According to an agenda item, county staff are asking the board to make two actions. The first grants the Airport Department’s Transit Division the authority to modify or suspend routes and schedules with returning to the commission for approval. The other is to dissolve the Okaloosa County Transit Cooperative Agreement, a partnership first established in 2015.
The cooperative agreement includes Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, and Cinco Bayou. Staff noted in an agenda item that none of the participating towns have contributed funding to the arrangement, and the county received no financial support from any partnering entity.
Fixed route service would be discontinued until further notice if the board approves the measure. According to Okaloosa County Public Information Officer Nick Tomecek, para transit services, transportation to and from medical appointments, will not be affected if the board determines to nix the agreement.
Currently, any changes to bus routes of service require full board approval, a process staff note in an agenda item creates delays when operating adjustments need to be made. The requested change in control would allow the transit department to respond to ridership data, costs, and other issues without board approval.
If approved, all changes would go into effect on September 30.
