FARE-FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL Despite Senior Resource Association operating GoLine, its services go beyond the elderly population. “Our GoLine, the fixed route, is public transportation, and there is no fare,” Deigl clarifies. “Public transportation is for anyone to ride.” The system’s fare-free policy removes economic barriers to mobility, though basic safety protocols remain in place.“Anyone under the age of 12 needs to be accompanied by an adult,” Deigl explains. The fare-free approach has proven effective in encouraging ridership across demographic groups. By eliminating the need for expensive payment collection systems, potential fare disputes, and exact change requirements, GoLine has streamlined operations while making transportation accessible to all income levels. Senior Resource Association’s dual-system approach—combining open fixed routes with specialized paratransit services—allows it to efficiently meet different community needs. TRANSIT AS A COMMUNITY CONNECTOR: VISION FOR THE FUTURE The impact of public transportation isn’t just about moving people from point A to point B. “One of the things people don’t think about is that public transportation is vital to keeping communities connected and economies thriving,” Stephenson reflects. “Even people who don’t rely on public transportation rely on people who do.” This ripple effect makes transit systems like GoLine essential infrastructure for community vitality. “Whether it’s a big urban system or a smaller, very specific system like ours in Indian River County, whenever public transportation delivers economic opportunity, whenever it’s functioning at its highest, it can be transformative to communities,” says Stephenson. “I like to say public transportation is a vehicle for change,” he adds. For Deigl, the mission remains deeply personal.“My statement has always been that I want to be able to provide transportation so individuals have a better quality of life,” she says. This drives her forward134 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 03
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