StarMetro is the city-owned and operated public bus service for Tallahassee, Florida, and was previously known as TalTran. StarMetro operates both fixed-route and dial-a-ride service in the Tallahassee metropolitan area.
History
Fixed-Route Service began when the City of Tallahassee purchased the public transit system from Cities Transit Company and renamed it “Taltran” in 1973. The City of Tallahassee completed the construction of the administration and maintenance building at 555 Appleyard Drive in 1976. In 1984, the city began offering Dial-A-Ride service. Construction of C.K. Steele Plaza ended in 1986. TalTran changed its name to StarMetro in 2005 during a "Renaissance", which included new buses and improved stops. StarMetro received federal grants in both 2011 and 2017 to purchase battery-electric buses.
COVID-19 response
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, StarMetro implemented many changes:
Capped bus capacity at 20 passengers to facilitate social distancing
Required masks/face coverings to be worn while on the bus
Suspended trolly service
Weekday service ends at 8:00 pm
Suspended FSU campus routes from March through August
StarMetro operates every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Weekday service consists of 14 regularly scheduled fixed-routes, two flex-routes, and one express route that operates during peak travel times. The "Saturday" schedule consists of 12 of the weekday routes, typically with the earliest trip eliminated and/or the headway reduced. The "Sunday" schedule consists of a completely separate system of four routes that is not as extensive as the weekday/Saturday routes. The Sunday route system is also run on weekday and Saturday nights (7:00p.m. to 10:00p.m.). All weekday and Saturday routes are named for Tallahassee area locations and symbols while the Sunday routes are numbered.
Additionally, Monday-Friday from 11:30 A. M. to 2:50 P. M. (last stop) & on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4:30 P. M. to 1:00 A. M. (last stop), StarMetro operates The "Lunch/Dinner Trolley" route, which offers free service to various entertainment locations in the Gaines Street (College Town), Downtown, Cascades Park and Midtown areas, serving each stop approximately every 20 minutes ("Lunch Trolley") & 30 minutes ("Dinner Trolley").
During "Celebrate America" on July 4th (Unofficially Route J4), StarMetro offers a special opportunity to view The Annual Fireworks at Tom Brown Park. So, Park your car and enjoy a free bus ride to the event! Busses leave from Sears Parking Lot @ Governor's Square Mall, 1500 Apalachee Pkwy., starting @ 6 P.M. & continue to operate throughout the event, 6 P. M. until 10 P. M. Dial-A-Ride service will also be available. The Shuttle operates via Blair Stone Rd., Park Ave., Capital Cir. SE/NE, to Easterwood Dr. (Drop-off & Pick-up point.)
Weekday routes
Route
Headway
Destinations
A – Azalea
30 minutes (60 minutes off-peak east side)
Commonwealth & Capital Cir. NW, Tennessee St., C. K. Steele Plaza, Mahan Dr., *Fallschase (WalMart) Service to location funded by The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
B – Big Bend
30 minutes (60 minutes off-peak north side)
Lake Jackson Town Center, Monroe St., C. K. Steele Plaza, Paul Russell Rd. (North Florida Fairgrounds), from Fred George Road to Capital Cir SW
D – Dogwood
30 minutes (60 minutes off-peak)
C. K. Plaza, Innovation Park
E – Evergreen
30 minutes (60 minutes off-peak)
C. K. Steele Plaza, TCC, Tharpe St., Park Ave., Capital Cir. SE, Conner Blvd. Extension (Tom Brown Park, The Westcott Apartments) to Apalachee Pkwy. (ACE Hardware & WalMart), Sutor Rd. & Trojan Trail (Lincoln High School)
F – Forest
30 minutes
Huntington Oaks, Mission Rd., Appleyard Dr., Jackson Bluff Rd., C. K. Steele Plaza
G – Gulf
60 minutes
Ridge Rd., Paul Russell Rd. (North Florida Fairgrounds), C. K. Steele Plaza, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (via Miccosukee Rd..), HCA Florida Capital Hospital (via Capital Medical Blvd.) to Centerville Rd. & Fleischmann Rd. *Limited Service to Miccosukee Hills Apartments on Outbound trip
H - Hartsfield
60 minutes
Commonwealth Blvd., Hartsfield Rd., N Monroe St., RAA Middle School (MLK Blvd. & W Tharpe St.), 4th Ave., Bronough St., C. K. Steele Plaza
K – Killearn
60 Minutes (30 minutes morning-peak)
C. K. Steele Plaza – Village Square
L – Live Oak
45 minutes
Innovation Park, Orange Ave. & Blair Stone Rd. (Sergeant Ernest "Boots" Thomas" VA Outpatient Clinic), Apalachee Pkwy. Target & WalMart. This is the only route in the system that doesn't stop @ C.K. Steele Plaza.
