tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27512176483307441682024-03-05T06:03:21.042-08:00LynxedTogetherThis blog is about riding public transportation and the Lynx bus in metro OrlandoLynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-28090196042906239412020-05-28T16:42:00.001-07:002020-05-28T16:42:59.129-07:00Route changes coming to Lynx<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx is planning to make route and schedule changes
throughout its bus system serving Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most of the changes appear to be minor, with the exception
of some routes serving the Disney resort area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXYG3iOjjWl6C5yhrUaVQ9cxZvzGZh9moFkmntED6Rbv4de-QQ1K2r2BAdBptLfkhhyvOrujcnhLt2tJlT_ayuW4YgVlCVEGyQkJA606RT5ofVDH2jyXf1bXhjbSdORgSbjrvngoCgR8/s1600/lynx-station.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="1056" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXYG3iOjjWl6C5yhrUaVQ9cxZvzGZh9moFkmntED6Rbv4de-QQ1K2r2BAdBptLfkhhyvOrujcnhLt2tJlT_ayuW4YgVlCVEGyQkJA606RT5ofVDH2jyXf1bXhjbSdORgSbjrvngoCgR8/s400/lynx-station.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here are the details:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ROUTE CHANGES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 36 –
Lake Richmond (Orange County) – Outbound buses will operate via Central Avenue
instead of Washington Street between Hughey Avenue and Division Avenue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 104 –
West Colonial Drive (Orange County) – Inbound buses will operate via Rosalind
Avenue, Amelia Street to LYNX Central Station. Outbound buses will operate via
Livingston Street, Magnolia Avenue to Robinson Street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ROUTE AND SCHEDULE CHANGES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 40 –
Americana Boulevard/Universal Orlando (Orange County) – Outbound buses will
operate via Central Avenue instead of Washington Street between Hughey Avenue
and Division Avenue. Minor schedule adjustments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 300 –
Downtown Orlando/Hotel Plaza Boulevard (Orange County) – Eliminate evening
service on Lake Street, Palm Parkway and Apopka Vineland Road. Minor schedule
adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 301 –
Pine Hills/Animal Kingdom (Orange County) – Extend service to Riviera Resort.
Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 302 –
Rosemont/Magic Kingdom (Orange County) – Eliminate morning service into
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village
Resort. Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 303 –
Washington Shores/Hollywood Studios (Orange County) – Evening outbound trip
from Washington Shores will no longer serve Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.
Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 304 –
Rio Grande/Vistana Resort (Orange County) – Eliminate service to Holiday Inn
Resort and Lake Buena Vista Resort. Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SCHEDULE CHANGES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 7 – S.
Orange Avenue/Florida Mall (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 11 –
S. Orange Avenue/Orlando International Airport (Orange County) – Minor schedule
adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 13 –
University Boulevard/UCF (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 18 –
S. Orange Avenue/Kissimmee (Orange County/Osceola County) – Minor schedule
adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 23 –
Winter Park/Springs Village (Orange County/Seminole County) – Minor schedule
adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 26 –
Pleasant Hill Road/Poinciana (Osceola County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 37 –
Pine Hills/Florida Mall (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 40 –
Americana Boulevard/Universal Orlando (Orange County) – Minor schedule
adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 44 –
Hiawassee Road/Zellwood (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 50 –
Downtown Orlando/Magic Kingdom (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 51 –
Conway Road/Orlando International Airport (Orange County) – Minor schedule
adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 56 –
W. U.S. 192/Magic Kingdom (Osceola County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 313 –
Bumby Avenue/Winter Park (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 443 –
Winter Park/Pine Hills (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>NeighborLink 631 – Buena Ventura Lakes (Osceola County) – Minor schedule
adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span>NeighborLink 632 – North Kissimmee (Osceola County) – Minor schedule
adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LYNX CENTRAL STATION BAY CHANGES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 3 –
Lake Margaret Drive (Orange County) – From Bay Y to Bay Z.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 38 –
Downtown Orlando/SeaWorld (Orange County) – From Bay B to Bay D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 50 –
Downtown Orlando/Magic Kingdom (Orange County) – From Bay D to Bay C.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 63 –
LYMMO Orange/N. Quarter (City of Orlando) – From Bay R to Bay N.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link 104 –
West Colonial Drive (Orange County) – From Bay Z to Bay R.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These changes are scheduled to go into effect July 19. They
will be discussed and finalized during the Lynx board meeting June 25.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-86028010962601028142020-04-25T06:49:00.002-07:002020-04-25T06:49:15.228-07:00Coronavirus: Lynx bus questions and answers<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">What follows are questions that <b>David Thomas Moran</b>, co-chair of CFL4Transit (Central Floridians for Public Transit), sent to the leadership at the Lynx public bus system. <b>Check out the answers he received</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">How can the community-at-large and CFL4Transit best support LYNX and public transit right now and in the coming months? What are the biggest needs?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The best way to help is by sharing the information we are pushing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/David/Desktop/www.golynx.com/coronavirusinfo"><b>www.golynx.com/coronavirusinfo</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknMJK5M7KkCnlyQ4cbmtR6WJJbWXU8IAagzklAJhJfxe16xGWPJSvr_oCOEl-5AY4K-LioJGjlm_1GjASeTS2VM1iuWBPRUoubKWIMtvuUDb_uMfaTELWTGVNtDzsqs9OuIYGXaX5ghd1/s1600/panbus1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1600" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknMJK5M7KkCnlyQ4cbmtR6WJJbWXU8IAagzklAJhJfxe16xGWPJSvr_oCOEl-5AY4K-LioJGjlm_1GjASeTS2VM1iuWBPRUoubKWIMtvuUDb_uMfaTELWTGVNtDzsqs9OuIYGXaX5ghd1/s320/panbus1.png" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/David/Desktop/www.facebook.com/golynx"><b>www.facebook.com/golynx</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/David/Desktop/www.twitter.com/lynxbusorlando%20"><b>www.twitter.com/lynxbusorlando</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Along with this we need people to understand that if you are sick, you do not ride. We are encouraging essential trips only.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">How is LYNX coordinating with public health officials to support the safety and well-being of transit riders and transit operators during the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>COVID-19 outbreak?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">LYNX is following all recommendations set forth by the CDC and local health departments to continue safely moving passengers throughout Central Florida. This includes rear door entry unless you need the lift, no fares, staggered seating and limiting the number of passengers per bus. We are encouraging the use of face masks/coverings when riding but, this is only an encouragement and not mandatory. We cannot express this enough, if a customer is sick or travel isn't essential, we are requesting those customers to please stay home and not ride LYNX.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">How is LYNX addressing concerns that service reductions may cause crowding on buses when social distancing is needed?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">We are requiring rear door entry unless you need the lift; no fares; staggered seating and limiting the number of passengers per bus. We are encouraging the use of face masks/coverings when riding but, this is only an encouragement and not mandatory. We cannot express this enough, if a customer is sick or travel isn't essential, we are requesting those customers to please stay home and not ride LYNX.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">What data did the LYNX use to decide which routes to cut back on for COVID-19 service reduction?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The goal was to provide access for essential trips which included serving medical and shopping facilities. We looked at how we can best use our resources and staff while safely providing trips to our rider.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">How much CARES ACT (federal) funding did LYNX receive and how will it be spent?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The allocation listed in the federal register was approximately $77 million.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are still working with the FTA on its guidance which is being refined on how the funding can be used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately the LYNX Board will make the decision.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-67210851201485700432020-03-03T11:25:00.002-08:002020-03-03T11:27:32.097-08:00Worried about catching coronavirus on Lynx?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A confined space like a bus can be a great breeding ground for
the coronavirus, so we reached out to Lynx to see what steps they
are taking to protect the public and employees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcA0zhbfSCfjuVCUY_WyfAFEahuabHNpDvIbbDYtTjM_Chd6TLwYAW70gBNGpbcGjhL8BjO9nXea4fN2VSA0YnrXcXEuJKZRYS6XT51CNTQToo3Y8qLXfbxBbe_mzCBOsK3vzgQHuwco/s1600/cleanup2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1152" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcA0zhbfSCfjuVCUY_WyfAFEahuabHNpDvIbbDYtTjM_Chd6TLwYAW70gBNGpbcGjhL8BjO9nXea4fN2VSA0YnrXcXEuJKZRYS6XT51CNTQToo3Y8qLXfbxBbe_mzCBOsK3vzgQHuwco/s320/cleanup2.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s how they responded to us today (March 3):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“We are in the process of finalizing our official plan.
