Subject:
Title
Adoption, Re: 2025-2035 Transit Development Plan for Space Coast Area Transit.
End
Fiscal Impact:
Adoption of a Transit Development Plan is required to draw the yearly Florida Department of Transportation Public Transit Block Grant Funds. The Fiscal Year 2025 Block Grant Allocation is $1,925.467.
Dept/Office:
Transit Services
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners adopt the 2025-2035 Transit Development Plan for Space Coast Area Transit for submittal to the Florida Department of Transportation.
End
Summary Explanation and Background:
The Transit Development Plan (TDP) is required by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Florida Administrative Rule 14-73.001 as a prerequisite to the recipient of State Public Transit Block Grant funds. The rule requires that the TDP be the provider's planning, development, and operations guidance document.
TDP rules require a 10-year planning horizon, inclusion of an FDOT approved Public Participation Plan, and adoption by the transit agency's Board of Directors. Public Outreach for this project included onboard surveys of existing Transit riders, an online survey of non-transit users, 14 Stakeholder interviews, 7 Public Workshops, a survey of Space Coast Area Transit Operators and Web/Email & Social Media Outreach. Outreach for this project provided in excess of 1,000 participants.
A presentation of the TDP was made to the Transportation Planning Organization's Board on December 12, 2024, for their review. While no action was needed on this item, the TPO Board did not present or ask for any additions or changes made to the document.
There are three basic steps to the development of a TDP; (1) assessment of the current transit service, service area demographics and review of governmental plans; (2) public involvement and (3) goal setting and 10-year service and budget projections. A checklist of the FDOT requirements for a TDP is included on page 14 of the TDP.
Highlights of the 2025-2035 Transit Development Plan Service Alternatives, dependent on funding availability
• Existing Service Improvements
• Improve weekday service to 30-minute headways on priority routes
• Extend evening weekday service to 9 pm on priority routes
• Potential Expanded Service
• Route 8 operates consistent hourly service throughout entire day
• New service along US 192 from A1A to west of 1-95
• New service along SR-528 from planned Intermodal Station to Cape Canaveral Cruise Terminal area
• Palm Bay to Micco via US 1
• Considerations for Mobility on Demand Service
• Fleet replacement /expansion (transition to hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles)
• Bus stop amenities and infrastructure improvements
• New Cocoa transfer center
• New Centralized Administration/Operations/Maintenance facility
Since the Transit Development Plan is a planning document, adoption of the Transit Development Plan does not require that service Alternatives be implemented; however, any future service that is partially funded by the Florida Department of Transportation must be included in the Transit Development Plan.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please send copy of Board Memo to Yvonne Miles, Transit Services, 460 S. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901.