SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – It’s a Wednesday afternoon at Sheila Rashy’s home in Altamonte Springs. She’s less than two miles away from the grocery store, the mall, and the nearest hospital. There’s only one problem: She can’t get there.
“When you live a mile or two miles from someplace it’s wonderful. Except, how do you get there?” said Rashy. “You have to walk there, and to walk a mile or two miles for a senior citizen or anybody who can’t take the heat, it’s just not feasible.”
Rashy reached out to our News 6 team after she saw one of our stories on “SCOUT,” Seminole County’s new transportation service that will launch this fall. She explained that because she has vertigo and can’t drive, and her husband has dementia, “SCOUT” could be the right fit for her family’s transportation needs.
“I’m so excited about this new micro-transit system,” said Rashy. “For years, I have always felt that there was a tremendous need for that type of service.”
With “SCOUT,” a vehicle will come directly to Rashy’s door and drop her off at her destination. The county hopes the on-demand service will give residents like Rashy a more flexible option beyond a fixed bus route.
Our News 6 team has been following plans to get rid of most LYNX bus routes by next year, as the county re-thinks transportation as a whole. This spring, the county contracted with Freebee, the vendor who will run the new "SCOUT" service. This week, vehicles are expected to hit the streets as testing begins.
[VIDEO: Seminole County to replace bus routes with ‘SCOUT’ micro-transit service this fall]
“As we have our riders that are going to be doing the practice runs, it’s going to tell us a lot,” said Chairman Jay Zembower. “We’re really excited.”
The county has been working to answer questions from commuters who will need to make the switch to “SCOUT.” Staff have been going out into the community to reach people directly, as well as providing resources on a newly-launched webpage.
“Our goal as we kick it off is to continue to improve it, maybe add some more vehicles, add some distances to it,” said Zembower. “So be patient and we’ll get there.”
They plan to start with 35 vehicles that will operate in five different zones throughout Seminole County, named after primary bodies of water such as “Monroe,” and “Brantley.”
Riders will be able request a ride on demand through a mobile app or by calling the Freebee dispatch center. How much you pay depends on where exactly you want to go.
In August, commissioners approved a fare structure. Graphs were shown at the meeting with a $4 base price for a ride within the same zone. The price goes up as you travel to different zones, bringing the total to $7 for one-zone transfer, a $10 total for a two-zone transfer, or a total of $14 for a three-zone transfer.
[VIDEO: Pricing structure announced for Seminole County’s ‘SCOUT’ transportation system]
But there are also discounts available for seniors 65 and older, students, and low-income riders. There are also discounts if someone books through the app or if the pickup or drop off is at the nearest Sunrail station during operating hours.
Rashy was already thinking about the possibilities when we met her Wednesday.
“And eventually if they do lengthen the SunRail times to weekends or at night, that would be another plus,” said Rashy. “I would be able to utilize that as well, because I have something to take me there and I wouldn’t have to take my car. They have wonderful events at Winter Park and it would be so wonderful to just get on. The SunRail stops right there where all the things are happening.”
Rashy said she could also request a “SCOUT” ride to go to water aerobics in Altamonte, which she attends three times a week. Since it’s in the same zone, she would pay a base rate of $4 plus $1 for her husband to ride as an additional passenger. Three round trips would cost a total of $30 for both of them.
When “SCOUT” officially launches in October, it will run alongside the current LYNX system. But by Jan. 10, the changes to the fixed route service will become effective and only the following bus routes will remain:
- S.R. 436 North & South (Link 436S; 436S)
- U.S. 17-92 reduced to Fern Park Super Stop area (Link 102)
- West S.R. 434 reduced to connect with SR 436 (Link 23)
- U.S. 441 Orange Blossom Trail stop (Link 106)
Paratransit services will also remain provided by LYNX.