projects

generates $4 - $9 in local economic activity – nationwide

For every $1 billion invested – 30,000 jobs are created

Study* indicates that for Citrus Connection service area alone …transit riders contribute over $9 million annually to the Lakeland area economy

Stats and Facts – The Big Picture(based on research data from the American Public Transit

Association)

•Susan Schuler & Associates

Stats and Facts – The Big Picture(based on research data from the American Public Transit

Association)

Impacts Energy

Saves 900,000 automobile fill-ups each day

(nationwide)

Saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually

Public Transportation:

Improves the Environment:

Saves 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually

(nationwide)

Switching to public transportation reduces individual carbon

emissions by 20 lbs. per day or 4,800 lbs. per year

Increases Quality of Life

Provides access to job opportunities as well as a

transportation option to get to work; go to school; go

shopping; visit friends or go to a doctor

Stats and Facts – The Big Picture

Video

Now That We Have Your

Attention…

Let’s Talk about where we are today

How we got here and…

How public transportation will play an increasingly

important role right here in Polk, to:

Connect our communities, our businesses, our

residents and…

Ensure our future regional competitiveness

Polk’s Public Transportation:

TODAY

Three separate systems with partially-blended service and schedules

Citrus Connection

Winter Haven Area Transit

Polk Transit

Today’s total combined annual investment in public transportation (operating) = $19.6 million

The need for public transportation in Polk is well established

Rider numbers have grown steadily from just over 1.4 million in1999 to over 1.8 million in 2009

Polk’s Public Transportation:

TODAY

.Considered a small urban system (by Federal

definition; based on population)

Funded through a combination of:

Federal dollars, and to a lesser extent…

Grants, and local property tax dollars

Countywide Transit Study

In 2003, the Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)* completed a Countywide Transit Study

The study included recommendations on how to combine the separate transit providers, fragmented funding and services into a single authority – to create an entity with a dedicated mission and funding to provide integrated countywide transit service.

*Conducted in partnership with the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (LAMTD) and Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT)

Building on the Study Results

In 2007, The Polk Transit Authority (PTA) was

created via legislation Sponsors: Senator Dockery and Rep. Troutman

Allowed for formation of a single entity for improved system

coordination, but…

The PTA currently lacks dedicated funding

In 2009, legislative amendment of Florida Statute

gave voters in all charter counties the

opportunity to weigh in at the ballot box on transit

funding options Sponsors: Sen. Alexander/Rep. Braynon

Funding Challenges Current systems rely on federal funding for a significant

portion of operational expenses

Federal operating funds are in jeopardy

Why? Small Urban Large Urban

Anticipated 2010 Census results – our system will be categorized as ‘Large Urban,’ and federal operating dollars will disappear

Large urban areas, with higher populations, are expected to find alternative funding solutions

EXISTING public transportation options will be

significantly reduced and/or eliminated altogether, and

Future mass transportation needs will likely go unmet

Without Replacement

Funding…

High Speed Rail

Station

And Further…. To become “Well-Connected,” existing public

transportation systems need a bit of a makeover!

Why?

Growing need for express bus service; circulators; new and more frequent local service as well as improvements to stops, including lighting and shelters

Polk’s system needs to become a more integral part of the overall mobility mix A multimodal transportation system is KEY to the

economic success of Polk County and our super region

Roadmap to Being Well-

Connected

The Polk Transit

Authority worked with

local governments,

stakeholders and

citizens to identify

today’s needs, and…

A Plan Was Born!

Five-year phased in plan for enhanced public transportation:

Has built-in oversight and accountability

Improves user convenience and access to education (colleges, etc.), shopping (retail centers), businesses, jobs, courts, health care, parks, trails, other communities, each other & more

Expands service boundaries and connectivity – countywide

Builds the framework for connecting the region to Polk –creating opportunities for commerce and sustainable job growth/retention In fact, the plan creates 230 “direct” additional jobs by 2014. -- jobs directly

related to supporting the enhanced system.

And…other jobs WILL be created as a result of the economic ripple effect

The Plan

Is sustainable -- will keep the system operating at

planned levels into the future

Builds the foundation needed to position Polk as a

key destination in the Super Region

Is flexible and visionary (allowing Polk to capitalize

on the exciting emerging opportunities relating to high

speed rail, Legoland and more)

The Plan (Continued)

Provides more frequent service and expanded hours

Improves system amenities (capital investments)

Communications (Dispatch, etc.); Station/Stop improvements;

Pedestrian connections and Operating & Maintenance facilities

Expands popular “park and ride” and “bike and ride”

options

Has a planned referendum to create a dedicated

funding stream

The Price to be Well-Connected

?

Total Annual Operating Cost of Polk’s enhanced public

transportation system = $41.5 million Compared to today’s investment of $19.6 million

Proposal: ½ cent sales tax

dedicated to mass transit funding

Built in citizen oversight

Big VALUE for a bargain price

The Well-Connected Break Down(by year 5)

Total operating cost …………………… $41.5 million

With CITIZEN oversight

1/2 penny estimated to generate….…...$31.7million

(annually)

Balance…………………………………...$ 9.8 million

Will come from leveraged state and federal dollars

Ballot Question

??

?

Voters Will Decide in November!

If Voters approve the ballot measure:

$1.4 million from the County’s general fund (today’s transit subsidy) is freed up to provide other critical services for the community

Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (Citrus Connection)dedicated ad valorem (property tax) discontinued

Cost is shared across the board by ALL who benefit from improved County-wide service….residents, businesses AND visitors – not just property owners!

Bonus

Benefits

The Well-Connected Payoff In conjunction with the proposed high speed rail

line..improved transit will help draw new visitors and

therefore new spending into Polk County and region

The presence of a multi-modal transportation system

can be the deciding factor for both businesses and

talented workers who are considering re-locating

Mass transit impacts everything from economic

development to the quality of the environment and the

lives of Polk County and Super Region residents

Public Transportation and

Public Safety

Sheriff Grady Judd

The Payoff…continued Investments in multi-modal public

transportation have proven to generate new development and re-development of areas around transit stations (Dallas, Charlotte, etc.)

Investing in transportation, especially in mass transit, will guide future growth and ensure it occurs in a more sustainable way

Transit-oriented development along corridors, and particularly around stations, will develop areas that are more walkable, attractive and economically successful

Our Community

Decides….

Communicate Mobility plan, vision and outcomes

Educate the community on mass transportation needs and benefits of being “Well-Connected” Inside Polk (connecting communities) Within the Region

Increase public involvement (especially business leaders)

Obtain funding

What Role will YOU

play…?

in determining

whether Polk will be

simply

connected…

or

WELL-Connected!

The Next Steps

Questions ???

Public transportation is an investment in jobs, medical

services, education, affordable housing – in PEOPLE

Work 49%

School 18%

Medical30%

Shopping 38%

Other37%

Citrus Connection Destinations

From “on bus” survey of riders

Existing System

PROPOSED

ENHANCED

NETWORK

INCREASED

FREQUENCIE

S

IMPROVED

CONNECTIVITY

Proposed

System changes if NO

replacement funding is

identified/secured