A rideshare service providing passengers with door-to-door transportation for $2 in the Lower Keys will soon go away.
Monroe County’s Freebee “Conch Connect” transportation service between Stock Island and Key West began as a pilot project to provide an alternative mode of transportation to encourage ride sharing. After operating for about a year, the ridership proved to be more for single riders, without the magnitude of ride sharing that was originally estimated.
As a result, the service paid using taxpayer funds will end at 10 p.m. on Aug. 15. The service began July 15, 2024, offering rides seven days a week in Key West and Stock Island.
“We want to extend the service through mid-August to give riders time to transition back to other transportation options, such as the Lower Keys bus route,” said Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley. “We wanted to avoid an immediate interruption for our community members who have become accustomed to using it.”
The decision to discontinue the program follows the direction of the Monroe County commissioners during the July budget meeting. Monroe County’s cost share of the program was $426,000 a year.Notices will be placed in the Conch Connect cars to inform riders of the discontinuation of services. Information on Lower Keys bus routes can be found through the City of Key West at https://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/595.
