The Marco Island City Council has proposed a $200,000 pilot program to help alleviate traffic and congestion in the city during high season.
"I think it would be very, very, very nice, especially for the other people that need transportation. They never had to worry about driving and parking, so I think it would be a big plus," said Genie Brinkman, a tourist from Kentucky.
The program would include two phases:
1) Changes to "Route 21"
Route 21, the City of Marco Island's Collier Area Transit (CAT) bus, typically runs three times a day, at 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., and 6 p.m., according to the proposal. New routes would include a 10-hour running time, as well as a bus that circles the Island instead of shuttling riders back and forth.
The following stops have been proposed:
- Bald Eagle and Collier
- Esplanade
- Bayside and Collier (across from Joey’s)
- Residents’ Beach
- Maple Ave and Collier (Public Beach Access)
- JW Marriott
- Hilton
- Marriott Crystal Shores (Public Beach Access)
- South Beach (Public Beach Access)
- Caxambas Park (turn around and head north on Collier)
- Collier and Winterberry
- Winterberry and S Heathwood (Winterberry Ball Field)
- S Heathwood and Andalusia (Library and Mackle Park)
- Marco Island Historical Society
- 50 Bald Eagle (City Hall)
- Veteran’s Park
- Bald Eagle and Collier Blvd.
- N Barfield and Bald Eagle
- Rose Marina
- 1100 Bald Eagle (Bike Shop, Zaza’s)
- Snook Inn
- 244 Palm St. (Old Marco Shops)
2) Beach Trolley
A beach bus would continuously make trips up and down the Marco Island coast, picking up riders and taking them to each of the access points throughout the City, according to the proposal.
The following stops have been proposed:
- Tigertail County Park
- Residents’ Beach
- Maple Ave and Collier (Public Beach Access)
- JW Marriott
- Hilton
- Marriott Crystal Shores (Public Beach Access)
- South Beach (Public Beach Access)
- Caxambas Park (turn around and head north on Collier to repeat route to Tigertail)
The pilot program would take effect during high season, from Jan. 1, 2025 - March 31, 2025. However, full-time residents tell ABC7 News, that a high price tag, alongside a program slated to begin at the beginning of tourist time, has them questioning if this plan is the correct one.
"The biggest concerns for the residents of the island to taxpayers is the cost. There's a couple hundred thousand dollars of cost associated with this. We feel at this time with such other major infrastructure problems like bridges and whatnot, now is not a good time to spend $200,000," said Mike Josephs, a full-time resident of the Island.
Josephs and many others have begun to participate in an online petition, dubbed the "Stop the Trolley" movement. In just a short time, it has already amassed 100 signatures.
"When government says they know better than what the citizens want, then there's a problem. You've heard the words fight, fight, fight. You will hear those again if the city council doesn't listen to the citizens," added Josephs, who says he is frustrated that the City Council is bringing back a proposal that was dismissed after resident outcry in 2021.
"We are trying to be fair, fiscal conservative, to spend money wisely," said City Council Candidate Tamara Goehler.
Goehler tells ABC7 News that not all residents on the Island are for the public transportation project, citing a survey she conducted as part of her campaign.
"We decided to do a survey, we did online survey, and we had almost 2,500 plus participants and we had 75% of the residents rejected this proposal," added Goehler.
The project is simply in the proposal stage at this current point. It will be discussed again by City Council, during their Budget Workshop on 7/22.