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Lynx (Orlando)

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LYNX
LYNX #315-420, a 2020 Gillig BRTPlus CNG 40'.
FoundedMay 1972 (1972-05)
Headquarters455 N Garland Avenue
Orlando, Florida
LocaleGreater Orlando, U.S.
Service areaOrange County, Seminole County, Osceola County, Lake County, Polk County
Service typeTransit bus
Routes68 fixed
11 flexible-service[1]
Stops4,261[2]
Fleet290[1]
Daily ridership59,800 (weekdays, Q2 2024)[3]
Annual ridership18,647,400 (2023)[4]
Fuel typeBiodiesel, diesel, CNG, Electric
OperatorCentral Florida Regional Transportation Authority[1]
Chief executiveTiffany Homler Hawkins[5]
Websitegolynx.com

Lynx (stylized as LYNX) is a transit system serving the greater Orlando, Florida area. Operated by the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, it provides bus, curb-to-curb, and paratransit services in three counties: Orange, Seminole, and Osceola. Bus routes are referred to as Links.

LYNX does not operate SunRail, the region's commuter rail service, but it does provide bus connections to SunRail stations within its service area.

In 2023, the system had a ridership of 18,647,400, or about 59,800 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

History

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Bus service in Orlando was originally provided by the Orlando Transit Company, a private operator. When the company halted service in 1972 due to financial troubles, three local counties organized the Orange-Seminole-Osceola Transportation Authority (OSOTA) to operate bus services in its place.[6] The agency's bus service was originally named Tri-County Transit (TCT).

Despite the name, Tri-County Transit only operated in Orange County and Seminole County; bus routes for Osceola County were planned but not funded.[7] Service to Osceola County was not introduced until January 1993 with an eight-month trial route.[8]

In 1992, OSOTA held a public contest to choose a new name for Tri-County Transit.[9] The winning name, LYNX, was chosen from 12,000 entries.[10][11] The following year, OSOTA was merged with the Central Florida Commuter Rail Authority (which was organized to construct a commuter rail system along Interstate 4) and was renamed to the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority.[12]

In November 2004, LYNX opened LYNX Central Station, the bus system's primary transit hub.[13] The station became an intermodal station in 2014 with the opening of SunRail.

Services

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LYNX Bus

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A LYNX stop sign consists of a circular sign with a "bus" icon and a rectangular sign listing connecting Links.
Current LYNX bus stop signage
Older LYNX bus stop signage

LYNX operates 68 bus routes throughout its three-county service area. The bus system connects to LakeXpress (servicing Lake County) in Four Corners, Winter Garden, and Zellwood, and it also connects to Citrus Connection (servicing Polk County) in Four Corners and Poinciana. All SunRail stations within the service area have bus connections, though transfers are irregularly timed.

LYNX directly services Disney Springs and the Transportation and Ticket Center of Walt Disney World, as well as some employee areas. All other transportation in WDW is provided by Disney's own bus system.[14] A similar system is used at Universal Orlando; LYNX connects to Universal CityWalk (and, by extension, the original two parks), while Universal's resorts are connected via trails, water taxis, and a resort-operated bus.

Bus frequency varies by route, ranging from every fifteen minutes to every hour. On official maps, routes with frequencies of thirty minutes or better are colored purple, while less-frequent routes are colored orange. All routes are available Monday through Friday; weekend and holiday service varies by route.

Three routes (407, 418, and 441), branded as FastLink, use a limited-stop route pattern to provide faster trips. These routes only operate weekdays from 6 AM to 6 PM.[15]

All LYNX buses, with the exception of those used on the LYMMO system, have front-mounted bike racks which can be used at no extra charge.

Bus stop signs were originally designated with a lynx paw in place of a traditional bus icon, with Links servicing the stop listed below. Following a rebranding initiative, this was replaced with a bus icon that incorporates the lynx paw.

LYMMO (Bus Rapid Transit)

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LYMMO stop on South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida

LYMMO is a free bus rapid transit system in Downtown Orlando, which utilizes bus lanes and priority signals to improve speed and reliability. The service connects downtown destinations, such as Lake Eola Park and Kia Center, to parking and LYNX Central Station. The service was first launched in 1997 and claims to be the oldest BRT system in the United States.[16]

The system consists of three circulator routes, each named after citrus fruits: the Orange Line (officially Link 60), the Lime Line (Link 61), and the Grapefruit Line (Link 62). The routes operate daily with headways of 8-15 minutes at peak and 15-20 minutes off-peak.[17]

Starting on August 20, 2023, during off-peak hours (10 AM-2 PM and 6:30 PM-10:30 PM), a portion of the Orange Line in the Creative Village neighborhood is instead serviced by SWAN, an autonomous shuttle.[18]

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NeighborLink (formerly PickUpLine) is an on-demand service that allows riders to schedule curb-to-curb trips within 11 specified zones. Trips can be scheduled online, by phone, or through an app.[19] Trips must be scheduled at least two hours in advance.

Access LYNX

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Access LYNX is a paratransit service which provides ADA-compliant service to patrons incapable of using the bus system, as well as non-ADA service to users without reliable transportation due to disability, age, or income.[20] Since June 2023, Access LYNX has been operated by Transdev.[21]

Vanpool

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LYNX operates a vanpool program for riders in its service area, which allows groups of six to fifteen people to rent a vehicle for a monthly fee. The cost covers registration and service, but it does not cover fuel or tolls.[22]

Road Rangers

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In partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, LYNX operates Road Rangers, a roadside assistance program for drivers on Interstate 4. Road Rangers provides minor vehicle repairs, towing, and communication with first responders to drivers.

