Latest news with #FreeBee
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FreeBee minivans to travel Seminole roads in place of most Lynx buses — but it might cost more
After recently deciding to ditch most Lynx bus routes over cost and ridership, Seminole commissioners Tuesday voted unanimously to hire microtransit service FreeBee to shuttle riders around the county — but the move raises the prospect that passengers may be asked to pay more than they have under the existing bus service. County leaders hailed the decision as a big day in Seminole history — with one commissioner calling the door-to-door service 'such a big turning point' for mass transit in Central Florida. 'I think this is a great first step,' Commission Chair Jay Zembower said. 'But this is not a government-funded replacement for your Uber or Lyft rides. 'It was never our intention to compete with the private sector. … But the model is broken when it comes to mass transportation using buses.' County officials anticipate FreeBee to be fully operating by Jan. 1, but many details must be worked out before the on-demand service hits Seminole roads. Those include fares, annual cost to the county and how far residents will be able to travel in a FreeBee electric van. It would not be offered in the county's eastern rural area where Lynx doesn't provide service. The cost to the county for FreeBee service would depend on how many vehicles are used. For 35 vans it would cost nearly $4.9 million the first year — with a $100,000 start-up cost. For 55 the cost jumps to nearly $7.8 million annually. FreeBee proposed fares of up to $4 per passenger and $1 more for each additional rider per trip. By comparison, most single-ride fares on Lynx are $2. Discounts would be available for FreeBee passengers younger than 18, older than 65 and those with disabilities. Pointing out that FreeBee fares could end up more expensive than Lynx, Commissioner Lee Constantine said he didn't want it becoming unaffordable to residents who've long relied on the Orlando-based Lynx. 'I want to make sure that folks who have no other choice other than Lynx are going to be put in the same position as they are with Lynx financially,' Constantine said. Here's how FreeBee service would work: A Sanford resident wanting to go to the Altamonte Mall, for example, would request by app or phone call a FreeBee van that seats six to pick them up at their home. The van would drive them to the Sanford SunRail station to catch a train to the Altamonte station, where a FreeBee vehicle would take them to the mall. The customer would likely end up paying fares for the first van, the train and the second van but those specifics need to negotiated. If a Seminole rider wants a trip to downtown Orlando or Winter Park, FreeBee would take them to the nearest SunRail station. On any trip, vans could make stops to pick up other riders along the way. Miami-based FreeBee has operated in Kissimmee since March 2023, when city commissioners decided to replace the fixed-route Lynx Circulator buses with point-to-point service that shuttles riders to businesses, employers and the SunRail station. Data shows that in its first month there FreeBee had 394 passengers, but in January it had 2,186 riders — a more than fivefold increase from its inception. In Kissimmee, the FreeBee service is free to passengers. City spokeswoman Alibeth Suarez said by email that because of its success, the service was expanded in April 2024 to include commercial areas west of John Young Parkway. Lynx is not leaving Seminole entirely. The county agreed to continue its most heavily-used routes near the Orange County border — including along portions of State Road 436, and U.S. highways 441 and 17-92. Lynx also will continue its paratransit service for low-income and elderly riders along with those who have physical or mental disabilities. Seminole commissioners have long criticized Lynx as inefficient and not worth the $17 million cost for this year. They said they often see the 40-foot-long Lynx buses with few or no passengers. County projections last month estimated the number of Lynx riders in Seminole at between 3,500 and 4,200 on weekdays. But Lynx officials said their 2024 data showed an average weekday ridership of 6,644. Lynx has charged Seminole based on number of routes and frequency of service the county requests.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Seminole County Approves FreeBee as New Public Transit Provider
Big changes are coming to the way people get around Seminole County. On Tuesday morning, county commissioners voted unanimously to approve a contract with FreeBee, a Miami-based company that offers ride services similar to Uber but at a much lower cost. The new system will replace many of the county's existing Lynx bus routes starting October 1. FreeBee plans to launch a fleet of 35 to 55 vans that riders can book using a smartphone app. The county will be divided into five service zones, mostly centered around SunRail stations and a Lynx stop in Oviedo. Riders will be able to travel within their zone or transfer at train and bus hubs to reach other areas. Trips will cost between $2 and $3, with discounts for seniors, students, and people with disabilities. Unlike Uber or Lyft, FreeBee does not charge surge pricing and is designed to serve people who depend on public transit. 'We just approved a micro mobility plan… This is a win-win,' said Seminole County Chairman Jay Zembower. 'This is going to allow people much better efficiency at a reduced impact and cost to our taxpayers.' Some of the most-used Lynx routes—especially those connecting Seminole County to Orange County—will remain in place. The county says this change will help provide better service in areas that Lynx does not currently reach. Zembower said the new system is expected to save the county about $4 to $5 million annually. 'This is not intended to be a replacement or compete with somebody like Uber or Lyft,' Zembower added. 'This will actually pick riders up at their home or place of work instead of them walking several blocks or a mile and standing at a hot bus stop.' Officials say the county will continue to provide paratransit services for people with disabilities and medical needs through Lynx. Oviedo resident Bill Hyde was at Tuesday's meeting and said the plan sounds promising. 'It sounds like a really good idea, not only for a service, but also for me as a taxpayer,' Hyde said. County leaders say more details will be finalized in the coming months, with a goal to launch the new FreeBee system by October 1. or transfer at train and bus hubs to reach Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Seminole County leaders to choose Lynx replacement service Tuesday
Seminole County Commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday to designate a Miami-based company as its transit system of the future, and replace many of its Lynx bus lines with an Uber-like system. If approved, FreeBee, Inc. will launch a fleet of 35 to 55 vans that will be able to move people throughout the county at a low cost. FreeBee's plan is to divide the non-rural parts of the county into five distinct zones centered around its SunRail stations and a Lynx stop in Oviedo. Passengers will be able to request rides through an app and move around within those zones. If they want to go further, they'll be taken to the SunRail or Lynx station, where they'll be able to hop onto the bus or train to a different zone and hail another ride. The projected cost for this service will be $2 to $3 per trip, with discounts available to seniors, students and people with disabilities. Unlike Uber, which bills itself as a premium experience, FreeBee targets customers who need an inexpensive yet easy-to-use way to get around and does not do surge pricing. Commissioners will also weigh a different system that will allow people to get rides anywhere within the service area, but that would cost more. The money for the contract would come from the removal of most Lynx lines, months after commissioners criticized the service as being too Orange County-centric. Lynx's most used lines, as well as lines that connect Orange County to Seminole County or pass through a small portion of Seminole, would remain. Commissioners believe FreeBee and its competitors will be able to reach many parts of the sprawling county Lynx doesn't currently serve, boosting transit use throughout the county. FreeBee is used throughout the Miami area as well as other parts of Florida, including downtown Kissimmee. City leaders there recently expanded the service after data showed an uptick in ridership last year. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
