St. Lucie County
FORT PIERCE – St. Lucie County was one of a handful of local governments selected by American City & County Magazine as a Crown Community for 2015.
American City & County’s Crown Communities Award in the area of Transportation went to St. Lucie County’s summer pilot program, which allowed students to ride public transportation for free. The magazine’s Crown Communities Awards single out government programs that demonstrate creative problem solving abilities and an overall commitment to serving residents in the most meaningful ways possible.
“The cities of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie were both recently recognized nationally by outside agencies and this acknowledgment shows that we are coming full circle with our level of success throughout St. Lucie County,” said County Commission Chair Kim Johnson. “This most recent recognition that we’re getting now for our transit program says that we are identifying the issues and problems with our citizens in a way that allows us to meet their needs personally and for us to get the recognition nationally that says camaraderie is here; and its near and dear to where we live.”
St. Lucie County’s 10-week summer pilot program provided more than 3,032 free rides on the Treasure Coast Connector during summer school break, giving students access to library events, summer camps, recreational activities and part-time jobs. Because of the success of the program, the Board of County Commissioners extended it into the school year. Continuation of the service allows more youth to access after-school activities, as well as volunteer and employment opportunities.
Research has shown that supporting access to opportunities by overcoming barriers such as transportation can contribute to reducing crime, drug use, gang involvement and violence leading to improved community safety and economic development.
For more information about the Treasure Coast Connector, including bus routes, fares and transit stations, call 772-464-RIDE (7433) or visit: https://treasurecoastconnector.com.
For more information about American City & County Magazine’s Crown Communities program visit – https://americancityandcounty.com/administration/american-city-countys-crown-communities?page=1.
