Citrus Connection

The meeting includes a presentation from the Director of Strategic Planning and Innovation regarding the approval of a Fleet Transition Plan, as well as an agency update and an executive informational summary provided by the Chief Executive Officer.

The board discussed and addressed several key operational and strategic topics, including the disposal of two vehicles, approval of federal transit grant applications for the Lakeland and Winter Haven urbanized areas, and the selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative for the new Citrus Connection Intermodal Center. Additionally, the board received updates on the Sun N' Fun Express pilot service, reviewed the Q2 Strategic Plan Scorecard performance measures related to customer experience, employee retention, and community value, and discussed various internal policy updates including leave of absence, lateral transfers, and termination procedures.

The board meeting covered several key administrative and operational items. Discussions included the presentation of an employee engagement survey results, reviews of monthly financial statements for Lakeland Area Mass Transit District, Polk County Transit Services, and the Transportation Disadvantaged program. The board reviewed a proposed pilot transportation partnership with the Polk County Sheriff's and Public Defender's Offices. Additionally, staff provided a recap of the Tigertown Express service, including ridership trends and survey feedback. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the adoption of new agency policies, covering leave of absence, criminal history review, lateral transfers, bereavement leave, causes for immediate termination, and motor vehicle record review. The CEO provided agency updates, and the board reviewed ridership reports.

The Board of Directors meeting addressed several key operational and administrative items. Major actions included approval for the purchase of six para-transit buses, the disposal of five vehicles, and the authorization of grant applications for the Four Corners and Poinciana areas. Additionally, the Board reviewed and approved the launch of the Bartow Mobility-on-Demand program, awarded a contract for engineering design plans related to umbrella shelter replacements, and approved a migration to new telephone cloud services. The Board also received informational updates regarding project progress, the CEO's agency report, and ridership performance metrics.

The board meeting addressed multiple financial reviews, including interim financial statements for LAMTD, PCTS, and the Transportation Disadvantaged Program for December 2025, following reports on November 2025 financials. Key agenda items involved a recommendation to approve a five-year extension for the Avail ITS System Maintenance and Support Agreement, with detailed costs split between LAMTD and County budgets. The board also considered migrating Passenger Portal Services from Trapeze/TripSpark to Spare Labs for annual cost savings. Furthermore, updates were provided on the Q1 Strategic Plan Scorecard focusing on customer experience, employee investment, and strengthening community value. A Public Transportation Grant Application for Transit Projects (Resolution # 26-08) and grant applications for the FTA 5311 and 5310 programs were discussed and approved. Legal matters included the approval for the inclusion of Edge Solar/Williams Companies Land into the district.