Rest assured we are monitoring the potential impacts and will respond
accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As of today, we have done:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creating
preliminary agency plan for the coronavirus. In process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Developing
plan on increasing the cleaning of its buses. No issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Increased
the cleaning of our facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Educated
staff on the coronavirus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participating in the Orange County
Emergency Management daily conference call.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By comparison, the NY Daily News reported the Metropolitan
Transit Authority in New York City was disinfecting its 6,400 buses every three
days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0Lynx Central Station, 455 N Garland Ave, Orlando, FL 32801, USA28.5484762 -81.38139190.79402220000000057 -122.6899859 56.3029302 -40.0727979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-14311787982012436102020-03-01T07:37:00.000-08:002020-03-01T07:52:00.488-08:00Please don't leave Lynx out in the cold<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Dang. It’s a shame more Lynx bus riders didn’t participate in a <a href="https://www.ocfl.net/TrafficTransportation/TransportationInitiative/CommunityEngagement.aspx?fbclid=IwAR26YexqeCFMttNJ_qpUSg1PM7NU_THlZErWNQZC7psdm8Xpm8Tl-Mi2gfM#.XlvRz6hKiM9"><b>recently completed survey</b></a> of Orange County transportation needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Survey participants were asked to select their top 5 transportation priorities.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> The survey was conducted by Orange County to see where the public wants to spend money if voters in November approve a proposal to add 1-cent to the sales tax to pay for transportation improvements.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XFW_Qy98YT-8ZO2eD-Z07lFjNI_gyAi8lGLqf-HfQO3E3fazs_-caMewO1iL98JH8KirpWlTb3mL0curIk-fOrKL1lcSnQDBIC1GxC4VYChJPsWa2Ue3hGrK8n3wKRScthUKPo4S1Kj4/s1600/survey-bus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XFW_Qy98YT-8ZO2eD-Z07lFjNI_gyAi8lGLqf-HfQO3E3fazs_-caMewO1iL98JH8KirpWlTb3mL0curIk-fOrKL1lcSnQDBIC1GxC4VYChJPsWa2Ue3hGrK8n3wKRScthUKPo4S1Kj4/s400/survey-bus.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The good news is that “building a mass transit system (to include buses trains and other modes of transportation)” was ranked as the No. 1 priority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">That same priority list ranked improving Lynx service as No. 8.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Improving SunRail service ranked No. 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Priorities 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 focused on improving streets for vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">County staff circulated the survey forms at a variety of meetings for months. The survey was widely publicized and could have been completed online.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Nearly 11,000 people completed the survey forms. Only 4 percent (about 440) of the survey participants ride Lynx daily. More than 70 percent said they never ride Lynx.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">While it was gratifying to see that the overall idea of improving mass transportation ranked No. 1, much of the attention seemed to be focused on the shiny new thing – SunRail. The Lynx bus is not sexy, but necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">SunRail tends to carry more affluent Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 workers. There are few suits and ties on Lynx, which operates nearly 18 hours daily, 365 days of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lynx provides 60,000 rides daily, compared to SunRail which provides 6,000 rides every day during its 5-day operating schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lynx is the spark plug that drives the local economy relied on by low-income hourly workers in Central Florida’s lucrative tourism, hospitality service industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Many Lynx riders do not earn enough money to buy or maintain a car. They endure hours on the bus to and from work. They typically wait 30 minutes to an hour for buses – sometimes without any protection from the sun and rain. Most change buses more than once to reach their destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Improving that service to make it more convenient and reduce travel time requires doubling the bus fleet from a little more than 300 to 600 or more buses; more staff; better designed routes, and the construction of express buses-only lanes on main thoroughfares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">While it’s disappointing that more Lynx riders didn’t participate in the survey it’s also understandable. Many riders work more than one job and crazy hours. </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">They’ve also been ignored for so long that many may not think that their concerns count. Yet it’s important for riders to take every opportunity to make their voices heard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">We hope the county commissioners who will decide how money from a proposed transportation tax would be divided up understand that this survey is not a scientific poll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">We encourage commissioners to do their own research. Spend a few hours downtown at Lynx Central Station talking to riders and ride some buses (not for a photo opportunity, but for fact finding.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Our community deserves a much better bus system than what we have today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-62315432599018640642020-01-20T09:44:00.002-08:002020-03-02T15:19:16.440-08:00Lynx needs to teach SunRail a lesson<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Lynx bus folks could teach the SunRail commuter train
executives a few lessons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lesson No. 1 is – you gotta be there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On this past Monday – the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
federal holiday – SunRail let down the people who count on the train for daily transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa3ZoxoR8DKlKUWTrsnBsuoRuhRboOER_dDXiG0ME8gXVZkPZsLuAAVGEKFZpVQ_GPW-RgP76UyeUP1RI5UeXHMhEW0bHRaWHP577joATh94kP3QfORpOtCcpmLNbKT7GixNtP4R1I_I/s1600/2MWoods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="864" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa3ZoxoR8DKlKUWTrsnBsuoRuhRboOER_dDXiG0ME8gXVZkPZsLuAAVGEKFZpVQ_GPW-RgP76UyeUP1RI5UeXHMhEW0bHRaWHP577joATh94kP3QfORpOtCcpmLNbKT7GixNtP4R1I_I/s320/2MWoods.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MLK Day bus service at SunRail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As SunRail has done for the past 5 MLK holidays – there was
no train service on Monday. It is one of seven holidays when SunRail does not
run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But guess what? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx was on the road – on a holiday schedule – but the
buses were running. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We watched Monday morning while two Lynx buses pull into
the Meadow Woods SunRail station. Even though the parking lot was empty, there
was a handful of people waiting for the buses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx has many shortcomings that demand attention, but at
least the Lynx bus is there and operating 365 days of the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We’ve heard from people who use a combination of the Lynx
bus and SunRail to get to and from work. When there is no SunRail, their
commute time increases by 2 hours or more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SunRail stops on the front doorstep of this region’s two
largest hospitals – Orlando Health and Advent Health. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hospitals are open 24/7. How are the caregivers supposed to
get to work when the train is not running? (In addition to Orlando Health and
Advent Health, there are at least two other hospitals served by SunRail
stations.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What about the airport workers and those who are the
lifeblood of our hospitality industry? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><a href="https://youtu.be/sNjxqJfG6kw">SunRail has an excuse
for why there is no holiday service, but it’s crap.</a></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Whoever came up with SunRail's jacked up operating schedule that
doesn’t include holidays and weekends was either a bureaucrat or a politician who
never uses public transit -- and doesn’t care about those who do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Cut the baloney, SunRail!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Put Lynx in charge of the trains and let’s get SunRail on
the right track.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SunRail needs Lynx, not the other way around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx brings many people to the train station and provides a
last-mile solution for many riders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That said, Lynx needs to double the size of its bus fleet; pay
its drivers a livable wage and increase its infrastructure with more operations
centers to stage buses and improved bus stops for passengers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">People shouldn’t have to wait an hour for a bus or put up
with no train service on weekends and holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We deserve better!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-60464841571332701952020-01-07T14:35:00.002-08:002020-01-07T17:31:02.618-08:00Lynx must not think too much of its drivers<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Usually, we write about residents who depend on the Lynx bus for transportation in Central Florida.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">But this time we’re focusing on the plight of Lynx bus drivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Recently we noticed a Lynx bus sporting a sign announcing that Lynx wants to hire new drivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwZraT61J_Ixm1wmd83VyTdJwsO92x-kklj5DirxG5nneLI3B7AY-D-xGDg_nhlC5YbDNjUi8FrlZ-6I1QBZrcXASaS-u0TOSoWfzvRbvRyiInm9wW5CjtGC2xY_mpWUhLmXHAvE6fnkP/s1600/stationbus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="864" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwZraT61J_Ixm1wmd83VyTdJwsO92x-kklj5DirxG5nneLI3B7AY-D-xGDg_nhlC5YbDNjUi8FrlZ-6I1QBZrcXASaS-u0TOSoWfzvRbvRyiInm9wW5CjtGC2xY_mpWUhLmXHAvE6fnkP/s400/stationbus.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The starting pay: $14 an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Seriously?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Maybe Lynx management (a public agency) isn’t aware of it, but there is a national campaign seeking a minimum wage of $15 an hour for all workers. Lynx’s ridiculous compensation offer may be one of the reasons the agency is so desperate to recruit that it resorted to ads on the side of its buses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Honestly, $15 an hour isn’t a livable wage. Try paying your rent, utilities, bills and feeding your family on that. No wonder so many people are living in tents and their cars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">We’ve heard some Lynx drivers can’t afford a car. Just like many of their passengers – who can’t afford a car – some drivers ride the Lynx bus to work. Let that sink in for a moment…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The good news at Lynx is after you complete your bus driver training your pay goes up to $16.70, according to a union official.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Big whoop!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Driver pay at Lynx tops out at $23 an hour. Gee hope they don’t have children who want to visit Disney or go to college one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Let’s get serious. A driver must have special training and licenses. Drivers also must pass an annual physical. Everybody doesn’t have what it takes to drive a Lynx bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The driver operates a half-million-dollar piece of equipment on crowded, chaotic streets and is responsible for the safety and lives of dozens of passengers. Come to think of it, the driver’s responsibilities look a lot like an airline pilot’s – and fly jocks make six-figure salaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Realistically we understand that Lynx drivers aren’t going to get six-figure salaries, but gee, they ought to be getting decent pay for a difficult job that is sometimes dangerous. Last year a Lynx driver was killed in a mishap. Down in Hillsborough County, a bus driver was viciously slashed and disfigured by a passenger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The amount Lynx is willing to pay its drivers says a lot about how much it cares about the customers (the public) Lynx is serving. Would you want your heart surgery performed by a doctor being paid minimum wage?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">How are drivers supposed to focus on the jobs when they’re worrying about picking up enough overtime hours to keep a roof over their heads and pay their bills?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">How can Lynx become a world-class public transportation agency if it can’t hire and retain outstanding drivers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Lynx gotta do better!</span></div>
