Hernando-Citrus

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Regular Meeting

Minutes - Final

September 4, 2025

CALL TO ORDER

A motion was made by Commissioner Campbell to nominate Commissioner Kinnard as Acting

Chair for the September 4, 2025, MPO Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by

Councilman Davis and the motion passed 6-0.

MPO Board Acting Chair, Jeff Kinnard, called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. on Thursday,

September 4, 2025, at the Lecanto Government Building, 3600 W. Sovereign Path, Room

166, Lecanto, Florida. The meeting was publicly noticed on the Hernando County, Citrus

County, and Hernando-Citrus MPO websites.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Jeff Kinnard, Citrus County Commissioner (Acting Chair)

John Allocco, Hernando County Commissioner

Jerry Campbell, Hernando County Commissioner

Ryan Amsler, MPO Board Alternate Member, Hernando County Commissioner

Gene Davis, Councilman, City of Inverness

Joe Meek, Mayor, City of Crystal River

Thomas Bronson, Vice Mayor, City of Brooksville

Elisa Joyner, Non-Voting Advisor, Florida Department of Transportation, District 7

MEMBERS ABSENT

Rebecca Bays, MPO Chair, Citrus County Commissioner

Brian Hawkins, MPO Vice Chair, Hernando County Commissioner

Steve Champion, Hernando County Commissioner

Christa Tanner, Mayor, City of Brooksville

OTHERS PRESENT

Bob Esposito, MPO Executive Director

Mary Elwin, MPO Coordinator

Joy Turner, MPO Executive Assistant

Suzanne Ziegler, Florida Department of Transportation, District 7

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

MPO Board & Staff Introductions

The Pledge of Allegiance and the introductions of the Board and staff followed the Invocation.

Enter Proof of Publication into the Record

A quorum was declared, and Ms. Turner noted for the record that the public notice for the

meeting was posted in accordance with the adopted policies.

APPROVAL/MODIFICATION OF AGENDA (Limited to Board and Staff)

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Amsler to approve the agenda. The motion was

seconded by Commissioner Campbell and the motion passed 6-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Jerry Campbell

Jerry Campbell, Gene Davis, Jeff Kinnard, Joe Meek, Ryan

Amsler, and John Allocco

Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, and Steve

Champion

ABSENT:

CONSENT ITEMS

Review and Approval of the August 7, 2025, Meeting Minutes of the

Hernando-Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board

16343

16339

Approval of Alternate Members from the City of Brooksville to the

Hernando-Citrus MPO Board and the Sun Coast Transportation Planning

Alliance (SCTPA)

Review and Approval of Contract Amendment 1 to the Kimley-Horn General

Planning Consultant Contract #RG-230033(AP)

16247

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Amsler to approve Consent Agenda Items 1 through 3.

The motion was seconded by Councilman Davis and the motion passed 7-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Gene Davis

Jerry Campbell, Gene Davis, Jeff Kinnard, Joe Meek, Thomas

Bronson, Ryan Amsler, and John Allocco

Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, and Steve

Champion

ABSENT:

ACTION ITEM

Review and Approval of the Annual Roll-Forward Amendment to the

FY2026-FY2030 Transportation Improvement Program

16219

Mr. Esposito presented the Hernando-Citrus annual roll-forward amendment of the

FY2026-FY2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). He noted that a Roll-Call vote is

required.

Acting Chair Kinnard asked if there was anyone in the audience wishing to speak on this

matter. No one from the audience came forward.

Motion

A motion was made by Mayor Meek to approve the annual roll-forward amendment of the

FY2026-FY2030 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The motion was seconded by Vice

Mayor Bronson and a Roll-Call vote carried the motion 7-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Joe Meek

Thomas Bronson

Jerry Campbell, Gene Davis, Jeff Kinnard, Joe Meek, Thomas

Bronson, Ryan Amsler, and John Allocco

Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, and Steve

Champion

ABSENT:

CITIZENS COMMENTS

There were no citizen comments.

