Public transit gains attention as Fort Myers Beach parking tightens

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. (WINK) — Parking on Fort Myers Beach could become more difficult next week as several county beach parking areas close for Hurricane Ian restoration work, but Lee County says beach-goers still have options.

Beginning Sept. 8, Lee County will close Bowditch Point Regional Park and several beach parking areas in Bonita Springs as crews continue long-term restoration projects. The beaches themselves will remain open.

 LeeTran says one option is its Beach Park & Ride at 11101 Summerlin Square Drive. The lot offers more than 125 free parking spaces. From there, Route 490 takes riders to Crescent Beach Family Park on Fort Myers Beach about every 30 to 35 minutes. The fare is 75 cents each way, or riders can purchase a $2 all-day pass.

“You can get on a trolley and not have to worry about the hassle of driving in traffic,” Lee County Transit Deputy Director Kelley Fernandez said. “It’s a comfortable ride over there on a trolley, air conditioned and you’ll just get right over to the beach and get to what you went there for….enjoying the beach.”

Once riders arrive on Fort Myers Beach, Route 410 travels between Bowditch Point and Lovers Key. LeeTran says more people are already using the beach routes. Route 490 has recorded more than 73,000 riders so far in 2026, up about 40% compared with the same period last year. Route 410 ridership is also up, increasing about 62% year over year.

For people heading farther south toward Bonita Beach, Fernandez said LeeTran also offers its ULTRA On Demand service. Riders can park near U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road and book a $3 one-way trip through the ULTRA app to destinations within the Bonita Springs service zone, including beach access points.

Matt Bierschwal works just off Fort Myers Beach and said parking can already be difficult, particularly during the busiest times of year.

“In season with day-to-day activity, parking is bad enough,” Bierschwal said. “Put on an event, and there’s just nowhere to go.”

Lee County says the Beach Park & Ride has more than 125 spaces, and LeeTran continuously monitors ridership and can adjust service based on demand. Fernandez said she has never seen the lot completely fill during her time with LeeTran. Major events can also push more riders onto the system. LeeTran says beach-route ridership during the Shrimp Festival was up about 70% compared with the year before, while Island Hopper drew more than 1,000 passengers over three days in 2025.

“It always surprises me the lack of people using the public transit system,” Bierschwal said. “I think in part, they just need some PSAs about, ‘Hey, we’re here and this is what we do.’”

The closures are part of Lee County’s ongoing effort to restore amenities damaged by Hurricane Ian. At Bowditch Point Regional Park, parking will close Sept. 8, but pedestrian access to the beach will remain available along the south side of the property. The county says most of the restoration projects are expected to take about 11 months.

Fort Myers Beach is also preparing for demolition of the remaining pier structure following the Labor Day holiday. The town says temporary construction activity may continue along the sidewalk on Estero Boulevard just north of Times Square, and pedestrians may encounter temporary detours or access changes.

No construction crews are scheduled to work at the pier site during Labor Day weekend, but fencing and restricted areas will remain in place.