FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:            Jeff Shuler, Lee County Transit (LeeTran), (239) 277-5012 ext. 2223

LEE TRAN’S SANIBEL-CAPTIVA SCHEDULE DURING CAUSEWAY CLOSURE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 17, 2003) – As part of the Essential Personnel Transportation Network that will be running during the Sanibel Causeway closure this coming weekend, LeeTran announces the following route information:

 Lee Tran will be running five, full-size transit vehicles on two routes – one serving Captiva Island (three buses) and one serving Sanibel Island (two buses).  Each ferry landing on Sanibel Island will be met with a Lee Tran bus departing immediately to each route.  The routes will also act as collectors, and return to the Sanibel Marina just prior to each departure of the ferry from Sanibel to the mainland.  The routes will be:

 Captiva Island – From Sanibel Marina, west on Periwinkle Way to Palm Ridge Road to Sanibel-Captiva Road to Captiva Road up to South Seas Plantation.  Returning the same way except taking a right at Tarpon Bay Road to get back to Periwinkle Way.

 Sanibel Island – From Sanibel Marina, east on Periwinkle Way to East Gulf Drive to Middle Gulf Drive to West Gulf Drive to Rabbit Road to Sanibel-Captiva Road.  Right on Tarpon Bay Road to get back to Periwinkle Way, then east back to Sanibel Marina.

Because LeeTran doesn’t operate on Sanibel-Captiva and there are no bus stops, drop-offs and pick-ups along those routes will be determined by passenger need, however for convenience there will be four designated stops.  They are:

•          Bailey’s Shopping Center

•          Periwinkle Place

•          Jerry’s Foods

•          Huxters’ Market and Deli

 Otherwise, to get picked up at other locations, people should make eye contact with the LeeTran driver and wave for him to stop.

 Lee Tran’s operation will mirror the hours of the water transportation network that has been put in place.  The five buses will begin operating at 2 p.m. on Sunday until 3 a.m. Monday, then resuming at 6 a.m. on Monday until 3 a.m. Tuesday.  A spare vehicle (paratransit van) will be stationed on the island for supervisor use, and as a backup in the event there is a mechanical problem with another bus.  Supervisors will be on the island during most of the operating hours.

 As soon as the bridge reopens, LeeTran operations and maintenance staff will retrieve the vehicles from the island.  This service will be FREE.