Wayne Gaither, a planner with LeeTran of Lee County, shows some of the large displays concerning routes and new buss that could be used in the future in the area. Gaither was in Lehigh last week to listen to people’s suggestions about how to improve the bus service route in Lehigh. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Several people showed up on the parking lot of the Lehigh Community Services center to voice their opinions about future plans for LeeTran, the bus transport service that makes trips all over Lee County and may be planning trips into Collier County.

Tammy Sperrazza, who is employed by Pinnacle, a management firm that oversees the Heron Pond Apartments, said folks living in the 257 units are “captives” when it comes to getting around in the community if they don’t have a vehicle or someone they can depend on to help them.

“They want to see a bus stop in front of heron Pond,” said Sperrazza, who is a marketing director. She drove several people from Heron Pond who wanted to talk to LeeTran officials who had set up large displays outside showing the various routes on LeeTran.

“We want to know how we can be more effective in Lehigh Acres,” said H. Wayne Gaither,” so we are here today seeking public input … to get ideas,” he said. Gaither works on the administrative staff of LeeTran and said all the comments he heard would be taken back to LeeTran officials who will examine them and may come up with new routes or new stops in Lehigh.

The overwhelming question of concern, he said, was the “frequency of stops” … people wanted more convenience times offered.

Tammy Sperrazza

Lehigh currently has one bus route in Lehigh, the Number 102, but he said a second bus sometimes is called into service.

“People in Lehigh use the bus early in the mornings. The bus is filled with people going to work in Fort Myers, and they are filled coming back,” he said.

“Then there is a slack off with few people on the bus in and around Lehigh, but it picks up again in the afternoon when people are headed for home from work,” Gaither said.

Jane Dupes, a resident of Heron Pond, said it is a “struggle” for her to get around.

“Getting groceries is really a problem when you don’t have a car and the only means of transportation can be the bus,” she said. “But to walk a mile to the nearest bus stop is difficult for most people over the age of 55 at Heron Pond,” she said.

Austin Best

There were concerns from some people who are veterans without a car who need to visit the clinic in Cape Coral and it is a problem for veterans who want to go to Bay Pines up near Tamps to the Veterans Hospital. Those who want a ride to Bay Pines must be at the local clinic by 6 a.m.

Gaither said the main concerns of importance in order were the service frequency (the number of times a bus can travel a route in Lehigh to pick up people), later service, especially in the evening, and more shelters and benches at current bus stops, especially where people can sit under a roof when it is raining.

Also at the outside hearing was Ryan Suarez, a project manager with Tindale Oliver Associates of Tampa, a firm that works with LeeTran and other bus transporting services.

Gaither said he believes LeeTran has been providing bus service to Lehigh since the mid-1970s. He said there is a total fleet of 61 busses in LeeTran and that is operated by county government.

The cost to ride the bus from Lehigh to the Edison Mall one way is $1.25. If you transfer to another bus, it will cost you another $1.25.

Jane Dupes

“Whenever you change buses, you pay the fee, but people who buy day passes can save money by just showing their passes,” Gaither said.

Austin Best, a resident without a car, who lives at Heron Pond, said he has used cabs and they can be very expensive. He said the average cost in Lehigh one way is $4 and $8 roundtrip.

“Our people at Herron Pond are really captive as far as not having public transportation made available for them. They often have to depend on friends who have vehicles and they often help to pay gas for trips out of town or even around Lehigh,” said Sperrazza.

“A lot have scooters, but they are not always safe when they are on a sidewalk of a car jumps a curve or something,” she said.

“And besides, you can always get the amount of groceries on a scooter to bring back … and those who use bicycles are even having a difficult time because they can bring little back on a bike,” she said.

All the information gathered in Lehigh is being taken back to Fort Myers where officials will made decisions in improving routes throughout the area.