ORLANDO, Fla. — LYNX is looking to make some service changes, including a new on-demand only service for NeighborLink routes. On Thursday, there will be a public hearing before the LYNX board votes to adopt the changes at the end of the month.

What You Need To Know

LYNX is proposing an on-demand service for NeighborLink routes

Freebee will manage the service starting in April

The change aims to improve service flexibility and efficiency

Residents can provide feedback at the public hearing on Thursday

There are eight NeighborLink routes in Orange and Osceola counties run by LYNX, but by the end of April, they will be run by another company, Freebee, which is the same company that runs Scout in Seminole County.

It’s a shift in public transportation to increase efficiency and save money.

“You have to evolve, public transit is not what it was 20 years ago,” said Matt Friedman, the director of marketing and communications at LYNX. “With this new reimagined service, we are removing time points throughout the entire system. So (vehicles) will be within a particular zone, you will be able to make your trip appointment and your schedule, and you will be able to do it right there from a phone.”

NeighborLink started back in 2009 with just one route in Osceola County but has grown to eight routes in underserved parts of the community.

“Once I had to meet my friend in Bithlo,” said Angela Tallariea, who rides NeighborLink.

She said her first NeighborLink ride was a success but her second time, not so much.

“They didn’t arrive … you couldn’t even make the appointment for it,” Tallariea said.

The current service has to be booked at least two hours in advance, but the new service would have much more flexibility.

“That would make my life great,” Tallariea said.

As Central Florida grows, so does the creativity in finding public transit solutions.

“It just makes a lot more sense to put these into the communities that don’t need to have a 40-foot or 60-foot bus driving down the roadway,” Friedman said.

There are some minor changes proposed for other routes, but the biggest change on the table is the NeighborLink. Residents can share their thoughts with the board on Thursday at 5 p.m. at the LYNX administration building. The current drivers will be reassigned, and there will be new minivans to take riders.

LYNX is still working with Freebee to finalize the maps and the app.