To enhance multimodal transportation options and safety considerations along Hennepin Avenue, Kimley-Horn collaborated with the City of...
Coordination
Worked closely with regional stakeholders to assess local needs and iron out the details of the Transit Development Plan (TDP)
Community Impact
Utilized public feedback to inform the TDP that will provide expanded and more frequent services to a larger demographic
Strategy
Brought three separate plans for Seminole, Osceola, and Orange counties together into one unified plan outlining services and financing
The LYNX transit system provides transit services to Seminole, Osceola, and Orange counties in Central Florida and connects residents to transportation services in Lake and Polk counties. LYNX’s current system includes:
- Fixed-route bus service
- Fare-free services in downtown Orlando and downtown Kissimmee
- FastLink limited stop service
- NeighborLink flex-route services in the outlying areas
- Complementary paratransit service throughout the LYNX service area
- Commuter and agency vanpool programs
Kimley-Horn was selected to prepare a Major Update to the LYNX Transit Development Plan (TDP), which is required by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) every five years to secure state block grant funding. This update, a 10-year strategic plan for LYNX outlining improvements for service, capital investments, facilities, and fleet replacement, will support a seamless network of transit services and enhance the passenger experience.
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Crafting a Transit Development Plan to Better Serve LYNX’s Riders
Kimley-Horn prepared the TDP with a focus on addressing the needs of several different travel markets, ranging from large urban centers to suburban cities to underdeveloped areas that are growing. Our team brought three county plans that had already been identified—for Seminole, Osceola, and Orange—together into one unified service and financial plan, which included recommendations for eight service types:
- High-frequency local stop routes
- High-frequency limited stop routes
- Regional express routes
- Commuter express routes
- Primary local stop routes
- Secondary local stop routes
- Community/circulator routes
- On-demand/flexible services
The TDP focuses on improved, high-capacity services, ensuring more express bus, Bus Rapid Transit, and NeighborLink services, as well as enhanced passenger facilities and amenities.
With the 10-year TDP planning horizon, there is expected to be a 9% increase in the general population served, an 11% increase in racial and ethnic minority populations served, a 16% increase in commuting workers served, and a 10% increase in system ridership. With the LYNX TDP, new areas will be able to be reached, including underserved neighborhoods, which will increase equitable distribution of services. An expanded transit network will also connect riders to major employment centers, serve tourists and visitors, and improve regional connectivity.
Utilizing Stakeholder Input to Meet the Community’s Needs
Stakeholder coordination in Seminole, Osceola, and Orange counties and beyond was essential for Kimley-Horn to prepare the TDP and see that the planned services will meet the needs of numerous communities. Kimley-Horn helped LYNX facilitate meetings and communicate with a variety of local stakeholders, including:
- A project management team made up of LYNX and consultant staff members who reviewed the technical details of the project.
- A technical advisory committee made up of representatives from FDOT, MetroPlan Orlando, CareerSource Central Florida, the three service area counties, and the cities of Orlando, Sanford, and Altamonte Springs. This stakeholder group was instrumental in validating the technical aspects of the TDP service plan and gaining final approval for its major elements.
- A regional working group made up of local and regional partner agencies working within the LYNX service area, such as transportation planning agencies and operators, LYNX funding partners, local chambers of commerce, and large employers.
Kimley-Horn also met with Orlando International Airport, Central Florida Expressway Authority, neighboring transit agencies in Lake County and Polk County, and SunRail. Additionally, we gathered feedback through public workshops, station outreach, social and digital media, surveys, and more to reach LYNX riders, potential riders, and other community members. Feedback indicated the need for more frequent service, expanded customer service, and more weekend/later service. For this TDP Major Update, public involvement and stakeholder feedback were critical to see that the service plan elements identified for the three individual counties met the desires of the community.
Navigating Timelines and Potential Pitfalls
Kimley-Horn navigated several challenges when updating LYNX’s TDP, the biggest being getting up to speed with the project’s accelerated timeline and coordinating with the various stakeholders that needed to be involved. The proposed TDP covered a large area with a variety of stakeholders, from the counties themselves to transportation organizations, and it took thorough management for our team to efficiently navigate the complexities of the TDP.
The Kimley-Horn team also had to manage the intricacies of a large transit organization like LYNX, whose service covers many different entities, which meant careful and considerate communication to get project direction. Additionally, Kimley-Horn helped LYNX get approval on the TDP from its four local funding partners—the City of Orlando and Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties.
After updating the TDP, we were quickly selected by LYNX to support another major plan—the Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan Major Update. With a modernized TDP, LYNX is poised to continue meeting the needs of its riders and serving them with an ever-improving program of transit services.
