Tallahassee is taking a major step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future with a $12 million plan to upgrade the StarMetro bus system.
City commissioners recently approved the investment as part of the city’s Clean Energy Plan. For many residents, public transportation is more than just a way to get around; it’s a vital part of daily life. As the city moves forward with plans to electrify the StarMetro fleet, some riders are beginning to ask if these changes will lead to better service.
According to Allie Merzer Fleming, manager of Special Transit Projects and Communications at StarMetro, the investment is more than just environmental progress. It’s part of a long-term commitment to reliable and accessible transit for the community.
“StarMetro works continuously to provide safe, accessible and efficient transportation for the Tallahassee/Leon County community,” Fleming said. “Though we face similar challenges as public transit agencies across the country, residents can count on the same commitment to customer service and dedication to quality as all city services.”
StarMetro provides over 2 million rides a year and more than 100,000 paratransit trips for eligible riders. With that much service, planning and problem-solving are part of the job.
“Three times a year we evaluate routes and stops to assess on-time performance, ridership data, and customer feedback,” Fleming said. “It’s all part of building a transit system that works best for our customers.”
The Clean Energy Resolution passed in 2019, calls for all fixed-route buses in Tallahassee to go fully electric. That shift has already started. StarMetro was the first in Florida to run an all-electric fleet on FSU routes and now operates a mix of electric and CNG buses.
“The Clean Energy Resolution will benefit our whole community by helping reduce emissions as StarMetro continues to provide reliable transportation within our community,” Fleming said.
For Tallahassee residents like Carmen Jackson, a nursing assistant who commutes daily on StarMetro buses, reliability is key.
“I take the bus five days a week, sometimes six,” Jackson said. “It’s how I get to work and run some of my errands. I think the clean energy stuff sounds good, but I just hope it means the buses come on time more often. That’s what we really need.”
While Jackson supports the city’s efforts to go green, she said the day-to-day experience also needs attention.
“Sometimes the buses run late, or I’ll miss a transfer and have to wait 30 or 40 minutes,” she said. “That makes it harder to stay on schedule, especially when you have a job to get to. I’d love to see more reliable service and maybe more buses during busy hours.”
While the shift to electric buses is good for the environment, many riders say the real test will be whether the upgrades make their daily travel smoother and more dependable.