Gold Line shuttle returns for NFM residents

Residents of North Fort Myers are again able to take the bus to downtown Fort Myers.
LeeTran resumed its seasonal free downtown trolley service on Sunday after the Lee County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement with the city of Fort Myers to authorize the program.
The trolley, now in its second year, is funded through contributions from the city of Fort Myers, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency and Florida Department of Transportation grants.
Robert Codie, LeeTran director, said the idea of the route was to bring people into the downtown area.
“We wanted them to intertwine with our downtown entertainment and with the restaurants. We wanted to give those individuals access to the downtown corridor,” Codie said.
The trolley service consists of two routes.
One, the Blue Line, runs through downtown Fort Myers.
The Gold Line connects North Fort Myers to downtown Fort Myers.
The route leaves from the Rosa Parks Transportation Center, traveling over the Caloosahatchee Bridge, makes a left on Hancock Bridge Parkway, left on Moody Road, right on Skyline Drive, and right on Hancock Bridge Parkway. The route continues to Beau Drive, makes a left on North Key Drive, right on North Cleveland Avenue, then back across the bridge to First Street and returns to Rosa Parks Transportation Center.
Codie said the trolley program has been very successful, especially the Gold Line, which has seen ridership continually increase.
“Even with the short season and the pandemic we saw an increase overall with our downtown trolleys,” Codie said. “It has been very successful.”
As the trolley is funded by grants, it is not a year-round service, Codie said, adding that the future of the program is dependent on its usage and the funding for it, since every route costs money.
“For us to expand the route, it would require us to reapply for the grant and there would have to be a need, which we don’t see at this time because there are routes that service that area, especially U.S. 41,” Codie said.
The trolley service will run through April 2021. There will be no bus or trolley service on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
Riders are asked to continue to observe recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control for social distancing. For more information, visit www.leegov.com/COVID-19.