PINE HILLS, Fla. — New ridership data shows strong growth on several bus routes serving the Pine Hills LYNX Transfer Station, which opened earlier this fall. LYNX reports a 10% increase in average weekday ridership across the routes that use the new facility.
What You Need To Know
Ridership is up 10% on weekday routes serving the Pine Hills station
New data shows significant gains on Link 9, Link 37 and Link 44
Riders say the station makes travel faster and more convenient
LYNX will install real time digital displays at the station in the coming weeks
“It has been a great experience, and we are hearing nothing but good things from our customers. Ridership is up 10 percent for the routes that are coming here. So that really has helped a lot of people,” said Matt Friedman, a LYNX spokesperson.
According to data provided by LYNX, some routes have seen significant jumps. Link 9 increased by 32%, Link 37 by 15% and Link 44 by 41%. Others saw smaller declines, which the agency says is normal as ridership shifts during the holiday period.
“Well, we look at things from an overall perspective and you do have to make some adjustments along the way. So if there is a route that is down a few riders, that just happens,” Friedman said.
Riders say the new transfer center has made traveling easier and more convenient.
“I think it is very beneficial. Being able to have the station to where they are able to go where they need to go and not have to fight with traffic,” said rider Hanji Targaryen.
Targaryen says the travel time and ease of use have improved as well.
“It is a ten out of ten. I can take it, go where I need to go and come back within a timely manner,” she said.
Nationally, transit systems have been working to rebuild ridership. The American Public Transportation Association reports that agencies offering consistent service throughout the day, rather than peaking only during commutes, are recovering fastest. Friedman says Central Florida fits that pattern.
“Being the type of businesses that we have in Central Florida, it really runs 24/7. So we have ridership that is pretty consistent throughout the day. It is really continuous throughout the whole day,” he said.
LYNX says the early numbers show the Pine Hills facility is already doing what it was designed to do: help riders make safer, faster and more reliable connections.
The agency is also preparing to install new digital displays at the station. The screens will show real time arrival and departure information. Installation begins this week, and LYNX plans to expand the system across its network once testing is complete.