GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – The City of Gainesville’s Regional Transit System (RTS) has been awarded a $10,263,750 federal grant to support a series of transportation improvements, including $8.2 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) with the remaining $2 million in Toll Development Credits. The funded projects include construction of a new Westside Bus Transfer Station and Park-and-Ride facility, ADA accessibility upgrades to bus stops and the replacement of aging paratransit vehicles.
This award comes at a pivotal moment for RTS, which on March 1 officially brought ADA paratransit transportation in-house with the launch of a new service called RTS Plus. Previously supported by an outside vendor, a recent multi-year study indicated that paratransit would be more sustainable and cost-effective for the city if operated within RTS. The department owns 21 suitable vans and, over the past several months, newly assigned paratransit drivers have mastered daily routes and door-to-door service procedures.
“The RTS team put in months behind the scenes,” said Gainesville Interim City Manager Andrew Persons. “Launching this as another service provided by RTS is a significant milestone. We’re growing existing operations and offering neighbors a broadly accessible public transit system provided entirely by the City of Gainesville.”
RTS also has rolled out a new mobile app for booking paratransit rides, which it publicized through team visits to clinics, senior centers and other community locations. RTS Plus provides weekday transportation within three-quarters of a mile of the fixed route area with daily rides beginning as early as 6 a.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. on Sundays. Trips can be booked one to 14 days in advance by calling 352-393-RIDE (7433) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily or through the RTS Plus app. The fare remains $3 per trip.
The sustainability of RTS Plus will be directly impacted by the newly announced FTA grant, as a portion of the funding will go toward the replacement of paratransit vans. Each van ages out of service after approximately five years, and older vans require more frequent repair. The grant will allow RTS to more rapidly modernize its paratransit fleet, reducing maintenance costs and limiting service disruptions.
Additional grant funding will support the final phase of a multi-year project to bring all RTS bus stops into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Many bus stops already have received upgrades, but nearly 200 are not yet fully accessible for people using mobility devices and those who are vision impaired. The changes also help passengers with strollers or shopping carts, and the expanded shelter structures give shade from the sun and provide safety in inclement weather.
The largest portion of the $10.2 million grant, approximately $5 million, will be used to construct a new Westside Bus Transfer Station and Park-and-Ride facility to replace an area in the Oaks Mall parking lot that was lost to redevelopment in 2020. Today, more than 1,500 daily passengers get on and off buses at a series of stops along NW 62nd Street near the mall, making it the third busiest location operated by RTS—exceeded only by the Rosa Parks Downtown Station and the Reitz Union area on the University of Florida campus. A hub is essential for improved safety and operations.
“This is needed to fix an issue our riders deal with every day,” said Transportation Director Jesus Gomez. “Right now, we have one of the busiest transfer points in our system operating along an arterial road. The new station will improve safety, traffic and do it with better comfort.”
The new Westside Bus Transfer Station, with a proposed location near SW Eighth Avenue and a tentative construction start date in 2028, is designed to have dedicated bus bays, shaded waiting areas, improved passenger amenities and parking for commuters traveling from west Gainesville and the surrounding communities. The project also is expected to reduce congestion along Newberry Road and near the I-75 interchange by restoring a park-and-ride option for passengers heading downtown or to the University of Florida and UF Health.
Together, the FTA grant and the successful launch of RTS Plus reflect a continuing citywide commitment to strengthen public transit in Gainesville. The end goal, say city and RTS leaders, is a system with safer commutes, improved accessibility and reliable service for all neighbors for years to come.