Okaloosa County Launches Sweeping Transit Overhaul After ‘Colossal Failure’ Warning

Tracy Stage, Airports Director for Okaloosa County, who is currently overseeing the Transit Division, informed the Board that his staff is about “halfway through” the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process, stressing the urgency and confirming that the overhaul is already underway. Stage went on to say that there are roughly 90 days left before the current MV contract expires at the end of August.

“It’s a challenge of the time frame,” he told the commission before they voted. 

Stage also confirmed that the scope of work for the county’s new transit contract has been advertised since April 20, and that vendor proposals, formal plans, and bids from private transit companies were due on Wednesday, with the mandatory pre-proposal meeting drawing multiple vendors. 

Stage goes on to say that transit reform has already saved the county nearly $200,000 from the general fund, and officials are projecting another $500,000 in costs to the general fund if changes are not made immediately. Chairman Trey Goodwin called fixed-route transit “a colossal misuse of public dollars.” 

Stage confirms that underperforming routes will be cut first, and all fixed routes, traditional bus routes with scheduled stops, are expected to end by August 31.  Fixed routes are not included in the new transit proposal; instead, the county is focusing on Paratransit, Transportation Disadvantaged riders, and demand-response service. 

Commissioner Sherri Cox focused heavily on whether at-risk and vulnerable riders would lose transportation access. She argued that county leaders needed to protect the working poor residents who use the transit system to get to work every day. 

“Those folks are still trying, and still have jobs,” she told her colleagues. 

Cox repeatedly emphasized that transit is tied directly to homelessness prevention and workforce stability. She urged county staff to ensure financially vulnerable riders continue to receive transportation services. 

Tracy Stage said Route 5, which serves One Hopeful Place, is not on the chopping block in the first round of cuts. 

Jail release transportation was another focus of the Commissioners. Tracy Stage relayed that anyone being released from the county jail will have transit services. Stage says,

“We’re going to already pre-approve anybody that’s coming from the jail.” 

Commissioners also wanted to know that residents being released from jail would not have to wait 24 hours or longer to get a ride from transit. Stage confirms,

“They won’t have to go through the application process or call 24 hours in advance.” 

The End of the 2015 Transit Cooperative 

The 2015 Transit Cooperative was next on the chopping block. Stage said that municipalities such as Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton, Niceville, and Cinco Bayou never developed the required methodology under the agreement. He also cited that none of those cities contributed to funding.

With the dissolution of fixed route services, the future of Okaloosa County’s underperforming transit system is showing signs of life – according to its brand-new leader.

“Today’s my 15th day in Okaloosa County, and each day’s gotten better. I’m here to put a transit agency together that will be safe, reliable, and something that the board can be proud of.”

Now, how riders adapt after August will be the immediate issue. Chairman Trey Goodwin says the new transit goal is a “self-sufficient enterprise.” 

Whether the county’s new transit model can absorb former fixed-route riders without leaving vulnerable residents behind has become the central question as the system moves toward a paratransit-only future.