Okaloosa County BOCC — March 15, 2016 — Amended County Public Transit Fare and Route Modifications Policy

Okaloosa County Public Transit Fare and Route Modifications Policy Okaloosa County provides demand response and deviated fixed route transportation to its residents through a transit operator with financial assistance from the Federal Transit Administration and the State of Florida. This fare and route modification policy describes the procedures that shall be followed to increase fares and/or to modify public transit routes. The procedures include provisions to notify users of the service or those who may use the service in the future of proposed changes and give them an opportunity to comment on those changes prior to adoption by the Board of County Commissioners. The transit operator will submit a written proposal and justification for a fare increase or modification of routes to the Okaloosa County Department of Growth Management. The Okaloosa County Transit Cooperative may also propose fare increases and route modifications which will be submitted to the Department of Growth Management. The Department of Growth Management shall publish an ad in the Daily News describing the proposed fare and/or route changes and shall post a notice on the County website. The ad and website notice shall list a contact person to whom public comments may be sent and a location where the fare and/or route changes and other information can be reviewed. In addition, the transit operator shall place a notice in all public transit vehicles reflecting the contents of the ad with regard to the proposed changes. The ad and website notice shall provide for a two-week comment period and a public hearing date which must occur after the two-week comment period. At the public hearing, the Department of Growth Management shall make its recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. The recommendation shall be based on the transit operator’s or Cooperative’s request and the comments received from the public. The public will be invited to speak for or against the proposed changes. If the Board of County Commissioners approves the recommendation, changes shall thirty (30) days after the approval. A second ad shall be published in the Daily News acknowledging the fare and/or route changes, the effective date, and a contact person. In addition, the transit operator shall make available in all vehicles the approved changes and the effective date.