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<br />LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-1546963417207801542019-08-18T17:14:00.001-07:002019-08-21T10:59:54.350-07:00The public needs to sound off Wednesday to improve Lynx bus service<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you have difficulty getting from Point A to Point B in
Central Florida, then you should attend a very important meeting scheduled for
this Wednesday (Aug. 21).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The meeting was called by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings
to discuss transportation -- everything from roads to SunRail and the Lynx bus
system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk74iZI5TL9ftAhfSkB4n4ZUh8M_0ZwgYrwWAcBfOkn4JQGFodhDEPByOAFKOJaAtpXs-Bj-4cHB3JCFlLaPG517V9fOkCgIzcsuflWlDpqY7LPH0MXB_ak4O2XdZZd83_IpCDc2FES58/s1600/bus-meeting.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1152" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk74iZI5TL9ftAhfSkB4n4ZUh8M_0ZwgYrwWAcBfOkn4JQGFodhDEPByOAFKOJaAtpXs-Bj-4cHB3JCFlLaPG517V9fOkCgIzcsuflWlDpqY7LPH0MXB_ak4O2XdZZd83_IpCDc2FES58/s400/bus-meeting.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">During his first State of the County address Demings
floated the idea of seeking voter approval for a 1-cent sales tax increase in
Orange County to help pay for needed improvements to public transportation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In that speech, Demings said, “I am convinced that now is
the time for us to seek multi-modal transportation options that will increase
frequency of public transit so more people will use it,” Mayor Demings said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Now is the time to collectively arrive at a comprehensive
solution that will foster an environment where a transportation network is
fully funded. I invite our community to consider support of a sales tax
referendum to prepare for the future today. I look forward to leading efforts
to pass a one-cent sales tax increase that will allow us to fully fund a
transportation system that can better serve us well into the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He promised to call meetings to discuss transportation
needs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wednesday's event, which will be held in a second-floor
conference room at Lynx Central Station in downtown Orlando.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Lynx struggles to serve three counties with a
fleet of barely more than 300 buses. By comparison, the Orange County School
District has a fleet of 900 buses to serve one county. Many passengers must
wait an hour for buses because the fleet is too small, and the system is poorly
funded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Improving public transit gives residents an alternative to
driving their cars everywhere – especially when heading to downtown Orlando,
where congestion is the worst and parking is expensive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Now is the time to move forward and not go back, now is
the time to build a better quality of life not only for us but for generations
to come,” Demings said during the State of the County speech.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">County officials said they're seeking the public's thoughts
on:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Public transportation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Congested roads<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pedestrian crossings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Traffic signals and technology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wednesday’s meeting will start at 6 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx Central Station is a perfect location because it is
easy to reach by folks who ride SunRail and Lynx.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-74369900622977384602019-06-27T09:13:00.001-07:002019-06-27T09:13:17.861-07:00Lynx changes bus stops in Pine Hills<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Pay attention if you or your friends ride the Lynx bus in the Pine Hills area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">As of Friday (6/26) Lynx </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">will no longer serve the bus terminal in the parking lot of Park Promenade Plaza in Pine Hills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Transfers between bus routes will be made at the intersection of Hiawassee Road and Silver Star Road.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQbE8kWn4f7ttP9EMaX4SlqZwoXLc2x9CCPZcdd8aVMoseFeBx8aOs8az6dkjPJDbqkwW1wRR1bNChPsdItVE_3lsj9Xh5g4Fj9VF7K9PPel3veUYvaEWtxBe4bHCUO82foZyWUMsRDrO/s1600/lynxtrio1a.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1600" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQbE8kWn4f7ttP9EMaX4SlqZwoXLc2x9CCPZcdd8aVMoseFeBx8aOs8az6dkjPJDbqkwW1wRR1bNChPsdItVE_3lsj9Xh5g4Fj9VF7K9PPel3veUYvaEWtxBe4bHCUO82foZyWUMsRDrO/s320/lynxtrio1a.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">· Link 37 – last stop northbound will be at the new bus stop on the northwest corner in front of Bank of America. Southbound buses will board at the bus stop on the southwest corner by Walgreens.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">· Link 44 – last stop southbound will be at the new bus stop on the northwest corner in front of Bank of America. Northbound buses will board at the bus shelter on Hiawassee Road in front of Popeye’s.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">· Link 48 – last stop westbound will be at the new bus stop on the northwest corner in front of Bank of America. Eastbound buses will board at the bus stops on the southeast and southwest corners.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">· Link 301 – last bus stop westbound will be on the northeast corner in front of the Shell/Circle K Express station. Eastbound buses will board at the bus stop on the southeast corner.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">· Link 443 – last stop westbound will be at the new bus stop on the northwest corner in front of Bank of America. Eastbound buses will board at the bus stops on the southeast and southwest corners.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">All buses that terminate at Silver Star Road and Hiawassee Road will continue to the new layover and turnaround location at Lake Stanley Road and Silver Star Road. No passengers will be permitted to ride to the layover location.<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-35048897706445372952019-04-07T13:24:00.001-07:002019-04-07T13:25:27.845-07:00Lynx will be changing some bus schedules soon<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx announced that it’s changing some routes, schedules, and even bus stop locations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These changes go into effect on April 28.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6SuRGpGjFZHVUrhgzpM0bXB8t431fOcDJ2uqemQoAVB0z9y5O1lohz_FX4TTlTp1zym9EXOFPY_JIBP_0os10YlcMB2tnl1WnwePJ-6d_owqw1HYDfmy0nInWa5M0Si_ovJid-aqugo/s1600/getonbus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="720" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6SuRGpGjFZHVUrhgzpM0bXB8t431fOcDJ2uqemQoAVB0z9y5O1lohz_FX4TTlTp1zym9EXOFPY_JIBP_0os10YlcMB2tnl1WnwePJ-6d_owqw1HYDfmy0nInWa5M0Si_ovJid-aqugo/s320/getonbus.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here is what will happen:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ROUTE ADJUSTMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 155 – The Loop/Buena Ventura Lakes/Osceola Parkway (Osceola County) – The route will now travel between Greenwald Way and Centerview Boulevard via Osceola Parkway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· FastLink 407 – Kissimmee/OIA/Medical City (Orange County/Osceola County) – During the morning peak, trips to Lake Nona will first serve the VA Medical Center. Morning peak inbound trips to Kissimmee will serve Nemours Children’s Hospital and the USTA National Campus. Midday and afternoon peak service will remain unchanged, except for minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· NeighborLink 613 – Pine Hills (Orange County) – NeighborLink zone will be extended north to include the Park Promenade Plaza.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> BUS STOP ADJUSTMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 61 - LYMMO Lime Line (City of Orlando) – Adding new bus stop on Amelia Street at Terry Avenue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· FastLink 441 – Kissimmee/Orlando (Orange County/Osceola County) – Inbound and outbound trips will now each serve a bus stop at South Orange Blossom Trail and Centerview Boulevard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 15 – Curry Ford Road/Valencia College East (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 26 – Pleasant Hill Road (Osceola County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 60 – LYMMO Orange Line (City of Orlando) – Weekday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., frequency will change to every six minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 61 – LYMMO Lime Line (City of Orlando) – Weekdays, after 7 p.m., bus frequency will change to every 20 minutes. All day Saturday and Sunday bus frequency will change to every 20 minutes. Friday and Saturday the last trip will leave Livingston Street and Hughey Avenue at 10:40 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 62 – LYMMO Grapefruit Line (City of Orlando) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 63 – LYMMO North Quarter Line (City of Orlando) – On Friday and Saturdays the last trip will leave LCS at 10:40 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 103 – North 17-92/Sanford (Orange County/ Seminole County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 301 – Pine Hills/Animal Kingdom (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">· Link 304 – Rio Grande</span>LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0Orlando, FL, USA28.5383355 -81.3792364999999928.0917165 -82.0246835 28.984954499999997 -80.733789499999986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-64908922845825842362019-03-24T15:20:00.001-07:002019-03-25T06:55:26.639-07:00We hope Osceola residents will vote to improve Lynx<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Great news! Osceola County is taking steps to create a dedicated source for funding that can help both the Lynx bus and SunRail. The rest of Central Florida should follow Osceola’s lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On May 21st Osceola County voters will have the opportunity to approve a one-cent sales tax for transportation. If voters support the referendum, money raised by that tax can be used for a variety of transportation improvements from road widening to helping Lynx and SunRail.