Road Rangers services two stretches of I-4, totaling 48 miles. The eastern stretch lasts from Exit 132 (Interstate 95) to Exit 98 (Lake Mary Boulevard). The western stretch lasts from Exit 72 (Florida State Road 528) to Exit 58 (Osceola County Road 532).[23]

Facilities

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LYNX's administrative offices are located at LYNX Central Station.

LYNX has two operations centers for the maintenance and storage of its bus fleet. Most bus routes (85%) are serviced by the LYNX Operations Center (LOC),[24] located in Orlando off John Young Parkway. Osceola Satellite Facility (OSF), located in Kissimmee, services most Osceola County routes.

In 2022, LYNX began considering sites for a third operations center. The $80 million facility will be located in Osceola County and will support up to 250 vehicles.[25]

Fares

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A standard adult one-way fare is $2, which includes a free transfer within 90 minutes of activation. (The transfer cannot be used on the same Link, e.g. for round trips.) Payment can be made in cash or via the PawPass app. An All-Day Pass, which lasts until 3 AM the following morning, is available for $4.50 upon request.[26]

LYNX offers a rolling 7-Day Pass for $16 and a rolling 30-Day pass for $50. These passes may be purchased at LYNX Central Station, online, via the PawPass app, or at Orlando-area retailers.[26] Up to three riders under 7 can board for free with fare-paying rider; additional children (or children without adults) require a $1 fare.[27]

Discounted fare IDs are available to youth (age 7 - 18 and/or currently in high school), seniors (age 65+), Medicare card holders, and disabled people. Patrons with a discounted fare ID can buy passes for half price.[27]

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  • 2007 Gillig BRT 40' #602 (retired)
    2007 Gillig BRT 40' #602 (retired)
  • 2013 Gillig BRT 40' #127-413
    2013 Gillig BRT 40' #127-413
  • 2016 New Flyer XN60 Xcelsior articulated #234-616
    2016 New Flyer XN60 Xcelsior articulated #234-616
  • 2022 Gillig BRTPlus CNG 40' #350-422
    2022 Gillig BRTPlus CNG 40' #350-422
  • 2023 Gillig BRTPlus CNG 40' #367-423
    2023 Gillig BRTPlus CNG 40' #367-423

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Facts at a Glance". LYNX. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  2. ^ "Bus Shelter Program". LYNX. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  3. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Chief Executive Officer". LYNX. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Matters of Fact". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. 1995-03-24. pp. A3 – via NewsBank.
  7. ^ "Why Don't Tri-County Buses Serve Osceola?". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. 1990-01-28. pp. H4 – via NewsBank.
  8. ^ Stutzman, Rene (1993-02-03). "Kissimmee Antes Half the Funds Lynx Wanted: City Commissioners Give $50,750, Which Will Help Pay for Local Bus Service About 8 Months". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. pp. B3 – via NewsBank.
  9. ^ Roy, Roger (1992-05-14). "Name Bus Agency, Win Island Trip: The Transit Authority Is Tired of Being Called Tri-County. Suggest the Best Moniker and Win a Vacation for 2". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. pp. B3 – via NewsBank.
  10. ^ Vosburgh, Mark (1992-07-18). "Cat's Meow of a Name Is Really Just a Copycat". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. pp. D1 – via NewsBank.
  11. ^ Vosburgh, Mark (1992-06-26). "It May Be a Lynx, but Is It Fast? Logic of Buses' New Name Has Some Applauding, Others Wondering". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. pp. K5 – via NewsBank.
  12. ^ Roy, Roger (1993-03-27). "Stuart: Next Bus Stop Is Where I'm Getting Off – He Expects To Lose His Post as Head of the Bus Agency Because of Politics and a Reorganization". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. pp. A1 – via NewsBank.
  13. ^ Powers, Scott (2004-10-31). "Attention-Getter". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  14. ^ "Brochure T: Disney Area" (PDF). LYNX. 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  15. ^ "FastLink | Public Transportation Services for Orange, Seminole, & Osceola". LYNX. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  16. ^ "LYMMO History / Timeline | Public Transportation Services for Orange, Seminole, & Osceola". LYNX. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  17. ^ "LYMMO | Public Transportation in Orange, Seminole & Osceola". LYNX. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  18. ^ Gillespie, Ryan (2023-08-09). "Orlando pitches its autonomous Swan Shuttle, which starts Aug. 20". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  19. ^ Solodev (2018-02-06). "NeighborLink | Public Transportation Services for Orange, Seminole, & Osceola". www.golynx.com. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  20. ^ "Program Eligibility | Public Transportation Services for Orange, Seminole, & Osceola". LYNX. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  21. ^ "Transdev and LYNX partnering on paratransit service". Mass Transit. 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  22. ^ "Vanpool | Public Transportation Services for Orange, Seminole, & Osceola". LYNX. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  23. ^ "Road Rangers | Public Transportation in Orange, Seminole & Osceola". LYNX. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  24. ^ Lynch, Ryan (2021-02-22). "Lynx considers new Osceola County operations and vehicle maintenance facility". Orlando Business Journal. Advance Publications.
  25. ^ Lynch, Ryan (2023-08-24). "Lynx gears up search for new $80M southern operations center site". Orlando Business Journal. Advance Publications.
  26. ^ a b "Fares & Passes | Public Transportation in Orange, Seminole & Osceola". LYNX. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  27. ^ a b "Reduced Fares | Public Transportation in Orange, Seminole & Osceola". LYNX. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
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