Citrus Connection just officially announced this partnership on April 13, 2026, with the pilot program set to begin this week (specifically the week of April 14).
The program is designed to address the “hidden barrier” of transportation in the justice system, particularly for the many clients in Polk County who qualify as indigent.
Program Highlights
- The Goal: To reduce the number of missed court dates (failures to appear) that often lead to bench warrants, re-incarceration, and additional taxpayer costs.
- How it Works: Public defenders will identify clients who lack reliable transportation and provide them with a custom flyer. This flyer includes two one-way bus passes, route information, and a QR code for schedules.
- Scope: Public Defender Blair Allen noted that her office serves roughly 20,000–27,000 clients annually. Citrus Connection CEO Tom Phillips estimates that if 10% of clients participate, the program could see about 2,000 uses per month.
- Duration: The pilot is projected to run for at least one year, with monthly data tracking to evaluate its impact on court attendance.
Logistics and Funding
- Cost: While each pass technically costs $1.50, the program operates largely as a “sunk cost” because it utilizes existing transit capacity on buses that are already running.
- Expansion: If a participant needs more than just a one-day fix, they can be connected to Citrus Connection’s longer-term “transportation disadvantage” program for continued support.
This initiative builds on a similar successful pilot with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which provides bus passes to individuals being released from jail to help them get home safely.
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