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">That’s outstanding. Please vote "for" this referendum.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx is catastrophically underfunded. Right now, the Florida Department of Transportation is helping to fund SunRail. In 2 years that becomes the responsibility of local governments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Public transit – Lynx and SunRail – don’t raise enough from the fare box to fully pay operating costs. If government didn’t subsidize public transit, people would have to pay up to $14 for a one-way ride on some Lynx routes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No public transit system in the world can pay for operations solely from the fare box. Typically, a transit system can pay about 30 percent of the costs from fares. Beyond that, they need government support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Remember, public transit is a service. The police and fire are also very expensive services paid for by the government. Unlike police and fire, transit raises some of the money needed to pay for its operating costs. Keep in mind that all transportation – from the street outside your house to the airlines – receive government subsidies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Up to now, every year Lynx officials must go hat-in-hand to local governments to beg for money to keep the buses rolling. This creates a precarious situation, which makes it difficult to improve the bus service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Osceola County Commissioners demonstrated enormous wisdom and courage in putting this issue up for voters to decide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No elected official likes to raise the subject of increasing taxes, but "for" this issue is an important investment in Osceola's future. One of the great things about this referendum is it includes a little something for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If approved, this tax would raise $67 million per year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That money will go to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Improve roads and bridges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Install sidewalks and bike lanes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For more details on the tax and how the money will be used, <b><a href="https://www.osceola.org/core/fileparse.php/7533/urlt/032119_Community-Presentation-March-2019.pdf">click here.</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Osceola County residents make great use of public transit. You can see that every day in the crowds at the Intermodal station in downtown Kissimmee that serves Lynx and SunRail. You can also see it on the SunRail trains. They’re packed leaving and returning to Osceola. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Granted adding a penny to the sales tax will put a squeeze on some residents. But the sacrifice is worth it because communities with a strong transportation system – both roads and public transit – are attractive to investors and that means more employers; more and better employment opportunities, and a better standard of living for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We encourage Osceola residents to vote “for” this sales-tax referendum on May 21st.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that on May 21st, Volusia County is also holding a vote to increase the sales tax by a half-cent. Sadly, that money is for<a href="https://www.volusia.org/services/public-works/sales-tax-ballot.stml"> </a><b><a href="https://www.volusia.org/services/public-works/sales-tax-ballot.stml">infrastructure improvements,</a> </b>which includes roads. None of that money can be used for Votran or SunRail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s a shame, and very shortsighted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Meanwhile, we’ll rejoice that Osceola County is showing real leadership on public transit funding. We urge Orlando, Orange, and Seminole counties to get on board with dedicated funding sources for public transit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We need it now, more than ever!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0Kissimmee, FL, USA28.2919557 -81.40757099999996228.1801082 -81.56893249999996 28.4038032 -81.246209499999964tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-83948227731213485322019-03-05T11:38:00.003-08:002019-03-05T11:39:21.336-08:00Lynx riders were the big losers when the bus CEO resigned<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx bus CEO Edward Johnson is gone, but not forgotten.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Though Johnson had some shortcomings, we believe that he tried his best to improve public transit for thousands of Central Floridians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ultimately, Johnson’s departure will hurt riders the most. It could take six months or more before a permanent replacement is selected, and then that person faces a learning curve to understand the system and all the political players.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Much has been said about the $21 million deficit at Lynx, we think it’s important to note the technology innovations the bus system added under Johnson’s leadership to improve the rider experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mobile-fare collection (paying with your smartphone)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Real-time bus tracking app<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As for the $21 million deficit – that’s what happens when you try to provide transit service to a sprawling metro area when your agency is catastrophically underfunded and doesn’t have enough people, equipment or other critical resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In an interview last year, Johnson described some of the things Lynx needs to improve service. To see that interview, <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://youtu.be/Mxpu5N-A4Gw">click here</a></b></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Despite these shortcomings, Lynx provides roughly 83,000 rides daily, compared to SunRail, which provides 5,300 rides daily on weekdays. Lynx has 300 buses to serve three counties. By comparison, the Orange County public school district has 900 buses to serve one county.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Point your fingers as much as you want at Johnson, he was not the problem. The problem is that Central Florida’s elected officials have neglected Lynx for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx riders have been neglected because most of them don’t have a choice because they can’t afford a car. Many ride the bus for almost two hours on the way to work and two hours on the way back home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Neither Lynx nor SunRail, have a dedicated source of funding to subsidize the cost of service. Almost every public transit system in the world (THE WORLD!) needs to subsidize the cost of service. Taxpayers subsidize all transportation systems and services from the street outside your house, to the airlines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Every year Lynx officials go hat in hand to local governments to beg for money to keep things rolling. They get the bare minimum, which is why Lynx is always limping along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx needs a reliable source of funding that could come from a penny sales tax or surcharge on car rentals – two possible sources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s up to our elected officials to demonstrate political courage to embrace a dedicated source of funding to provide Lynx with the resources it needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Without a dedicated funding source, the next Lynx chief will be on a fool’s errand doomed to suffer the same fate as Edward Johnson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Either that or the next Lynx chief will be forced to eliminate many routes and reduce the frequency of buses to cut costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The community deserves more, not less public transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-46427258297951570472019-02-24T13:14:00.001-08:002019-02-24T13:14:30.630-08:00Please fix the Kissimmee Connector bus<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The Kissimmee Connector bus at the Kissimmee SunRail station needs some tweaks to succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The Connector, launched in January, was designed to make it easier for people at the Kissimmee Intermodal Station – serving SunRail, Lynx, Greyhound, and Amtrak -- to reach the Osceola Courthouse and other destinations, such as the local hospitals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The problem is that the Connector runs on a 30-minute schedule. It is not uncommon to see the Connector sitting empty at the intermodal station while the driver is waiting to leave on the schedule. People who want to use the Connector waste time sitting and waiting for the driver to start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Instead of waiting, some people opt to walk, which defeats the purpose of launching this service. This is one of the reasons why the Connector sometimes runs empty, or with only one or two passengers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The Connector would get more use if it ran on a non-stop loop, like the Lymmo buses in downtown Orlando.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">In addition, merchants in Historic Downtown Kissimmee, have told us that they wish that at least part of the Connector’s route took it down the Broadway business strip, instead of skirting that downtown commercial corridor, which hosts dozens of restaurants and shops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The Connector is operated by Lynx. Is anyone at Lynx and Kissimmee City Hall paying attention?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">See you on The Kissimmee Connector.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-55268194094876512252019-02-03T09:29:00.001-08:002019-02-03T09:29:42.909-08:00Improve Lynx by supporting Transit Equity Day<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Monday (Feb. 4) is <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://www.labor4sustainability.org/articles/transit-equity-day-is-coming-save-the-date-take-action/">Transit Equity Day</a></b></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">No, there won’t be any parades and you don’t get the day off from work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Transit Equity Day is a national observance that was created to call attention to the importance of public transit. This date was selected because it was the birthday of </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks">Rosa Parks</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">, who is credited with launching the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_bus_boycott">Montgomery Bus Boycott</a></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> (1955 to 1956) to end racial segregation on public buses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">We share the belief of Mrs. Parks, and the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that access to public transit is a civil right. (If you don’t have a car and can’t afford one, then how do you get to work, the doctor, or shopping for groceries?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The goal is of Transit Equity Day is to recognize the importance of public transit to everyone because it:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Helps reduce traffic congestion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Improves our local economy and create more jobs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Protects the environment from toxic emissions, which helps to counter the catastrophic danger of global warming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">What can you do to observe Transit Equity Day?