Business owner pitches 30A bus route to ease congestion

SANTA ROSA BEACH — By the middle of May, people traveling along Walton County Road 30A could be seated on a bus  equipped with bike racks, surfboard holders and plenty of room for beach chairs.

At least that’s the plan proposed by Finch Transportation at the request of business owners and residents who say they are overwhelmed with traffic and limited parking along the 18.5-mile stretch of the two-lane scenic road. Local businesses would be asked to foot the bill.

About 15 business owners and other residents met with the company and Commissioner Cecilia Jones Wednesday to hear the proposal.

“What’s key about this is that it’s the community all coming together to solve this problem,” said John Finch, owner of Finch Transportation.

The service would cost $1,820 a day, said Charlie Reichman, a project consultant hired by Finch Transportation and Friends of Scenic 30-A.

At least 45 businesses would need to sign on to make the plan feasible, Reichman said. Several businesses, including the Seaside development, already have agreed to contribute, he said.

Finch Transportation hopes to have the first bus running by May 18 and full service by May 23, just in time for Memorial Day.

Two buses would run daily between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m. through at least Labor Day, Reichman said.

The company has proposed 18 stops, but the locations are subject to change. Each stop would see a bus about every 22 minutes for most of the day, Reichman said.

Finch said local business owners asked him to come up with the plan. Some of them said they have been losing customers because of traffic congestion and lack of parking, he said.  Also, public beach accesses often are overwhelmed and cars overflow into residential areas.

The 30A plan was modeled after a transportation system used in Telluride, Colo., Reichman said.

Tim Pauls, a former county commissioner and owner of a new boutique hotel called 30A Suites, attended the meeting to support of the proposal.

Pauls lives on 30A and said bus service would help ease traffic that is constantly “whizzing” past his home. He said sometimes it takes him five or 10 minutes just to get out of his driveway.

In the past, Pauls said residents were concerned that a bus making frequent stops would slow traffic even more, but he said he believes those concerns are outweighed by the benefits of mass transportation.

Oliver Petit, owner of the Red Bar in Grayton Beach, said he supports the concept, but isn’t sure people will use it.

“I love the idea,” he said. “But, frankly, I just don’t see people leaving their cars to get on the trolley.

“It’s not metropolitan enough, in my opinion, for it to succeed. We’re dependent on our vehicles in this town and this part of the world.”

If there is a time for people to leave their cars behind, it is after drinking alcohol at a bar or restaurant, Finch said. The buses will offer an alternative to drinking and driving home.

Reichman said the next step is to gather enough business support to finance the system. Finch Transportation also plans to petition the Walton County Tourist Development Council for funding, he said.

“It’s a win-win for everybody,” Finch said. “The main thing is that this tight-knit community is not sitting back and waiting, but actually standing up and wanting to do something about this and making the necessary arrangements.”