M – Moss
30 minutes
Frenchtown, C. K. Steele Plaza, Bond Community, South City, (Paul Russell Rd., North Florida Fairgrounds)
R – Red Hills
60 Minutes (30 minutes morning-peak)
C. K. Steele Plaza, E Lafayette St. (Florida Dept. of Transportation, Cascades Park), Parkway Center (E Lafayette St. & N/S Magnolia Dr.), into Governor's Square Mall (via E Lafayette St., Lower-level J. C. Penney.) Exits via Governor's Square Blvd. to S Blair Stone Rd. & Old St. Augustine Rd. Through Koger Center (via Old St. Augustine Rd. to Apalachee Pkwy.), Capital Cir. SE/NE (HCA Florida Capital Hospital, Village Square)
S – San Luis
60 minutes
C. K. Steele Plaza, TMH, (via Miccosukee Rd. to Medical Dr.) Centre of Tallahassee, Macon Community (via Betton Rd., Bradford Rd., John Knox Rd. & Allen Rd.)
T – Tall Timbers
30 minutes (60 minutes off-peak)
TCC, FSU (via W Pensacola St.), Gaines St., CollegeTown, C. K. Steele Plaza
W – Southwood Express
40 minutes
C. K. Steele Plaza, Koger Center, Southwood Town Center
Additionally, the SouthWood Express route runs from downtown to SouthWood and back every 40 minutes with breaks in service from 9:30 to 11:25a.m. and from 2:00 to 3:35p.m. *Limited service at Florida Dept. of Revenue on Inbound trip
Saturday routes
Also operates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Veterans' Day & Day after Thanksgiving
Route
Headway
Destinations
A – Azalea
60 Minutes
Lowe's Shopping Center, Commonwealth (Capital Cir. NW), Tennessee St., C. K. Steele Plaza, Mahan Dr., *Fallschase (WalMart) Service to location funded by The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
B – Big Bend
60 minutes
Lake Jackson Town Center, Monroe St., C. K. Steele Plaza, Paul Russell Rd. (North Florida Fairgrounds), from Fred George Road to Capital Cir SW
D – Dogwood
60 minutes
C. K. Steele Plaza, Innovation Park
E – Evergreen
60 minutes
C. K. Steele Plaza, TCC, Tharpe St., Governor's Square Mall (Lower-level J. C. Penney), Park Ave., Capital Cir. SE, Conner Blvd. (Tom Brown Park), Sutor Rd. & Trojan Trail (Lincoln High School), Apalachee Pkwy. WalMart
F – Forest
60 minutes
Huntington Oaks, Mission Rd., Appleyard Dr., Jackson Bluff Rd., C. K. Steele Plaza
G – Gulf
60 minutes
Ridge Rd., Paul Russell Rd. (North Florida Fairgrounds), C. K. Steele Plaza, Governor's Square Mall (SOUTHBOUND ONLY via S/N Magnolia Dr. to Governor's Square Blvd., Lower-level J. C. Penney.), Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (via Miccosukee Rd.), HCA Florida Capital Hospital (via Capital Medical Blvd.) to Centerville Rd. & Fleischmann Rd. *Limited service to Miccosukee Hills Apartments on Outbound trip
K – Killearn
60 minutes
C. K. Steele Plaza – Village Square
L – Live Oak
45 minutes
Innovation Park, Orange Ave., Blair Stone Rd., Apalachee Pkwy. Target & WalMart. This is the only route in the system that doesn't stop @ C. K. Steele Plaza
M – Moss
60 minutes
Frenchtown, C. K. Steele Plaza, Bond Community, South City (Paul Russell Rd., North Florida Fairgrounds)
R – Red Hills
60 minutes
C. K. Steele Plaza, E. Lafayette St. (Florida Department of Transportation, Cascades Park), Parkway Center (E. Lafayette St. & S. Magnolia Dr.), through Koger Center (via Old St. Augustine Rd. to Apalachee Pkwy.), Capital Cir. SE/NE (HCA Florida Capital Hospital, Village Square)
S – San Luis
60 minutes
C. K. Steele Plaza, E Tennessee St., N Magnolia Dr., Governor's Square Mall (via Governor's Square Blvd.), TMH (via N Magnolia Dr.), Centre of Tallahassee, Macon Community (via Betton Rd., Bradford Rd., John Knox Rd. & Allen Rd.)
