Lee Tran Sets Record with 3,037,194 Riders in Fiscal Year

Oct 16, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORT MYERS, FL – LeeTran, Lee County's public transit agency, set a ridership record of 3,037,194 passengers in the fiscal year that ended on September 30.

The new record is a 5% increase in passengers carried during the previous fiscal year. Over the past five years, the agency's ridership has increased by 31.4%.

"The explosive growth of Lee County is creating an increasing need for public transportation," said Transit Director Steve Myers. "Combined with gas prices hovering around $3 a gallon, transit makes economic sense."

In addition to the potential cost savings, other benefits of using public transportation are:

  • Greenhouse gas reduction: In 2005, public transportation reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 6.9 million metric tonnes.1
  • Energy savings: Current public transportation usage reduces U.S. gasoline consumption by about 1.4 billion gallons per year.2
  • Safety: Riding a bus is 26 times safer than car travel.3
  • Congestion mitigation: In 2005, commuters in the Fort Myers-Cape Coral area wasted 5.3 million hours in delayed traffic and burned 3 million excess gallons of fuel because of these delays.4

    LeeTran operates 19 bus and trolley routes throughout Lee County. The adult fare is $1.00, with discounts available for senior citizens, students and the disabled.

    • For route and schedule information, visit www.rideleetran.com or call Customer Service at 533-8726 (LEE-TRAN).

    1  "Public Transportation's Contribution to U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reduction," Science Applications International.

    2  ""Public Transportation and Petroleum Savings in the U.S. Reducing Dependence on Oil," ICF International, 2007. 

    3  "Injury Facts," National Safety Council.

    4  "The 2007 Urban Mobility Report," Texas Transportation Institute

     

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