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Community leaders from Citrus Connection and Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine celebrate their new Universal Access partnership during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 27 in Lakeland. The program allows LVIM patients to ride Citrus Connection buses for free on fixed routes across Polk County. | Courtesy: Citrus Connection
3-minute read
Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM) patients can now ride Citrus Connection fare-free on fixed routes across Polk County. The one-year pilot began on Oct. 27 and aims to reduce no-shows to medical appointments and widen access to daily life beyond the clinic.
“If you can’t get to work, the grocery store or the doctor, life stalls. This partnership keeps people moving,” said LVIM CEO Alice Koehler.
Tackling health care barriers
Transportation is one of Polk County’s biggest barriers to health care — and to life.
“Eighty percent of modifiable health outcomes are shaped by the social determinants of health — transportation being one of the most important,” Koehler said.
That lack of access hits hard for low-income working individuals and families, the population served by LVIM.
“If this small step can give people a little breathing room in their budgets, LVIM is proud to do so,” Koehler said.
Community collaboration
Citrus Connection and LVIM’s partnership aims to close one of the county’s most persistent gaps, giving patients reliable, free transportation not just to appointments, but to work, groceries and daily essentials.
“If you can get to the doctor, you stay out of the ER — and out of debt. That’s how we start breaking the cycles of poverty,” Phillips said. He added that more ridership also benefits the county as a whole, “Every new rider strengthens our federal and state funding base. It’s a win for the whole community.”
How it works
Citrus Connection receives funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Transportation, which is partially tied to ridership levels. Each additional rider helps increase federal and state transit support, making partnerships like this one beneficial for both patients and Polk County’s long-term public transportation system.
All LVIM patients are eligible to receive a pass through LVIM’s Referral Department.
No booking is needed: Riders can use published routes/schedules.
Nearest stop: Downtown terminal and MLK Jr. Avenue/George Jenkins Boulevard drop off closest to LVIM.
New riders welcome: The Travel Training program teaches first-time users how to ride the bus. Riders can call 863-688-RIDE.
“Every bus in our fleet is ADA-accessible — they all kneel, have wheelchair securements and bike racks,” said Tom Phillips, Citrus Connection’s executive director.
Cost share: LVIM pays $250 per month (about $3,000/year) for universal access for all their patients through community donations and fundraising.
What’s next
The year-long pilot will be tracked through ridership data. If successful, LVIM and Citrus Connection plan to extend the model.
“The more people who use public transit, the better it gets. It’s a cycle of improvement,” Koehler said.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.