T – Tall Timbers
60 minutes
TCC, FSU, (via W Pensacola St.), Gaines St., CollegeTown, C. K. Steele Plaza
Sunday & night routes
Also operates New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4 July & Labor Day
Route
Headway
Destinations
Route N/S1
60 minutes
Lowe's Shopping Center (Capital Cir. NW), Tennessee St., C. K. Steele Plaza, Miccosukee Rd.& Magnolia Dr. (TMH), Governor's Square Mall (Lower-level J. C. Penney), Target, Kroger Center (Via Governor's Square Blvd., S Blair Stone Rd. to Apalachee Pkwy.), Parkway Center (Via S/N Magnolia Dr.)
Route N/S2
60 minutes
Macon Community, Monroe St., C. K. Steele Plaza, Orange Ave., Woodville Hwy., Paul Russell Rd. (North Florida Fairgrounds)
Route N/S3
60 minutes
TCC, Pensacola St., Gaines St., C. K. Steele Plaza, Lake Bradford Rd.
Route N/S5
60 minutes
Frenchtown, C. K. Steele Plaza, Bond Community, South City (Paul Russell Rd., North Florida Fairgrounds)
FLEX routes
StarMetro also offers two "FLEX" route which connects residents in the Lake Jackson area to the Lake Jackson town center, where riders can transfer to the Big Bend and Forest routes. The other "FLEX" route serves residents in the Southside, where riders can transfer to the Dogwood, Gulf, Live Oak and Moss routes. Riders must call StarMetro two hours before they wish to be picked up in order to use the FLEX routes.
Dial-A-Ride
Dial-A-Ride provides curb-to-curb transportation to citizens with a qualifying disability within 3/4 mile of StarMetro's fixed route system in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Riders can schedule their rides online or over the phone up to fourteen days in advance. The service costs $2.50 per ride.
Dial-A-Ride Hours of Operation:
Weekdays, 5a.m. to 11p.m.
Saturdays, 5:45a.m. to 7:45p.m.
Sundays, 10:30a.m. to 7p.m.
Certain holidays are excluded.
Campus routes
The Nite Nole charging on its layover at the UCA bus stop.
StarMetro operates seven fixed routes on the campus of Florida State University when class is in session. StarMetro has been providing campus transportation to FSU since 1973.[2] The FSU Nite Nole route operates Monday through Saturday nights. These routes are free to the public and connect campus with nearby student housing facilities. In Fall 2019, FSU signed a 10-year contract with StarMetro to continue providing campus bus services. As part of the new contract, StarMetro began purchasing all electric buses to run exclusively on FSU campus routes.[3] In 2017, each Proterra XR-Plus bus costs approximately $719,000 with a battery lease.[4] The first campus route to go fully electric was the Heritage Route. Beginning in the Fall 2020 semester, campus bus routes and times have been altered in order to prepare for the full roll out of electric buses across all routes. FSU installed two overhead charging stations at the Doak Campbell Stadium bus stop and at Stadium Drive and Spirit Way. Currently, the university pays StarMetro a fee of $91.45/bus/hour to operate campus routes. All campus routes were temporarily discontinued in March 2020 when the university closed due to COVID-19. Campus routes reopened in August 2020, with limited capacity and service. Service resumed normal operations in Fall 2021.
StarMetro used to provide fixed routes on the Florida A&M University campus, but this was discontinued when the institution decided not to renew its contract with the agency and began providing campus shuttle services in-house.[5]
Ocala St (Northbound), High Road (Southbound), Ocala Corners Shopping, W Call Street, FSU First Circle, FSU Second Circle, Student Union (Eastbound), Jefferson Street (Westbound)
7:00am – 7:51pm
Mon.-Fri.
