Key West Transit is preparing to introduce a new fixed-route service while also adding transportation options ahead of the busy Fantasy Fest season.
Rogelio Hernandez, director of transportation for Key West Transit, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about transportation in Key West.
The agency continued operating its routes during recent rainy weather, despite some delays caused by flooding and traffic.
“We continue running the routes and services throughout those couple of days, with some minor delays because, of course, the flooding and the traffic,” Hernandez said. “We’re always here to assist the general public and visitors with our services.”
One of the biggest changes coming to Key West Transit is the planned Island Hopper service.
Hernandez said the Island Hopper will be a fixed-route service similar to the workforce service currently offered in the Lower Keys. It is expected to operate seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with buses traveling in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
“We want to kind of bring back a more simple, easy to understand service that our riders and visitors need and want, and that’s where the Island Hopper came to fruition,” Hernandez said.
The agency plans to hold several public meetings to provide residents with more information about the proposed routes, travel paths and bus stops.
Hernandez said approximately four meetings are planned, including one at Bayview in Stock Island, another at City Hall, one in Bahama Village and another at the New Town Senior Center.
Dates and times had not yet been finalized, but Hernandez said the information is expected to be posted on the Key West Transit website once details are confirmed.
“We’re hoping to finalize that sometime this week, and information on those dates and times or locations can be found on kwtransit.com,” he said.
The Island Hopper will operate at 45-minute intervals in both directions.
The new service was developed after Key West Transit analyzed route and ridership data collected over the past several years from Key West Rides and workforce service.
“We’ve been analyzing routes and the routes and the ridership data we collected on Key West Rides over the past several years, and the workforce, and we’ve come up with this amazing service that we believe will meet the needs of our current users, residents, and visitors,” Hernandez said.
The new Island Hopper service will eventually replace the existing workforce rides and Key West Rides services.
Meanwhile, Key West Transit is preparing for an increase in demand as the community enters the busy Fantasy Fest season.
The kickoff to Fantasy Fest includes the Goombay Festival on Oct. 16 and 17. Hernandez said the festival will result in some familiar road closures and route deviations.
“We will be providing service our regular hours of operation during the 16th and 17th for Goombay,” he said.
Additional transportation will be available during Fantasy Fest Parade night.
Hernandez said Key West Transit will extend its operating hours, add buses to the Lower Keys shuttle and add vehicles to Key West Rides.
The agency will also provide a special shuttle between Key West High School and downtown.
“We will be providing additional service — a special shuttle actually from Key West High School to downtown with continuous shuttle servicing those two stops till late in the evening,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez also highlighted public transportation as an alternative for residents dealing with high gas prices.
“Key West Transit offers multiple solutions and options,” he said.
The Lower Keys Shuttle provides 10 trips a day in both northbound and southbound directions between approximately 5:45 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Within the city corridor and Stock Island, Key West Transit also offers Key West Rides on-demand service, as well as workforce fixed-route services.
Hernandez said information about the various transportation options is available at kwtransit.com.
Key West Transit is also testing an electric bus on its system.
“We’re actually running it on the Lower Keys shuttle and some city routes to determine where we can best use that vehicle,” Hernandez said.
The 35-foot electric bus presents some challenges in areas with narrower streets, particularly in Old Town.
“There are some constraints there using it in Old Town area where the streets are tight,” Hernandez said.
The agency nevertheless hopes to have the electric bus available for more members of the public to use soon.