Linda Watson Interview

How has Central Florida welcomed you into the community?

The community greeted me with open arms. To my surprise, a Sunset Soirée was held in my honor within my first week, where I met 80 women from the community. Many of these women have since become close, personal friends. I was made to feel very welcome but learned immediately just how serious the challenges were for LYNX.

What are you enjoying most about the area?

The people, by far … southern hospitality. You always feel at home in Orlando. The people here go above and beyond to build a sense of community. Everyone is involved.

How has increased fuel cost affected the LYNX budget?

While some operating costs have increased, higher fuel costs have also driven more people onto buses, increasing our revenues. There is a direct correlation between increased fuel costs and increased ridership. Given time, I expect that the cost of a tank of gas will rise considerably and this trend will accelerate. At LYNX, we are able to combat increasing fuel costs by buying in bulk and locking in prices from suppliers. Toward that end, our Board has given me the authority to make large fuel purchases. This is important because the fuel market is constantly changing and the bids being offered by fuel companies have immediate deadlines that must be acted on.

What is LYNX doing regarding alternative fuels?

Currently, nine LYNX buses operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). However, about half of these buses are in the shop at any given time. Furthermore, several of our buses operate on a mixed alternative fuel called bio-diesel. While we are dedicated to further improving that number, especially as alternative fuels become more cost-effective, it is ultimately a business decision. At present, the capital and maintenance costs of a CNG bus is higher than that of a diesel bus.

How does LYNX feel about the commuter rail project?

Commuter rail is critical for our region. Just having control of the right away is vital. Ultimately, commuter rail will act as the spine for a better public transit system. Fortunately, the debut of the commuter rail will coincide with the construction of I-4, thus mitigating traffic congestion.

There is an exciting program taking place at UCF. Can you expand on the Express Bus program?

The President and Vice President of the UCF student body approached me at a public forum and presented me with an idea. They wanted LYNX to operate an express service from UCF to downtown on Saturday evenings. I told them that if they could defray the costs, then I was willing to support the service. The program started with 80 students in February and exceeded 160 as of March. Ridership numbers are proving that the program is working. The student leadership at UCF is to be commended for their work on this project and we are now looking at other Express Bus options for other outlying areas of Metro Orlando.

Are you concerned about the property tax issue being hammered out in Tallahassee? How is this expected to affect LYNX’s budget?

I am very concerned. This could create a very serious problem for LYNX. The fares paid by riders only cover a percentage of the cost associated with the bus system. The remainder of the cost is paid by county and city governments. City and county leaders have already expressed to me the need for future budget cuts if a drastic change in the current tax system occurs. Ultimately this change could lead to a twenty percent cut in our overall budget. That would be devastating. Seventy-five percent of our riders use the bus to get to work. A budget cut of this magnitude could seriously impact those industries that rely heavily upon wage workers.

What is your least favorite part of being the CEO of LYNX?

Asking for money! Unlike most systems of its size, LYNX has no dedicated source of funding. As a result, we are forced to seek investment from the general fund. In fact, in terms of overall funding, LYNX is moving backwards. We have fewer buses on the road today than we did five years ago and the wait times are increasing. Our county funding partners heroically came through with a forty percent increase in their funding commitments last year. This kept us from making drastic route reductions. Unfortunately, they know, just as we do, that this just gets the service off of life support. LYNX needs to add seven to eight buses every year just to keep current service on-time and on pace with the tremendous growth in our community. This number does not include the 110 buses that need to be replaced. To do this, we need a dedicated source of funding. Since we do not have it, I spend a great deal of time soliciting for funds. It takes a great deal of patience.

What is your favorite part of the position?

The people, of course! The challenges at LYNX are quite serious, but I am confident that we have the right people, both internally and externally, to genuinely make an impact. At the end of the day, my job is about running a business that improves peoples’ lives. In and of itself, that is tremendously rewarding.