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">If you already use Lynx, SunRail or Votran, <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://www.labor4sustainability.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/TED-COALITION-POSTER-3.pdf">click here</a></b></span> to create a poster for a selfie to share on your social media to show you’re a supporter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Call and email local, state and federal elected officials and tell them we need more money invested Lynx, SunRail and Votran for more buses and trains to improve the service and make them easier and more convenient to use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">At your daily work team meeting, mention today is Transit Equity Day and tell your colleagues why you use the train or bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">If you usually drive, but want to include public transit in your work journey, <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://www.rethinkyourcommute.com/">click here</a></b></span> to visit our friends at rethink Your Commute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-33848123247908859972019-01-23T11:02:00.000-08:002019-01-23T11:02:26.330-08:00See how Lynx stepped up its game in Kissimmee<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Starting Monday (1/28) public transit in Kissimmee will get a big boost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s when Lynx’s Kissimmee Circulator -- also known as Link 709 -- begins service. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This mini-bus was launched to make it easier for people to get to popular destinations in Kissimmee’s downtown core. The Kissimmee Circulator begins its route at the Kissimmee Super Stop on Neptune Road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The service, which will run from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, will link the intermodal transit station with the Osceola County Courthouse and administrative center with Kissimmee City Hall, Osceola Regional Medical Center, Florida Hospital Kissimmee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Until now, it’s been a pretty good hike between the intermodal station – which serves passengers from SunRail, Lynx, Amtrak, and Greyhound -- and the county courthouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Kissimmee Connector will travel on Dakin Street, Lakeview Drive, Emmett Street, Church Street, Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Oak Street, Central Avenue, and Main Street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For the first 6 months of service, people will be able to ride the 12-passenger mini-bus for free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-78986173602722440822019-01-11T14:43:00.000-08:002019-01-11T14:50:40.438-08:00Our elected officials should be blamed for the Lynx deficit<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No one should be surprised by the <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://www.wftv.com/news/local/lynx-ceo-says-agency-needs-money-from-counties/902602676">recent TV news story</a></b></span> reporting that Lynx has a $21 million deficit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s the inevitable outcome when you have a fast-growing 3-county metropolitan region served by an underfunded, poorly equipped public bus system. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our elected officials – local, state and federal – have ignored Lynx for decades. They’ve never given Lynx the resources it needs and that riders deserve. Now the suits are acting surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWOuBmV1UOyQcGfUTwsgMQoKGlzAyjVC72-RCLlNTNhqKPNHmUVJvk5mhvfWNo-D_wZ9k_qMv41YTGBMJTa1UftYKZP7dZlJrPm8FTeqNMqXbc9ygrVZijpT-h533MWoXveWuZiQigF4/s1600/phbus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWOuBmV1UOyQcGfUTwsgMQoKGlzAyjVC72-RCLlNTNhqKPNHmUVJvk5mhvfWNo-D_wZ9k_qMv41YTGBMJTa1UftYKZP7dZlJrPm8FTeqNMqXbc9ygrVZijpT-h533MWoXveWuZiQigF4/s320/phbus.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The best suggestion some people have come up with to address the problem is laying off drivers and cutting routes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Are you FRIGGING KIDDING US!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyone suggesting cutbacks is both an idiot, and an elitist!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Maybe those Lynx critics don’t ride the bus, but tens of thousands do every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For the record: Lynx provides 83,000 rides daily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx serves Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties with about 300 buses. By comparison, the Orange County school district has 900 buses to serve one county.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx needs more drivers, more buses and more routes – not fewer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The overwhelming majority of people who ride Lynx use it because they don’t have a choice. They don’t have a car and can’t afford one. Many spend two hours or more every day on trips to and from work, school, doctors office and such.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most of the riders are working people – employed in the low-paying service industry that drives Central Florida’s tourism economy. They are voters and taxpayers and they deserve better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many walk a mile or more to reach a Lynx bus stop and must make multiple transfers to reach their destination. There are many important destinations – such as Orlando-Sanford International Airport -- that can’t be reached on a Lynx bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We won’t even discuss how long passengers wait – often without shelter from the sun and rain – for their bus to arrive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The first thing some people want to do is blame the deficit problem on Lynx CEO Edward Johnson. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Who knows maybe the Lynx board will throw Johnson over the side because of this deficit. But guess what? Lynx bus service will continue to suck and struggle financially!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Johnson didn’t cause the crisis. The factors leading up to this situation existed well before Johnson took over the agency. They are beyond his authority to fix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unlike most other transit agencies throughout the nation, Lynx does not have a dedicated funding source, to help pay for the service. (SunRail doesn’t have a dedicated funding source either and will soon be facing the same budget problem in 2 years when the Florida Department of Transportation turns over that rail system to local governments to run.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A dedicated funding source could be a penny sales tax; a surcharge on rental cars (Orlando is the nation’s largest rental-car market), or a slice of the expressway authority tolls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No public transit system can support its operations solely from the fare box. Typically, a public transit system can get about 30 percent of its operating money from the fare box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is the responsibility of our elected officials to provide that funding source to subsidize our public transit. Politicians don’t want to touch it so they won’t be blamed for a tax, but if they’re too timid to make the tough decisions, then they need to quit so we can elect people who will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Without a subsidy, people would have to pay $15 per ride on some Lynx routes. That’s obviously too much for service workers who bring $300 or less weekly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s not forget that all transportation -- from the airlines to the street outside your house -- is supported by taxpayer subsidies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Public transit is a service just like the police and fire departments, which are also expensive to run. Unlike police and fire, public transit does generate some income through the fare box. As noted earlier, public transit plays a major role in our local economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead of a steady source that can be counted on, every year Lynx managers must beg local governments for financial support. Lynx never gets the amount needed to create a robust, convenient bus system. Now we have a crisis. Thanks for nothing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Time for our local, state and federal elected officials to pull up their big-boy and big-girl pants and give Lynx and its riders the financial support they have always needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-78440031846375710952019-01-05T14:44:00.003-08:002019-01-05T14:44:20.902-08:00Want a fast ride to a Disney job on Lynx?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Our bad!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RpT71_0z_pAnoAPJ4fVuKQy309GnZ663HHfevM9wA6-cCiZ4DgxLPxKFzW0VJMfJxVCydNjMsQAApNDedtvSwIC8atm3EUNYr4D8pGclFmflq3oznZQOWcgz3MntczG4X49euBmN270B/s1600/Link56.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RpT71_0z_pAnoAPJ4fVuKQy309GnZ663HHfevM9wA6-cCiZ4DgxLPxKFzW0VJMfJxVCydNjMsQAApNDedtvSwIC8atm3EUNYr4D8pGclFmflq3oznZQOWcgz3MntczG4X49euBmN270B/s320/Link56.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">A few months ago, <b><a href="https://sunrailriders.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-take-sunrail-to-disney.html">we suggested that SunRail’s Southern Extension into Osceola County would make it easy for people to reach Disney by taking the train to Kissimmee where riders could transfer to Lynx bus route 56.</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Later we learned the bus ride from the Kissimmee Intermodal Station (used by SunRail and Lynx) to Disney could take an hour or more. In a car, that same ride would take 30 minutes give or take -- depending on the time of day and the traffic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The Link 56 bus uses U.S. Highway 192 and makes stops so you can see why the trip takes so long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">It would be much quicker if Lynx ran an express bus straight from the Tupperware SunRail station down Osceola Parkway to Disney. That trip takes 20 minutes or less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lynx has said it has considered such a route, but that has not been included in the bus service changes that go into effect this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">People need the bus service now, not some time in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">That’s why we’re asking people to <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://bit.ly/2AwkMjI">CLICK HERE</a></b></span> to sign a petition to launch a Lynx express bus connecting SunRail to Disney.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">This bus service would boost the ridership of Lynx and SunRail.</span></div>
LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-32324258898783719712018-12-08T14:27:00.003-08:002018-12-09T03:47:57.093-08:00Even Mayor Dyer doesn't seem to care about Lynx riders<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Not once during the Orlando State of Downtown address last week (Dec. 6) did Mayor Buddy Dyer mention the importance of improving and expanding Lynx bus service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In a section of the speech Dyer labeled “connectivity” <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://youtu.be/L-wtLMYBfVw">(which you can see by clicking here)</a></b></span> he praised the SunRail commuter train. Dyer spoke of pedestrian trails, bike-share, optimizing vehicle flow, and even the introduction of a ride-share hub for downtown’s late-night club hoppers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEq2-7Ku616Ez3vIQtiOI6aqFjEm5dXSpyfxw8Rbj5-HFuknwCiyrqTYKcmGBw3TvWmo78l8zKyxLGUh5mkJFMY8FHTeJ0ftZnEMfCY_2uLeyT3UD3oKEpY6-HVQ_QuoAt-yYZK12zgI/s1600/waiting-bus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="720" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEq2-7Ku616Ez3vIQtiOI6aqFjEm5dXSpyfxw8Rbj5-HFuknwCiyrqTYKcmGBw3TvWmo78l8zKyxLGUh5mkJFMY8FHTeJ0ftZnEMfCY_2uLeyT3UD3oKEpY6-HVQ_QuoAt-yYZK12zgI/s320/waiting-bus.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">But Dyer – a member of Lynx board – did not specifically call out Lynx and the vital role it plays in moving people, especially those who live east and west of downtown Orlando.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mind you Lynx Central Station sits in the heart of downtown – a stone’s throw from <b><a href="http://creativevillageorlando.com/">Creative Village</a></b> – the mayor’s urban renewal pet project in the historically black Parramore community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By overlooking Lynx -- either unintentionally or purposefully -- Dyer showed why Lynx continues to limp along. Too many politicians don’t give Lynx the priority and attention it deserves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pols are more interested in talking about SunRail – the new shiny toy -- than Lynx, which is the backbone of the local public transit system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For the record, Lynx provides 83,000 rides daily, compared to SunRail which provides 5,300 rides daily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx is not sexy, and many of the people who rely on Lynx are needy, or people of color who have little political juice. The routes are convoluted, and many must wait up to an hour between buses or must walk miles to reach their closest bus stops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yet without Lynx, the local service-based economy would grind to a halt. Even SunRail depends on Lynx to bring many passengers to the train stations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx struggles because there is no dedicated source of funding for the system that serves Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties with a fleet of 300 buses though they really need 600 or more buses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Every year Lynx executives must beg local counties for money to subsidize the system. Nearly every public transit system in the world requires government subsidies to keep running. Without the subsidy Lynx riders on some routes would have to pay up to $14 for a one-way ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s noteworthy that Dyer gave his State of Downtown address on the same day the Lynx board met. He didn’t make it to the Lynx meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-65330306608451531912018-11-03T11:30:00.003-07:002018-11-03T11:31:21.056-07:00Vote like your bus ride depends on it<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Public transit sucks in Central Florida – really in most of Florida – because most of the politicians on the Nov. 6 ballot don’t care about public transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We know this because we embarked on a month-long investigation to survey federal, state and county commission candidates whose names are on Central Florida ballots.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlx5d09jnZJP1c89vc_UWZY3P70ttOmYbazKhg4lNq16AWR-BBQObjF9EeuGsPaLSWFIvtLJCPo36IG4_16V7b4n96-8v6FRGYJns_8GT3j_kUM8LYuNyY-mEmszEMjWm57pRP-O0sgk/s1600/terminalbus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1600" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlx5d09jnZJP1c89vc_UWZY3P70ttOmYbazKhg4lNq16AWR-BBQObjF9EeuGsPaLSWFIvtLJCPo36IG4_16V7b4n96-8v6FRGYJns_8GT3j_kUM8LYuNyY-mEmszEMjWm57pRP-O0sgk/s320/terminalbus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Through the efforts of researcher </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Robin Denise Harris</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">, we posed 2 simple questions:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If elected, does the candidate plan to support efforts to improve and expand SunRail?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If elected, does the candidate plan to support efforts to improve and expand Lynx (or Votran for candidates in Volusia County)?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of the 38 candidates we reached out to (trying several times if candidates did not respond to the first query) 17 candidates answered yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those answering YES included:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">U.S. House</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: Darren Soto, Wayne Liebnitsky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Florida Senate candidate:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Melissa Martin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Florida House candidates:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Tracey Kagen, Ricky Shirah, Barbara Cady, Geraldine Thompson, Anna Eskamani, Amy Mercado, Carlos Guillermo Smith, Pam Dirschka<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Orange County Commission candidates:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Christine Moore, Patricia Rumph and Mayra Uribe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Osceola County Commission candidates:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Viviana Janer and Cheryl Grieb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Volusia County Council candidate:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Barbara Girtman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The other candidates did not respond. One candidate died during the campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We counted <b>no response</b> as a <b>NO</b> because if a candidate running for office can’t or won’t respond to a basic bread-and-butter question about public transportation, then they really don’t care about this community. Don’t they understand that traffic and transportation are major public policy issues that affect the health, future and potential prosperity of this region?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The campaign of Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy of Orlando said that they don’t respond to surveys. Huh? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If her campaign won’t answer 2 simple questions, then how are people supposed to know what the Honorable Ms. Murphy stands for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Out of fairness, we’re obligated to report that Mike Miller, Ms. Murphy’s Republican challenger, would not respond to the survey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many candidates were difficult to contact because they do not list phone numbers or email addresses on their campaign websites or social media. They want our votes, but they don’t want to hear from us unless we’re donating money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here are the candidates who did not respond to our survey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">U.S. Senate:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Bill Nelson and Rick Scott<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">US House:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Nancy Soderburg, Mike Waltz, Bill Posey, Sanjay Patel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Florida House: Lee Mangold, David Smith, Scott Plakton, Josie Tomkow, Ben Griffin, Bobby Olszewski, Stockton Reeves, George Chandler, Rene Plasencia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Orange County Commission:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Pete Crotty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Osceola County Commission:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Wanda Rentas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Volusia County Council:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Pat Patterson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The reason SunRail doesn’t run late at night or on the weekends is that most of our elected officials don’t care. Politicians have the power to improve the service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The reason why Lynx and Votran riders must walk miles to bus stops or wait up to an hour in the pouring rain and under the boiling sun is that our politicians don’t care. The politicians have the power to improve the service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><a href="https://ridersshowcase.blogspot.com/2018/09/sunrail-is-doomed-if-desantis-gets.html">In a previous article,</a></b> we noted that Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis opposes SunRail. He calls it a boondoggle. <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://youtu.be/TuuXzyjh_Vo">Click here to hear DeSantis talk about transportation.</a></b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum supports more investment in public transit. <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="http://floridapolitics.com/archives/276589-as-i-4-mayors-endorse-him-andrew-gillum-pledges-interest-in-mass-transit">Click here for Gillum’s position on this topic.</a></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Vote for politicians who are #woke and care about public transit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Vote Tuesday, Nov. 6 because our public transit and future depend on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-78139860981153624722018-11-02T11:31:00.002-07:002018-11-02T11:32:05.525-07:00Proposed changes coming to Lynx<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx is proposing to add 1 route and make other route and schedule changes on Jan. 28, 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here's what they're planning:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">NEW ROUTE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 709 – Kissimmee Connector (Osceola County) – Will operate a one-way loop through downtown Kissimmee from the LYNX Kissimmee Intermodal Station via Dakin Street, Lakeview Drive, Patrick Street, Emmett Street, Church Street, Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Rose Avenue, Oak Street, Central Avenue, Hilda Avenue and Main Street. Route will operate every 30 minutes weekdays 6:30 a.m.-8:09 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRvswv-MryaL5KOMRFKdDG7vm8zjOSjR8F4tKrVJF6eFJfAxDBnhZ_UXMqWwjL_7IKBJvb5uVGVobnuY1ZdJ0BzEHZrn6P-yZBFIYIXuehZxsdVKC3YEhw4kOoqY7pCafL7ezYIMZIys/s1600/Fla+Mall+bus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRvswv-MryaL5KOMRFKdDG7vm8zjOSjR8F4tKrVJF6eFJfAxDBnhZ_UXMqWwjL_7IKBJvb5uVGVobnuY1ZdJ0BzEHZrn6P-yZBFIYIXuehZxsdVKC3YEhw4kOoqY7pCafL7ezYIMZIys/s320/Fla+Mall+bus.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">ROUTE ADJUSTMENTS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 21 – Universal Studios (Orange County) – The current bus stop on Valencia College Drive will be eliminated. Buses will serve a new stop near the Valencia College Nursing and Fitness Center via Kirkman Road, Valencia College Drive and Receiving Road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 37 – Pine Hills/Florida Mall (Orange County) – The current bus stop on Valencia College Drive will be eliminated. Buses will serve a new stop near the Valencia College Nursing and Fitness Center via Kirkman Road, Valencia College Drive and Receiving Road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 301 – Pine Hills/Animal Kingdom (Orange County) – Afternoon trip from Pine Hills to Animal Kingdom Lodge will serve All-Star Resort. Minor schedule changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 303 – Washington Shores/Disney Hollywood Studios (Orange County) – Routing to/from Hollywood Studios will change. Bus stop will change from current location to a new stop located at the new Cast Services building. Service to All-Star Resort will be eliminated. Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 8 – W. Oak Ridge Road/International Drive (Orange County) – 4:51 a.m. weekday trip from Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets to downtown Orlando will change to 4:43 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 11 – S. Orange Avenue/Orlando International Airport (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 18 – S. Orange Avenue/Kissimmee (Orange County/Osceola County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 38 – Downtown Orlando/SeaWorld (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 50 – Downtown Orlando/Magic Kingdom (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 57 – John Young Parkway (Orange County/Osceola County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 60 – LYMMO Orange Line (Orange County) – On Friday and Saturday, the last trip will leave CentroPlex Garage at 10:45 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Link 62 – LYMMO Grapefruit Line (Orange County) – On Friday and Saturday, the last trip will leave Church Street and Magnolia Avenue at 10:45 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 108 – South U.S. 441/Kissimmee (Orange County/Osceola County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 111 – SeaWorld/Orlando International Airport (Orange County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FastLink 407 – Kissimmee/Orlando International Airport/Medical City (Orange County/Osceola County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 416 – Poinciana/Haines City (Osceola County/Polk County) – Will extend the 5:40 a.m. trip from Walmart and the 1:55 p.m. trip from Haines City Plaza to serve Haines City High School.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FastLink 441 – Downtown Orlando/Kissimmee (Orange County/Osceola County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">NeighborLink 622 – Oviedo (Seminole County) – Minor schedule adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Before they move forward with these changes, Lynx is planning to hold public hearings. The board will vote on these changes at the Dec. 6 meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those hearings will be held:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tuesday, Nov. 13, 5 to 7 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Altamonte Springs City Hall, 225 Newburyport Ave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wednesday, Nov. 14, 3 to 5 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LYNX Central Station, 2nd floor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">455 North Garland Ave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thursday, Nov.15, 4:45 to 6:45 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Kissimmee City Hall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">101 Church St.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-17077988848466282442018-11-01T12:05:00.002-07:002018-11-01T12:22:22.887-07:00Downtown Kissimmee is getting a new bus route<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A new bus route has been proposed for Kissimmee that would benefit both locals and people arriving at Kissimmee’s new SunRail station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The proposed route, to be known as Link 709/Kissimmee Connector will make it easy for people to reach some of the most popular destinations in the downtown Kissimmee area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kissimmee Intermodal Station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Tentative plans call for charging $1 to use the Link 709.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The bus will begin its route at the Kissimmee Intermodal Station, which is also where the SunRail train stops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The intermodal station is a major transfer point for buses from all over Osceola County. Amtrak trains also stop at that station, and that’s also where people board and get off the Greyhound bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A press release from Lynx explained that the bus will operate in a one-way loop through downtown Kissimmee via Dakin Street, Lakeview Drive, Patrick Street, Emmett Street, Church Street, Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Rose Avenue, Oak Street, Central Avenue, Hilda Avenue, and Main Street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This route will make it easier for people for people to reach popular destinations such as Kissimmee City Hall, the county courthouse and administration building, Osceola Regional Medical Center and Florida Hospital Kissimmee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Link 709 will operate every 30 minutes weekdays 6:30 a.m.-8:09 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A public hearing to discuss Link 709 and other proposed changes to Lynx routes and schedules will be held Nov. 15<sup>th</sup>, 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. at Kissimmee City Hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-56473446985222268272018-10-11T17:45:00.005-07:002018-10-11T17:47:58.020-07:00How come Lynx riders get left in the dust<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx bus riders in Central Florida always seem to get the short end of the stick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Check out the recent report card on Metro Orlando’s transportation that the Orange County League of Women Voters just released. <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/091959e2-f70d-481c-9d1a-62593cba5ab4/downloads/1cpirialv_135935.pdf"><b>Click here for the report.</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overall the report was good. The league gave the transportation network and local leaders a D grade. We give the league a B for their report.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYsBehrHtkRSvYH9tBW9CV0_0fAbPaLUtg-0irMakNpnve0fjbt5iHV_biseljHqtSHnZf_pu9t4iBYayk-S16UOmNwUWKmDSnVwZfyEEUMYJCy_g_J5osTMDtinlaxGF5yJIv_vtgsE/s1600/lynxrose.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYsBehrHtkRSvYH9tBW9CV0_0fAbPaLUtg-0irMakNpnve0fjbt5iHV_biseljHqtSHnZf_pu9t4iBYayk-S16UOmNwUWKmDSnVwZfyEEUMYJCy_g_J5osTMDtinlaxGF5yJIv_vtgsE/s320/lynxrose.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Just like everybody else, the league report seemed overly focused on improving and expanding rail transportation – SunRail -- and connecting that train system Orlando International Airport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those are noble concerns, but let’s get real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SunRail now provides 5,300 rides daily. Lynx provides 83,000 daily rides – 15 times the number of SunRail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We’re not putting down SunRail. We’re just stating cold, hard facts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most of the Lynx riders aren’t headed to exciting destinations like the airport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They’re going to I Drive to change linens on beds or headed to jobs in theme parks and other thankless tasks that most people wouldn’t want to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And by the way, did we mention that SunRail only runs Monday to Friday, while Lynx is a 365-day service because many of its riders work non-traditional shifts?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Without Lynx, Central Florida’s service-based economy would have crashed and burned years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We get it. We know that SunRail is the new shiny toy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Suits are common on SunRail; not so much on the Lynx bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The class bias was unfortunate, but not uncommon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In a new report, an advocacy group called the TransitCenter explained that that “transit agencies are still overwhelmingly focused on rail, rather than bus, amenities. In 2016, transit agencies spent just 6 percent of their station capital funds on bus stop amenities, like benches and shelters. The other 94 percent went to rail stations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“There are two main problems with that disparity. For one, it’s discriminatory. Bus riders are more likely to be low-income. And it’s bad business: about 50 percent of transit trips in the U.S. are still made by bus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx riders, some of whom also use SunRail, don’t want to get lost in the sauce.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SunRail service certainly needs to be improved. But Lynx should not be an afterthought. Its riders have suffered from skimpy service for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0Orlando, FL, USA28.5383355 -81.3792364999999928.0917165 -82.0246835 28.984954499999997 -80.733789499999986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-68763699726086842292018-09-17T11:46:00.000-07:002018-09-17T11:46:58.959-07:00Lynx needs to improve coordination<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ever since SunRail started serving our community, people have asked if Lynx is coordinating its buses with SunRail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lynx and SunRail officials have repeatedly said that they are coordinating bus and train arrival times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Coordination is the key to what transportation wonks call an “intermodal” system. In other words, a system where people can seamlessly transfer from one mode of transportation to another, such as from a bus to a train and vice versa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bus leaves right before SunRail arrives</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yet we have continued to hear Lynx riders complain that the bus they needed pulled out of the train station just before their train arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For the first time this past Monday (Sept. 17) we decided to check it out for ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We arrived at the Sand Lake Road SunRail station before sunrise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lo and behold two buses pulled in. A couple of people got off. Then the buses left. As the buses pulled away we could hear the public address system on the platform announce that the next train was due in two minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Two minutes later the train pulled in, but there were no buses waiting in the train station. To see it for yourself, <b><a href="https://youtu.be/kh52k8fz3Dg">click here</a>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sand Lake Road is a major transfer point. It provides bus links to Orlando International Airport; the Sand Lake Road business corridor; International Drive where many people in the hospitality-industry work, and other destinations in south and east Orlando county.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We saw the cycle of the bus leaving before the train pulled in two more times at Sand Lake Road on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No one should look at this article and conclude that everything is screwed up between Lynx and SunRail. We observed operations for less than an hour at one train station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What we observed though, shows there is room for improvement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We don’t think the bus drivers should take the blame for what we saw. Who knows if the bus drivers even know the SunRail train schedule. Indeed, bus drivers have their own bus schedule to keep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We know that Lynx managers are always working to fine-tune their routes and schedules. That process takes time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A quick fix for what we observed might be to post a Lynx dispatcher at Sand Lake Road (and other major transfer points) during critical travel periods – especially during the morning rush hours – and give that dispatcher the authority to hold a bus for a minute or two if a train is only a minute or two from arriving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Realistically three things need to happen to improve Lynx and SunRail service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Voters need to elect local, state and federal officials who are dedicated to improving public transit in Metro Orlando.