Boca losing ‘Link’ to Palm Tran ‘deviation service’
August 23rd, 2008
By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR
Boca Raton is losing its Magenta Palm Tran Link.
“We were not able to get the ridership,” said Lili Agee, manager of marketing for Palm Beach County’s bus transportation network.
Last February, Palm Tran launched a “Link” program designed to use smaller-than-normal size buses to reach areas where fixed route service is unavailable. There are seven color-coded Link routes that run four days a week.
About two weeks ago, the Magenta Link – which served Boca Raton – was discontinued and replaced with a Brown Link, said Agee. That schedule started Aug. 14 and operates in the Boynton Beach area via Woolbright and Jog roads and Boynton Beach Boulevard to the Caridad Center.
Agee did note that Links service “is a pilot project” – and given enough ridership, Boca Raton could be put back on the colorful Links map.
Two years ago, Palm Tran received a $212,500 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to fund The Link program for a year – a program officially known as a “deviation service.” It’s called that because Link buses deviate from regular routes.
Instead of a full-size bus, a van measuring 25 to 27 feet picks up riders along the short routes – and then drops them off at regular Palm Tran stops.
Flag Service
Agee said people can make reservations to be picked up by a Link bus – or they can flag one down.
“Passengers can call three days in advance to schedule a pickup or can inform the driver upon boarding to deviate from the scheduled route,” said Agee. “The Link will deviate up to three-quarters of a mile from its scheduled route.”
The vans, Agee said, also take passengers to nearby community centers, shopping centers, libraries, hospitals, and medical offices.
Among other recent changes in Link service, Agee said Palm Tran launched the Coral Route July 7. It started with seven passengers and now regularly carries 45 a day. This route operates Wednesday, serving Hypoluxo Road to Lake Wroth Road via U.S 1 and State Road A1A.
The Coral Link replaced the Orange link, which was discontinued July 9.
Also, the Blue Link, which serves central West Palm Beach, is being modified to terminate at the VA Medical Center. That van operates every hour.
As of now, The Link operates four days a week, Monday through Thursday, with one to two routes a day.
For more information, visit http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/palmtran/, or call 561-841-4200. Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.
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