The LYMMO BRT 15 Years Later

The LYMMO bus rapid transit service, operated by LYNX Transit in Orlando, Florida, began in August 1997 as one of the first premium bus-based downtown circulators in the United States. The Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida recently conducted an evaluation of the LYMMO to see how well it has performed for the last 15 years. The evaluation found that ridership quickly plateaued after 1997 and has fallen off since 2010. Nevertheless, the LYMMO still carries more annual passengers than several rail streetcars of comparable length and at a lower operational cost. Surveys of LYMMO riders and downtown employers revealed that a majority of respondents believe the LYMMO has reduced congestion in downtown Orlando, contributed to the economic development of downtown, and made downtown a more attractive place to live and work.