Collier County aims to expand public transportation at no cost to taxpayers

Clearing a traffic mess and encouraging more young people to come to Collier County is the aim in expanding public transportation.

Commissioners say they want to make the public transit so attractive that people choose buses over their own cars.

And County leaders say they hope to pay for these upgrades without dipping into your piggy bank.

One way could be selling companies ads to go on the outside of buses.

Riders like Kevin Bulver say the busses are too full during rush hour.

“I’d like to see more buses, later times would be nice. Also, because people at work and when they get off of work, the bus is so full. It’s standing room only,” Bulver said.

And that’s exactly what County leaders are looking to do.

Commissioner Andy Solis says they want to offer more trips during peak times and extend the schedule, “If you miss the bus you have up to a 90 minute wait, which creates a problem for the employers and the employees.”

Bulver says he has to plan ahead, “I had an appointment today and I had to be here at 2 o’clock, and I was here at 12, or I would’ve been late for it.”

Bulver has been using the bus system for 20 years and says he travels to Naples frequently, “It saves a lot of money because I’m all the way out in Immokalee. You know, gas money, it would be about $10 to $15 versus a dollar a day, or each trip.”

Commissioner Solis says that extra money saved will cut down on the cost of living… attracting more young people to the area, “The Millennials, the Gen-Xers, it’s something they would like to use. It’s also better for the environment, there’s less carbon emission.”

Bulver hopes to see change sooner rather than later.

“They do take a lot of stress off,” Bulver added. “I don’t have to worry about getting a ride from anybody.

Bulver says avoiding all that stress is good for his health.

As for Commissioner Solis, he thinks if they invest into the bus system now, it’ll attract more people in the future.