Leitran reports modest ridership gains; ADA stop upgrades and electric‑bus work underway

Kelly Fernandez, speaking for Leitran, gave a concise service update to the MPO board.

Fernandez said fixed‑route ridership for FY ’26 was nearly 1,000,000 riders (a 1.3% increase) and on‑time performance improved roughly 3% year over year. Paratransit and passport services average about 600 passenger trips daily, with peaks near 700. Fernandez noted the new scheduling software has improved paratransit efficiency and that the Lehigh Acres Mobility on Demand expansion produced a 40% increase in trips since March 5.

On capital work, Fernandez said the ADA bus‑stop improvement project advertised 22 stops for construction in the first round, with a contractor expected by August and completion of that group of stops thereafter. A Fort Myers CRA‑funded shelter project is in design and expected to deliver up to 12 shelters by September 2027. She confirmed charging‑infrastructure design for the electric bus project should reach substantial completion in the next 30 days and said bus deliveries remain expected in the fall.

Board members had no follow‑up questions during the presentation; staff will continue to track schedule and contractor procurement as those projects move toward construction.