The Highlands Transit Plan will help establish a strategic vision to guide the planning, development, and potential implementation of public transportation service in Highlands County over the next 10 years
This Transit Development Plan (TDP) brings together technical analysis and community voices to create a 10-year Operating and Capital Plan to expand mobility and transportation options in Highlands County and was shaped by:
- Input from residents, community partners, and stakeholders
- Other planning documents like the Florida Transportation Plan and the region’s Long Range Transportation Plan
- An estimate of what the demand for transit might be based on demographic, land use, transportation, and transit data
- An assessment of the land use and design patterns and how that might support or hinder the efficient provision of existing and future transit services
Vision | Highlands County will have mobility choices allowing residents and visitors to travel easily and efficiently using accessible public transportation.
Mission | To provide Highlands County with safe, dependable, and cost efficient public transportation options.
Setting goals and objectives is a critical foundation for any successful planning effort and should stem from values inherent in the community’s vision for the future. A goal is a statement of what needs to be accomplished to implement the vision, and objectives and policies outline more specific actions needed to achieve the goal.
Goals, objectives, and policies to support the planning, implementation, and operation of Highlands County’s public transportation system over the next 10 years were formed in the various plans and efforts that have led into the Highlands Transit Plan development process.
Option 1: Flex + Express
Fixed Route | Fixed routes are generally effective in high density urban areas where the movement of people is both large and concentrated. The 2018-2027 Highlands Transit Plan recommended a combination of two express routes and three flex routes, connecting Lake Placid, Avon Park, and Sebring. An express route would connect the three cities with stops at key points along U.S. 27.
This option supports the implementation of an Avon Park Flex route, Sebring flex route, and Lake Placid flex route with deviations up to 0.75 miles from the route. This option also includes the Avon Park-Sebring express route and the Sebring—Lake Placid express route to provide connecting fixed-route service between the three municipalities and their respective flex routes with limited stops in between for faster service. The flex routes are proposed at 30-minute frequencies, and the express routes are proposed at a 60-minute frequency. This option also includes two circulators in Downtown Lake Placid and Downtown Sebring, running at 15-minute frequency.
Measure | Option 1 |
Population in Service Area | 73,300 |
Estimated Annual Trips | 78,285 |
Anticipated Revenue Hours | 34,000 |
Average Trips per Revenue Hour | 2.3 |
Annual Operating Cost per Trip | $35.00 |
Annual Estimated Operating Cost | $1,619,968 |
Local Government Share of Cost | 20% |
Option 2: Mobility-on-Demand in Avon Park & Sebring
Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) | A service concept called Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) is a real-time shared ride service available to the public within a defined service area. It is expected that with this service area wait times after initial request can be on average about 15-minutes and provide no longer than 20-minute drop-offs to the desired destination.
Under this option, an MOD vehicle can be hailed either through a mobile application, calling by phone, or online within the same day of desired service. The concentrated area covers Avon Park and Sebring and their surrounding area.
Measure | Option 2 |
Population in Service Area | 70,000 |
Estimated Annual Trips | 66,267 |
Anticipated Revenue Hours | 16,995 |
Average Trips per Revenue Hour | 3.9 |
Annual Operating Cost per Trip | $27.35 |
Annual Estimated Operating Cost | $713,092 |
Local Government Share of Cost | 9% |
Option 3: Mobility-on-Demand Countywide
Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) | A service concept called Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) is a real-time shared ride service available to the public within a defined service area.
This option builds upon Option 2 by expanding the MOD zone to the entire county. While service demand can be expected to be concentrated in the Avon Park and Sebring areas, the expansion of such an MOD zone is expected to impact wait times after initial requests, with an average of about 30-minutes, and for trips that could last up to 40-minutes to the desired destination. This option however aims to serve the entire county area and connect distant sectors of Highlands County with the more urbanized areas.
Measure | Option 3 |
Population in Service Area | 105,618 |
Estimated Annual Trips | 62,298 |
Anticipated Revenue Hours | 21,850 |
Average Trips per Revenue Hour | 2.9 |
Annual Operating Cost per Trip | $49.30 |
Annual Estimated Operating Cost | $1,787,264 |
Local Government Share of Cost | 6% |
The HRTPO has a strong commitment to ensure public involvement in the transportation planning process. Adopted in March 2023, the Public Participation Plan (PPP) provides guidelines used by the HRTPO to inform and gather input from residents, communities, and interest groups throughout the six counties in order to expand the information available for planning. Following the guidelines in the PPP, the HRTPO will make the draft document available for public comment 30 days prior to adoption, seven (7) days prior to amendment, and continuously during development. The Transit Plan is reviewed by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and the HRTPO Board at meetings that are open to the public.
The Heartland Regional Transportation Organization presented the draft Highlands Transit Plan to the Heartland Region on August 19, 2024, for a 30-day public comment period.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, income, or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Marybeth Soderstrom, HRTPO Title VI Liaison, 863-534-7130, extension 134 (voice), or via Florida Relay Service 711, or by email: msoderstrom@cfrpc.org.
Ways to Comment:
After you have reviewed the Highlands Transit Plan, please let us know if you have any comments:
- Email us @ info@heartlandregionaltpo.org
- Mail to 555 East Church Street, Bartow, FL 33830
- Call (863) 534-7130 x 134
- Or, just leave your comment in the box above