Consistent with the Town's Strategic Plan and the Town Council's directive, Town Staff facilitated a Transportation Summit to formulate comprehensive solutions to the Town's transportation challenges. The Transportation Summit included the participation of all relevant transportation agencies and identified several key strategies to improve transportation and the distribution of traffic flow in Miami Lakes. Subsequent to the Summit, the Town Council Approved Resolution No. 15-1330 to address the transportation and mobility challenges through identified strategies. One of the identified strategies was to “Pursue Alternative Strategies to the Town's Current On-Demand Bus Service”. Resolution No. 15-1330 directs the Town Manager to pursue grants for planning and services and for design/construction of infrastructure consistent with these strategies and to recommend budget provisions necessary to implement these strategies.
The Public Transit Service Development Program was enacted by the Florida Legislature to provide initial funding for special projects, determining whether a new or innovative techniqueor measure can be used to improve or expand public transit services. Service Development Projects specifically include projects involving the use of new technologies; services, routes, or vehicle frequencies; the purchase of special transportation services; and other such techniques for increasing service to the riding public.
On November 7, 2017, the Town Council passed and adopted Resolution No. 17-1489, authorizing the Town Manager to execute the contact with Beefree (DBA Freebee) for on-demand transportation services. In January 2018, the Town officially launched the “Freebee” Ridesharing Program. Freebee is an eco-friendly and electric ridesharing company that provides free on-demand transportation services for residents, businesses, and visitors in Miami Lakes. Beginning in April 2019, Freebee replaced the Town's On-Demand Bus Shuttle. Based on information, Freebee services are currently used by seniors and students as their primary mode of transportation around Town. Based on Freebee's popularity and reliability, the Town's populous demand for Freebee far exceeds the program's availability. The current cost of maintaining this program is approximately, $228,000.00 without receipt of advertisement dollars.
The Public Transportation Service Development Project, will help address two principle concerns. It will allow the Town to expand its transportation network with the addition of a Freebee Shuttle, and assist the Town with its current obligation to Freebee.
Specifically, Service Development Projects are subject to specified times of duration, but no more than three (3) years, and requires a 50/50 funding participation between FDOT and the awarded Agency. The Miami Lakes Freebee Public Transit Service Expansion Project estimated cost is $344,000 per year. If funded, the Grant will provide 50% of the total project cost for three years estimated at $172,000 per year in FY2021, FY2022 and FY2023. The 50% local match requirement is budgeted and will be provided through the People's Transportation Plan (PTP 20%) and sponsorship advertisement revenues.
The Miami Lakes Freebee Public Transit Service Expansion Project would enable the Town to expand its Freebee on-demand transportation services Townwide, thereby reducing traffic congestion, reducing carbon emissions, increasing the use of new technologies, increasing service routes and vehicle frequencies, and increasing transportation services to the growing Miami Lakes riding public through free, electric transportation services.