GO
Gold
Ocala St (Southbound), High Road (Northbound), W Call Street, FSU First Circle, FSU Second Circle, Student Union (Westbound), Jefferson Street (Eastbound)
7:10am – 7:57pm
Mon-Fri
HE
Heritage
C.K. Steele Plaza, College Avenue, W Call Street, FSU First Circle, FSU Second Circle, Student Union (Eastbound), Jefferson Street (Westbound), Heritage Grove, Ocala Corners Shopping
7:05am – 8:20pm
Mon-Fri
IN
Innovation
FSU First Circle, FSU Second Circle, Lake Bradford Road, Levy Ave, Innovation Park, FSU/FAMU College of Engineering
7:00am – 8:10pm
Mon-Fri
NN
Nite Nole
Tennessee Street (Westbound), Appleyard Drive (Southbound), Pensacola Street (Eastbound), Ocala Road (Northbound), Heritage Grove, High Road (Southbound), W. Call Street, Stadium Drive (Southbound), Jefferson Street (Eastbound), Macomb Street (Northbound)
8:00pm – 3:00 am*
Mon-Sat (Fall & Spring semester only) *during COVID-19 pandemic, service ends at 11:00pm.
OS
Osceola
FSU First Circle, FSU Second Circle, Call Street (Westbound), Stadium Drive (Southbound), Pensacola Street (Westbound),
White Drive, Mission Road, Tennessee Street, Dixie Drive
7:00am – 8:15pm
Mon-Fri
RE
Renegade
Counter-clockwise campus loop
7:00am – 7:50pm
Mon-Fri
TO
Tomahawk
FSU First Circle, FSU Second Circle, Bellevue Way (Westbound), Jackson Bluff Road (Eastbound), Madison Street (Eastbound), Jefferson Street (Westbound)
7:00am – 7:35pm
Mon-Fri
Enhanced services
Bike-On-Bus is a free bike rack system which allows up to two people on a first-come, first-served basis, to load their bikes onto bike racks fixed to front of the buses
Next by Text allows riders to learn the arrival time of the next bus at any stop by texting the stop number to 27299.
Community Transportation Coordinator. Transportation services for citizens throughout Leon County are available. Riders must qualify through Medicaid, Developmental Disabilities or the Transportation Disadvantaged program for transportation. This is door-to-door service with fares charged based on the sponsoring program.
Digital Bus Pass allows riders to purchase and use bus passes using the Token Transit App.
Fares
The regular, one-trip fare is $1.25 and the reduced one-trip fare is $0.60. The reduced fare is available for seniors, children, disabled persons and people on Medicare. Passengers who purchase a one-trip fare may request a transfer ticket from the driver, which are free; those are valid for up to two transfers within 90 minutes of the ticket being issued; round-trips & stopovers are prohibited. Kids below 6 ride for free with fare-paying rider; limit 3. K-12 Students can ride fare-free with valid Student I.D. (will be in effect only during the Fall 2020 semester).
StarMetro offers three unlimited ride pass options: rolling 24 hours of unlimited rides for $3, rolling weekly unlimited for $10, and a rolling 31-day unlimited pass for $38.
StarMetro purchased a new fare collection system in 2020, which streamlines and enhances payment options for customers. The new farebox accepts multiple forms of payment including tickets or smart cards purchased at the customer service window at CK Steele Plaza or the StarMetro Administration office, tickets or smart cards purchased at the Ticket Vending Machine at CK Steele Plaza, Leon County School STAR cards, FSU or FAMU student IDs, special organization passes, mobile tickets purchased through Moovit or Token Transit, and cash.[7]
Facilities and infrastructure
C.K. Steele Plaza
StarMetro's main station is C.K. Steele Plaza ("the plaza"), which was named for the Reverend Charles Kenzie Steele. It is located at 111 West Tennessee Street in downtown Tallahassee on the block bordered by Tennessee Street, Adams Street, Call Street, and Duval Street. The plaza features 24 covered gates for passenger boarding and alighting. Amenities at the plaza include restrooms, covered seating areas, bus driver lounge, and a customer service booth. Fourteen out of the 15 regularly scheduled weekday routes (Azalea, Big Bend, Dogwood, Evergreen, Forest, Gulf, Hartsfield, Killearn, Moss, Park, Red Hills, San Luis, Tall Timbers and Southwood Express) stop at the plaza, in addition to The Heritage Route serving Florida State University Campus, making it the single busiest stop in the system. In addition to StarMetro busses, Steele Plaza serves as the eastern terminus of the Gadsden Express route, which connects the residents of Quincy and Midway to Tallahassee. The new Havana Express connects with Big Bend & Forest Routes at Lake Jackson. The new Jefferson Express connects the residents of Monticello to Tallahassee. All these routes are operated by Big Bend Transit, with funding provided by Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT).