MPO DIRECTOR COMMENTS

Mr. Esposito shared the following updates:

· Mr. Esposito expressed his appreciation to the City of Brooksville for appointing all of its

council members as alternate representatives to both the MPO Board and the Sun

Coast Transportation Planning Alliance (SCTPA). To help ensure quorum

requirements are consistently met at meetings, he encouraged the remaining

jurisdictions to adopt a similar approach.

· Mr. Esposito reported that Mary Elwin, MPO Coordinator, attended the Transportation

Disadvantaged Training Session on September 3 in St. Petersburg. The session was

held as part of the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) Annual

Conference and is a mandatory training required by the Florida Commission for

Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD) to support continued education and regulatory

compliance of the planning grant.

· In today’s meeting, the MPO Board voted to add Nationwide Traffic Data as a

subcontractor to the Kimley-Horn GPC contract. As a result, staff will issue a purchase

order for traffic counts at 71 locations throughout Hernando, along with a

level-of-service analysis. An additional scope will be finalized for the Citrus County

traffic counts and a level of service analysis.

· Notices to Proceed have been issued for the Complete Streets and Congestion

Management projects. Kick-off meetings for both initiatives were held last week.

· Following a review of upcoming agenda items, staff indicated that the MPO Board

meetings scheduled for October and December will likely be cancelled. However, the

November 6 meeting is expected to proceed as scheduled.

· During a previous MPO Board meeting, Commissioner Champion raised concerns

regarding the visibility of pavement markings, particularly on concrete pads. He noted

that the markings are difficult to see during rainy conditions and that vehicle recognition

systems have trouble detecting them. [Subsequent to the meeting, FDOT confirmed

black contrast will be added to the white lane striping to increase visibility on concrete

pavement.]

· Mr. Esposito invited Darlene Lollie, Hernando County Transit Administrator, and

Joanne Granger, Transit Director for Citrus County, to provide updates on the operating

costs for their transit systems that were discussed during the Transit Development

Plan (TDP) Major Update for Citrus County (FY26-FY35) at the August 7, 2025, MPO

Board meeting.

Ms. Granger began by clarifying that Hernando County Transit operates a fixed-route

system under the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners. The Community

Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for transportation-disadvantaged services is a

separate entity, You Thrive Florida. In contrast, Citrus County Transit operates a

deviated fixed-route system and also serves as the CTC for

transportation-disadvantaged services. Both functions are managed directly by the

Citrus County Board of County Commissioners.

Funding for Citrus County Transit comes from Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

grants, specifically 5307 and 5311 for rural areas, and the Florida Commission for

Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD). According to the FY2024 National Transit

Database (NTB), the cost per trip is $70 for door-to-door service and $35 for the

deviated fixed route service. Citrus County received approximately $3.2 million in

transit grants for FY2024. In response to Councilman Davis’s inquiry, Ms. Granger

noted that the local match equaled $469,000 of which $160,000 was paid with an

allocation from the County’s Ninth-Cent gas tax and $309,000 from ad valorum taxes

resulting in an average local match cost of $8.37 per trip.

Ms. Lollie noted that the only deviation from the fixed-route service in Hernando County

is the requirement of providing ADA complementary service (within ¾ of a mile from the

fixed-route). Ms. Lollie presented a spreadsheet comparing FY2023 NTD data for

several Florida MPOs, highlighting fare revenue as a percentage of expenses and

operating costs per unlinked passenger trip (UPT). The data showed consistent cost

per trip figures across most of the MPOs reviewed.

Ms. Granger shared that a five-mile Uber ride typically costs around $27, while a

cross-county trip could exceed $50. For wheelchair users, Uber Health, which is only

available through medical providers, would have to be used. Citrus County recorded

3,077 wheelchair trips in FY2024.

As the CTC, Citrus County Transit is eligible to apply for an Innovative Service

Development (ISD) grant. If awarded, the grant could fund vouchers for services like

Uber, Lyft, or taxis, particularly for individuals needing transportation outside regular

bus hours. The ISD grant requires a 10% county match. Ms. Lollie later emphasized

that federally funded transit services must comply with FTA ADA regulations, even

when using third-party providers.

