TAVARES — The Department of Community Services, Public Transportation Division, is waiving student fares (with valid ID) on LakeXpress until Monday, Aug. 31.
“We want to teach students throughout the County about the important role public transportation has in our community,” said Ken Harley, Director of the Lake County Public Transportation Division. “Since transit is new in Lake County, we need to motivate and encourage our students to become loyal users of the service. If transit is going to survive in Lake County, it will be dependent upon the younger generation utilizing the service.”
The free bus fare for students during the summer months is an extension of a program that was tested in December and January.
“We are hoping this special offer will help to educate students about the benefits of using public transportation,” Harley said. “If we are able to get students to try transit they will find that it is a cost effective means of travel, it is safe and has significant benefits to air quality, public health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
LakeXpress operates Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. and buses run every hour from The Villages to Eustis with circulator routes in the downtowns of Leesburg and Mount Dora. Fares for LakeXpress are $1 for all trips. Half-fares are available for riders 60 years or older and individuals with disabilities (buses are equipped with lifts). Free fares are available for children under five years of age, who are accompanied by a fare-paying chaperone.
For more information about LakeXpress or to view a bus schedule, call (352) 326-8637 or log on to www.RideLakeXpress.com.