ORLANDO, Fla. — Today, Orlando city leaders are deciding on a new transportation program for senior citizens living in Downtown.

This Senior Transportation Funding Agreement between the downtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Mears Transportation Group would essentially replace the Seniors First transportation service, which was discontinued in October 2025.

What You Need To Know

Orlando commissioners are expected to vote on prolonging a senior transportation agreement during their Tuesday meeting

The new agreement between the downtown Community Redevelopment Agency and Mears Transportation Group would provide free rides for up to 32 senior residents from 11 housing complexes three days a week

The shuttle service aims to connect seniors residents to essential goods and services and enhance their mobility

If approved, the program would go into effect on March 1 and would be up for renewal on Sept. 30, 2026

For years, the Senior Tran shuttle was a free bus service that would take senior residents to the grocery store and other places.

In November of last year, the CRA and Mears launched a pilot program “to provide residents from eleven downtown senior housing complexes with safe, reliable, and ADA-accessible transportation to grocery and retail destinations.”

So far, the program has proven to be successful.

According to the city, ridership numbers and positive feedback from senior residents shows that there is a need for such services.

That’s why the city is voting to extend the Senior Tran Program with Mears for an additional seven months.

If approved, up to 32 senior residents from 11 apartment complexes within the Downtown CRA will be able to ride the 16-person shuttles for free on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to various grocery and retail stores.

The following senior housing complexes that are eligible for services include:

Magnolia Towers
Kinneret Apartments
Orlando Cloisters
Westminster Plaza
The Roberts
Hillcrest Hampton House
William Booth Towers
Westminster Towers
Orlando Lutheran Towers
Jackson Court Apartments
Villas at Carver Park

Transportation will be provided to the following grocery and retail stores:

In Downtown/Colonial Drive, regular stops will include:

iFresh Market (Colonial Drive)
ALDI (Colonial Drive) • Target (Colonial Drive)
Publix Super Market at the Paramount

SoDo route regular stops will include:

Publix Super Market at The Market at Southside
Dollar Tree
Freshfields Farms
Walmart Neighborhood Market

Orlando District 5 Commissioner Shan Rose said she is grateful that this service will operate within the confines of her district to help senior residents.

“Being able to ensure that our seniors specifically have the basic necessities for life, being able to get there and making sure that transportation is not a hinderance is what’s important to us,” Rose said. “It adds value to ensure that the mobility of our residents can continue to get certain necessities they need for their home.”

Arthur Washington, who has been living at the Catherine Booth Towers in downtown Orlando for more than five years, said he understands firsthand the transportation challenges that senior residents can face.

Washington, who does not have a car, said that he sometimes has to pay other residents to get his groceries for him.

“That’s what I do, but sometimes I go by myself if I can do it,” he said. “I got a bad back and a bad spine, but if I can make it just myself, I do that.”

That’s why Washington welcomes the city’s new senior transportation agreement with Mears Transportation Group.

“That’d be great,” he said. “I’d like to try and see if it works out.”

According to Mears Transportation Group, the program serves to improve access to grocery stores and other essential services, but support the health, independence and quality of life of downtown Orlando’s senior residents.

If approved, the program would start on March 1 and would be up for renewal on Sept. 30, 2026, with the option for a further four one-year renewals.

The total amount that was negotiated between the CRA and Mears for the first seven months of operation is $68,521.

Between October 2026 and September 2027, the estimated program charges would come out to $116,933.