Citrus Connection

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.

The Board of Directors meeting agenda included several key actions. Financial reviews were presented for LAMTD, PCTS, and TD, which included interim financial statements for November 2025. Action items involved the approval of Resolutions 26-08, 26-09, and 26-10 for the FTA Section 5311 and Section 5310 grant applications. The Planning section addressed the results of the Community Value Survey. The CEO reported on agency updates, including the status of the Bartow Squeeze service termination and staffing levels, and provided informational summaries regarding the December Calendar and November 2025 Ridership.

The meeting included the presentation of the annual audit by the firm Malden and Jenkins, resulting in an unmodified audit report with no material misstatements. Discussions covered financial statements for the previous four months, noting that revenues were 142% over budget, driven primarily by ad valorem taxes, while farebox revenues lagged at 72%. Expense reports indicated favorable positions for salary/benefits and fuel costs. The board reviewed financials for the family agreement and the Transportation Improvement Program. Several resolutions were approved, including funding for the Travel Trainer Program grant to support an existing position and approval for the Federal Transit Administration State Corridor grant for the Florida Avenue project. Approval was also granted for a County rural program grant application and the disposal of five fixed-route buses past their useful life. A significant discussion centered on entering into an agreement with FlixBus, a European company, to use the Lakefields Park and Ride facility for passenger boarding and alighting, which included provisions for liability release and indemnification. There was also an update on the development of the Lakefields Park and Ride facility, including plans for permanent restroom facilities, and a discussion regarding the possibility of securing partnerships with Greyhound as well.