Ms. Granger clarified that the financial figures in the FY2026-FY2035 Transit

Development Plan (TDP) pertain solely to Citrus County’s deviated fixed-route system.

She explained that the TDP is a 10-year strategic plan incorporating public input;

however, implementing its recommendations, especially those requiring significant

local funding, is at the discretion of the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners.

Maintaining a fixed-route system is a requirement to qualify for the state block grant.

Ms. Elwin affirmed that counties receiving block grants must produce a TDP every five

years. She stressed the importance of public input and feasibility assessments when

developing the plan, which serves as a guide for future transit services.

During a discussion on fare increases, Ms. Lollie explained that fare revenue is

deducted from total operating costs before grant reductions are applied. Therefore,

increasing fare revenue may not significantly reduce the amount of gas tax funding

needed to meet the local match requirements.

Commissioner Allocco inquired about tracking the cost of individualized services, such

as year-long medical transportation for a single person. He emphasized the need for

data to help decision-makers balance service delivery with fiscal responsibility,

especially since transit services are generally subsidized nationwide.

In response to Commissioner Allocco’s question, Ms. Granger clarified that each leg of

a transit journey counts as a separate trip. For example, traveling from a bus stop to

Walmart and returning constitutes two trips.

Councilman Davis asked why Citrus County has more buses than Hernando County.

Ms. Granger explained that Citrus County, as the CTC, provides

transportation-disadvantaged services directly, whereas Hernando County contracts

with You Thrive Florida, which owns the bus inventory.

Commissioner Campbell asked if the Ninth-Cent gas tax could only be used for public

transit and Ms. Elwin stated that for Hernando County, the Ninth-Cent gas tax could

also be used for improvement for certain road improvements as well as funding public

transit.

Walt Eastmond, County Engineer and Technical Services Director for Citrus County

Public Works, noted that Citrus County’s Ninth-Cent gas tax is set to expire in 2034

and, to his knowledge, cannot be renewed. Commissioner Kinnard asked what steps

would be needed to extend [or renew] the tax. Ms. Elwin committed to reviewing the

sunset provisions for Citrus County and reporting back to the Board.

Commissioner Allocco shared his personal experience using public transportation for

shopping and encouraged fellow Board members to do the same to better understand

available resources. He also advocated for expanding the use of the tourism tax to

support county and city operating expenses, suggesting that this could help offset the

strain caused by tourism rather than limiting its use to promote tourism.

The Board expressed appreciation for the informative discussion and insights provided.

BOARD COMMENTS

Councilman Davis noted that the Turnpike Extension Project has adversely affected signal

timing at the on-and-off ramps at SR 44 and Veterans Expressway in Citrus County.

[Subsequent to the meeting, Elisa Joyner, District 7 liaison for the Florida Department of

Transportation, informed the Board that Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) is actively

addressing the issue and anticipates a resolution during the week of September 15, 2025].

ADJOURNMENT

Acting Chair Kinnard adjourned the meeting at 2:50 p.m.

Motion

A motion was made by Commissioner Campbell to adjourn the meeting. The motion was

seconded by Commissioner Allocco and the motion passed 7-0.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Jerry Campbell

John Allocco

Jerry Campbell, Gene Davis, Jeff Kinnard, Joe Meek, Thomas

Bronson, Ryan Amsler, and John Allocco

Rebecca Bays, Christa Tanner, Brian Hawkins, and Steve

Champion

ABSENT:

UPCOMING MEETING:

The next regular meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Board is scheduled for

Thursday, October 2, 2025, beginning at 1:30 pm, in the Lecanto Government Building, 3600

W. Sovereign Path, Room 166, Lecanto, Florida. [It is noted for this record that the October

meeting was cancelled. The next meeting is on November 6, 2025, at 1:30 pm in Lecanto.