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Merge Lynx and SunRail into a single public transit system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Provide money to add 400 buses to the Lynx fleet (more buses and drivers means improved service for riders). Fund a full-service SunRail so the trains run more frequently and provide train service on the weekends, holidays and late at night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-10919206055710829892018-08-23T08:32:00.001-07:002018-08-23T08:33:20.759-07:00How Lynx is helping non-profits<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Organizations that support children, animals and civic pride will be among the eight non-profit agencies featured on the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) 2018-19 Public Service Bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Seminole County Commissioner and LYNX Board Chairman Lee Constantine and LYNX Chief Executive Officer Edward L. Johnson will unveil the bus 2 p.m. Sept. 6. The event will be held at the Cranes Roost Park Eddie Rose Amphitheater located at 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg134Rt_JL51HVWRw9ObnR08VmaeJQ9-y9WEfeRKUyC8rf-lTlMkBu_viZB30Bi5C8hO6pSHKs4X4zlJErriJlftJzgnAypZpwxlqAQbznVzgpORoZzFzWoIYeOpsLPjUVTE2yx-0mEsj8/s1600/Lynxlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="636" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg134Rt_JL51HVWRw9ObnR08VmaeJQ9-y9WEfeRKUyC8rf-lTlMkBu_viZB30Bi5C8hO6pSHKs4X4zlJErriJlftJzgnAypZpwxlqAQbznVzgpORoZzFzWoIYeOpsLPjUVTE2yx-0mEsj8/s320/Lynxlogo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">All organizations will receive free exposure by having their logos placed on a LYNX bus traveling Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties for the next 12 months. Each winner was selected in a random drawing of 40 applicants with 501(c)(3) status and operate on budgets of less than $1.5 million annually.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LYNX 2018-19 Public Service Bus Contest Winners:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ASD Adult Achievement Center of Seminole County provides services to adults with autism. The Altamonte Springs organization has programs to help young adults develop social skills, executive function skills, job readiness skills and independent life skills as they transition into independent life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Children’s Safety Village of Central Florida mission is to prevent injuries and fatalities of children through lifesaving education, advocacy, and leadership. Based in Orlando children learn about fire, water, traffic, pedestrian, bicycle, 911, internet and other safety skills in a realistic setting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Come out with Pride is an annual parade and festival at Lake Eola bringing together and celebrating the LGBTQ+ and allied communities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Crossroads Corral of Sanford provides equine-assisted mental health counseling to Veterans who suffer from PTSD and their families, youth and women who have suffered trauma, abuse, and neglect. Their mission is to promote personal growth, hope, and healing through horses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just Our Soldiers' Helpers (J.O.S.H.) from Lake Mary increases the morale of deployed U.S. service members by preparing and shipping care packages consisting of snacks/food or high- quality hygiene products.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Latino Leadership of Orlando teaches leadership development, educational advancement, and economic development. Most recently they served 8,500 families impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Are they autism?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lovey Loaves in Orlando is a special needs dog rescue devoted to saving and rehabilitating dogs that have been dealt different circumstances such as amputation, blindness, deafness or those suffering from disease, illness or injuries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SNiP-it of Central Florida operates a high volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinic. Based in Kissimmee they help pet owners have healthier, happier pets and also reduce the number of unwanted litters and animals entering shelters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0Orlando, FL, USA28.5383355 -81.3792364999999928.0917165 -82.0246835 28.984954499999997 -80.733789499999986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-33440646924157377742018-07-23T06:31:00.000-07:002018-07-23T06:31:55.903-07:00The Lynx bus shuffle<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Say goodbye to Lynx Express 208.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">For the past 4 years, Express 208 shuttled passengers between the Lynx Intermodal Station in Kissimmee and the Sand Lake Road SunRail station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Next Monday (July 30) the 208 is going away because it’s being replaced by the SunRail station. Next week SunRail trains will be providing service down to the Kissimmee Intermodal Station. The Lynx express bus service will no longer be needed. As a reminder, all bets are off on the weekend because SunRail does not run on Saturdays and Sundays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">One other noteworthy Lynx service change involves the Fastlink 418 that many people rely on to reach the Veterans Affairs hospital in Lake Nona. Until now, it was common for people headed to the VA hospital to catch SunRail to Sand Lake Road where they could pick up the 418.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">However, as part of Lynx periodic reshuffling of routes to maximize resources and prepare for expanded SunRail service -- as of July 15 -- the 418 no longer stops at the Sand Lake Road SunRail station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">To deal with this change, people must get off SunRail at the Sand Lake Road station to catch the Link 11 to Orlando International Airport where they catch the Fastlink 407 to the VA hospital in Lake Nona. Making these transitions between the bus and train can be tricky because there’s barely one or two minutes to get from one to the other. A little more timing coordination on the service changes at SunRail and Lynx would have been appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Starting next Monday (July 30), folks will be able to take SunRail straight to the Meadow Woods station where they can catch the 418 and continue to the VA hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0Orlando, FL, USA28.5383355 -81.3792364999999928.0917165 -82.0246835 28.984954499999997 -80.733789499999986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2751217648330744168.post-61219488097914716922018-07-05T16:24:00.000-07:002018-07-05T16:24:21.677-07:00Poor people aren't the only ones hurt by Orlando's weak bus system<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Next time you’re out under the blazing sun or in a rainstorm waiting for your Lynx bus, here’s something to think about: Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) has three times more buses than Lynx has in its fleet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lynx has about 330 buses. OCPS has 900.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">And no, we can’t use school buses for Lynx. That’s not what school buses were designed for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Don’t hate on the local public schools. They need all those buses to get 69,000 children to school every morning within a short period of time, so classes can begin on time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lynx also has an incredibly important mission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lynx provides 83,000 rides daily across Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties, in addition to small portions of Lake and Polk counties. By comparison, SunRail provides about 3,200 rides every weekday and does not operate on the weekends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lynx is the main artery for Orlando’s lifeblood that has enriched this community as the vacation and convention capital of the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">If you ride Lynx you already know that many service-industry workers – housekeepers, groundskeepers, clerks, kitchen staff and so many others – need the bus to get to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Since most service-industry workers don’t get paid a living wage they can’t afford a car. Instead many spend three hours or more every weekday -- longer on weekends when many Lynx buses run on a reduced schedule – traveling to and from work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Don’t blame the Lynx drivers or the Lynx managers. They’re doing the best they can with ridiculously limited resources. <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxpu5N-A4Gw">During a recent interview, Lynx CEO Edward Johnson said Lynx would need to double the size of its bus fleet to provide a speedier and more convenient service to the Central Florida community.</a></b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Lynx deserves kudos for technology innovations it has introduced – especially its app that lets riders track buses and manage their fare payment -- to improve the rider experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Realistically Lynx needs more money to add buses, drivers, and resources to support an expanded fleet. The fares riders pay only cover about 30 percent of the operating costs. That’s the financial reality for every public transit system in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiWmgKUE8YM">The Lynx CEO also told us that it costs $92 an hour to operate a single bus.</a></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"> To keep the fare affordable – at $2 for a one-way ride – subsidies are essential.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">On some routes, the one-way fare would be $14 or more without the subsidy from local government. Canceling routes or reducing service would make it impossible for some people to get to work. As it is, many people walk miles, or wait an hour, for their Lynx bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Every transportation system -- from airlines to the street outside your home -- depends on government subsidies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The situation with Lynx is particularly bad because Lynx doesn’t have a dedicated source of funding that it can count on for that subsidy. Every year Lynx officials must beg local governments for the subsidy it needs to operate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Since Lynx is generally viewed as transportation for “poor people” it lacks powerful, influential advocates in the business or political community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">As we noted earlier, don’t blame bus drivers or Lynx management, for the jacked-up bus service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Blame the politicians who are supposed to fight for everyone – including folks who depend on Lynx.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The lack of an adequate public transit system should be everyone’s concern – even those who have never ridden a Lynx bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">As if the daily traffic jams on every major thoroughfare from Lake Mary to Kissimmee haven’t become overwhelming, earlier this year Orlando lost out on a proposal that would have brought a $5 billion second Amazon headquarters and 50,000 high-paying jobs to Central Florida. One of the deal killers was the fact that our public transportation system sucks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Civic, business and political leaders in Central Florida have used their influence, creativity, and checkbooks to achieve and build magnificent things in our community – two basketball arenas, a soccer stadium, the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, a new downtown campus for UCF, overhauling Camping World Stadium (Citrus Bowl) and much more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Those leaders have a moral obligation to flex their muscles to support public transit – a resource that benefits the entire community and the local economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">For more news about Central Florida’s public-transit system, click <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.lynxedtogether.com/">http://www.LynxedTogether.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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LynxedTogetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14848799524578717026noreply@blogger.com0