Plans to renovate the plaza and turn it into a mixed-use facility to include bus bays, StarMetro office space, and even leasable office space have been proposed. However, funding has not yet been procured.
Headquarters
The headquarters for StarMetro are located at 555 Appleyard Drive at the corner of Appleyard and Jackson Bluff Road. Only two routes pass this facility (Forest and Live Oak). Located on this property are administrative offices, a bus maintenance facility, bus parking lot, call center, and customer service window. StarMetro is planning to relocate their bus storage and maintenance facility to a larger plot of land to accommodate for their growing fleet.
Bus stops
Bus stops are referred to as Star Stops, and they are denoted by a rectangular blue sign featuring a white star, route in appropriate color that serves particular location & days of operation. Stops served exclusively by FSU Campus Routes have a different sign with the Seminole Express logo and FSU colors. Many stops have no amenities, while the busier stops and transfer points have various amenities including benches, waste containers, and/or covered shelters.
Super-Stops
StarMetro plans to construct a series of "Super Stops" that will serve as transfer points in places where three or more routes currently or potentially intersect. These stops will be on a smaller scale of C.K. Steele Plaza and will feature covered walkways, benches, restrooms, and vending machines. StarMetro has plans to build three Super Stops on South Adams Street, North Monroe Street, and Hartsfield Road (near Mission Road). Each Super Stop is estimated to cost $3 million to construct.[8]
A temporary park, costing $300,000 is being constructed at the future South Side Super Stop on the corner of Orange and Meridian Roads. Funding for the Super Stop, which comes from a penny sales tax, will not be available until 2020.[9]
Fleet
Active fixed route fleet
Currently, StarMetro operates a mix of Gillig and Proterra buses on their fixed routes. Their buses are powered by diesel, CNG, or battery electric.[10] In March 2020, StarMetro began fabricating barriers to separate drivers from passengers as a response to COVID-19.[11]
0502, 0506, & 0509 were retired and sold. 0507 is used as a training bus. Remainder of units in this series are currently being used as contingency spares for FSU campus routes
Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks. 0703,0704,& 0706 are G29D102N4 models & 0707-0710 are G27D102N4 models. 0702 & 0705 are currently retired.
0901-0903, 0905-0908
2009
35 ft (11 m)
0904 involved in crash in December 2023, and was damaged beyond repair. Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks 0901-0904 previously wrapped in FSU livery and used on campus routes.
1001-1002,1004–1012
2010
40 ft (12 m)
1003 Involved in crash on July 20, 2019, damaging front end and has not been returned to service.[12] Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks.
1101–1103
2011
35 ft (11 m)
Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks. Previously wrapped in FSU livery and used on campus routes.
Electric powered. Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks. E002 & E003 are 2012 models and E004 & E005 are 2013 models. Originally wrapped in livery that advertised no tailpipe emissions and were used on city-wide routes. Buses were re-wrapped in new FSU livery beginning in Fall 2019 when they began operating on FSU campus routes exclusively.
Battery-electric powered. Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks. Wrapped in new FSU livery. #1910 is wrapped in additional "City of Tallahassee" logos.
StarMetro operates a mixed fleet of vehicles for its FLEX and Dial-A-Ride routes.[14]
Model Year
Manufacturer/Model
Chassis
Photo
Length
Numbers
Notes
2012
Champion Challenger
2301
2014
1401-1403
CNG powered
Mobility Ventures MV-1
205 in
2219-2222
2015
Champion Challenger
1504
CNG powered
Dodge Caravan
1505-1507
2016
Turtletop Oddessy
Ford E450
1631-1644
CNG powered
2017
Champion LF Transport
1645-1648
CNG powered, low floor
2019
Champion Challenger
1931
CNG powered, low floor
2019
Champion
Ford Transit 350
1932-1934
Promotional fleet
Year
Number
About
2005
0555
The "Big Dipper" is a miniature vehicle resembling a bus and operated by one StarMetro employee. Custom built by the StarMetro maintenance shop from used bus parts, the "Big Dipper" is used in Tallahassee's parades at Winter Festival and Springtime Tallahassee.
