Florida county’s ‘micro-transit’ program offers first and last-mile solutions for areas without bus routes

Jay Foxe was seven months pregnant and new to St. Lucie County, Fla. when she got into a car accident. Her vehicle was totaled, and Foxe — who lives in a rural part of the county — was left unsure how she would get to her new job, drop her two young children off at school or even get groceries. Then she heard about St. Lucie County’s micro-transit program, which provides free transportation for people who live in areas not serviced by the county’s fixed bus route system.

“I was able to keep my kids in school because of it,” Foxe said. “I feel like I use it for everything, and I was able to keep my employment — that was a really good benefit for me.

“I didn’t have to choose [between] keeping my job and trying to figure out how I’m going to pay for transportation every day, how much the cost of an Uber is.”