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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA MEMORANDUM TO: Jason E. Brown; County Administrator THROUGH: Stan Boling, AICP Community Development Director FROM: Phil Matson, AICP MPO Staff Director DATE: January 10, 2017 SUBJECT: Update on GoLine Beachside Circulator (Route 16) It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting of January 17, 2017. DESCRIPTION & CONDITIONS The Senior Resource Association (SRA), a private, non-profit organization, serves as Indian River County's Transit Coordinator and Service Provider. In response to a much -publicized parking problem in the Central Vero Beach business district that affected workers and visitors alike, the SRA in 2015 sought and obtained funding for a new bus route, the Route 16. That route expanded transit offerings to the public and connected major attractions in the area to several parking locations. The new route also connected to GoLine Route 1, enabling riders to access Miracle Mile and the Main Transit Hub with a single transfer. The new "Beach Circulator" route was paid for by a grant from FDOT covering 80% of the total cost. To obtain the remaining local match, the SRA issued an RFP and received a 20% local match from an area business, Heaton Companies, owners of the Vero Beach Hotel and Spa. Despite local efforts to promote the new route, including a restructuring that was completed in November of 2016, ridership on the route has been disappointing and, with fewer than 30passengers/day,has not met the Pp g minimal standard established in the MPO's Transit Development Plan (TDP). Given the lack of ridership, and in the interest of being responsible stewards of public funding, the SRA has decided to discontinue service on Route 16 effective January 20, 2017. Indian River County, the SRA and Heaton properties have agreed to dissolve their agreement covering the local match, and the SRA will be refunding the pro -rated balance of local sponsorship money to Heaton. The MPO has been in contact with FDOT regarding the remaining grant balance and the MPO and SRA are working to identify alternative uses for the grant funding. It is possible that the Beach Circulator grant funding may be directed toward .new stops that can be added to C:\Users\GRANIC-1\AppData\Loca1\Temp\BCL TeclmologiesleasyPDF 7 \@BCL@F80407AA\@BCLa) '80407AA.docx 1 P10