Acquired when TalTran was formed in 1973. TalTran Logo (Blue & White), Partially Refurbished 1992, ( 6801 & 6802 were not included), (Roll sign was missing on 6802), with separate wheelchair lift access alongside backdoor exit, opening windows, not equipped with power steering, lack of adequate air conditioning, original 1968 interiors preserved. 6805 Dubbed "The Ghostbuster", was in White paint most of the time and decorations were added for Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas.
TalTran Logo, First modern busses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bicycle racks. 9207 After accident, had back digital sign moved slightly towards left but remained on right side, decorated for Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas.
TalTran Logo, Low floor busses, driver seat high off floor, equipped with wheelchair lifts. 9304 & 9305 repainted February 1997 & named C. C. Rider for exclusive use on Capital Circle Office Center Shuttle.
TalTran, then StarMetro Logo. Some buses had interiors partially refurbished after floor separation. Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks. 9420 sold to Limo company in Quincy.
TalTran, then StarMetro Logo (Red, White & Blue). Equipped with wheelchair lifts. These buses were ex-Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Agency units purchased in 2005.
Were used for The Midtown College Town & Dinner Route until the routes were discontinued indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All units sold to various companies in Tallahassee.
2000–2001
Advanced Bus Industries TSV-30
30 ft (9.14 m)
96 in (2.44 m)
2008, 2011, 2018, 2020 (4 buses)
StarMetro Logo. Equipped with wheelchair lifts. These buses were ex-Central Ohio Transit Authority units. Used on the 80X Routes until 2007.
TalTran, then StarMetro Logo. Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks. Bus number 0101 was in white paint most of the time & decorated for Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas. Two buses in this series were repainted for "The Rhythm Route".
Equipped with wheelchair lifts & bicycle racks. Retired in May 2020 when FSU campus routes were replaced by electric busses.
Improvements
From 2006 to 2009, StarMetro began a makeover including new routes, stations, and stops. One planned change is the addition of two new transfer stops. These stops will make it possible to travel across Tallahassee without changing buses at the downtown hub station. In addition, StarMetro is planning wireless internet and television in buses, GPS-enabled buses with live location maps over the Internet, solar-lighted stops with live location maps, and blinking lights at stops to let drivers know of waiting passengers. The C.K. Steele station includes renovation and installation of information kiosks. Seats on the newer-model buses are made of padded plastic and are arranged front-facing in rows and sideways against the walls, much like a subway car layout. All models in use except the Dial-A-Ride shuttle vans exceed 4000 pounds, and therefore are not equipped with seat belts. All buses are equipped with climate-control and interior lighting.
StarMetro implemented a complete route overhaul dubbed "Nova2010" in 2011, which reduced the current system to 11 routes, of which only 4 were intended meet at CK Steele Plaza. The routes ran at closer intervals than before, while providing transfer points all over the city — no longer requiring all two-bus trips to transfer at CK Steele Plaza. The Nova2010 project was met with public backlash, with many patrons feeling dissatisfied with the level of public engagement. By 2013, the StarMetro system reverted to a hub-and-spoke system with all but one route (Live Oak) meeting at CK Steele Plaza to facilitate transfers. Since then, there have been minor adjustments made with a major change occurring in 2019. This resulted in the splitting of the San Luis route and the creation of the Hartsfield route. Public engagement was extensive and changes were a direct result from public input.
In 2021, StarMetro staff began pursuing the construction of the Southside Transfer Center, which will be located on the northwest corner of Orange Avenue and Meridian Road. The new transfer center will require another restructuring of the StarMetro Fixed Route System. StarMetro began its Think Transit Campaign in 2021 to solicit public feedback on the design and construction of the Southside Transfer Center and new fixed route system.[15]
Future improvements
StarMetro has plans to begin Bus-Rapid Transit along Tennessee Street and Mahan Drive (currently serviced by the Azalea route) and to Woodville and Crawfordville through a joint venture with the Capital Regional Transportation Planning Agency. Plans also call for streetcar lines near the FSU, FAMU, and TCC campuses. And commuter rail services to Jefferson and Gadsden counties.[16]
