Collier County looking into expanding public transportation

Businesses in one area of Collier County say they cannot find workers because workers say it’s too expensive for them to live there. Now, county leaders are trying to find a solution.

So, they want to offer more public transportation without changing rent prices, even possibly spreading across county lines. The hope is that getting to the borders of Hendry and Lee Counties will expand Collier County’s employee pool.

We’ve heard for months that businesses can’t find enough workers. Edmond Metaj owns Roma Italian Bistro. “We’re looking for hostess server cooks,” Metaj said.

Some have limited hours of operation or have closed altogether. The issue is particularly prevalent in Collier County, where affordable housing is scarce.

“A lot of people they are living in Fort Myers and that area and they are looking to come to work here but, you know, a matter of fact yesterday somebody they apply for a dish washer actually I said ‘come,’ and he said ‘I’m going to be late because I don’t have transportation,'” said Metaj.

Collier County Commissioners admit there is no quick fix to the affordable housing issue. “Rents are going up. People can’t afford to live here, and where are we gonna get our workforce?” said Commissioner Penny Taylor.

Honestly, Taylor said, “We have no choice. It’s going to cost us one way or another.”

But, they might be able to work something out in the transportation sector. Collier’s Public transportation Department says it will see what it would take to add bus routes deep into Lee and Hendry Counties. That way, maybe they can add to the workforce.

Michelle Arnold is the director of Collier Public Transit. “Where would we put the routes? Where would people be coming from, and where do they want to go to?” Arnold said. “So we would have to identify origins destination so we can better align a route and then stops along the way to service that community.”

And Arnold says they’re more than willing to work with the county on his. “So this objective is one where we’re coordinating with our partners in the county, to and other adjacent counties to make sure that transportation has a connectivity,” she said.

Metaj is in the group of business owners who support this idea. “Public transportation is very helpful for everybody,” Metaj said.

For now, the idea is only in the planning stage. Once the Public Transportation Committee identifies which areas in Hendry and Lee Counties to target, Collier will have to figure out how many routes and buses it needs.

These business owners say this project can’t come soon enough.