Palm Tran celebrated its new transit service, Go Glades, in a special kick-off ceremony held at Palm Tran’s facility in Belle Glade on January 23, 2019. Launched in December, Go Glades is a pilot project financed by the Florida Department of Transportation and staffed by MV Transportation on Palm Tran’s behalf. Go Glades is a flex service that allows people in the Glades area to request a circulator vehicle make a slight detour from its regular route to pick them up. There are four Go Glades routes serving more than 70 stops.
The name Go Glades was unanimously chosen out of 70 name submissions in Palm Tran’s contest to name the service. The winner of the naming contest, Pahokee native and third-grade school teacher Telica Abrams-Cunningham, was honored during the ceremony. Included in attendance were: South Bay Mayor Joe Kyles, Pahokee Mayor Keith Babb and Palm Tran Executive Director Clinton B. Forbes.
Go Glades complements Palm Tran’s bus network improvements, which launched in September 2018. The changes resulted in improved efficiency and on-time performance. Go Glades will continue to improve travel mobility by granting residents direct access to bus stops and off-route destinations.
“Providing excellent public transit is often a challenge in rural communities,” said Palm Tran Executive Director Clinton B. Forbes. “Thinking outside the box, we worked hand-in-hand with the community to come up with Go Glades. Go Glades is the first flexible transit route in Palm Beach County.”
Pahokee Mayor Keith Babb thanked Palm Tran for its dedication to increasing access to opportunity in the Glades region.
“I know this service is helping residents of the Glades get to work, visit their relatives and explore all our community has to offer. I want to thank Palm Tran and FDOT for making this service a reality,” Babb said. Since it is a pilot program, the continuation of Go Glades is contingent on residents using the service frequently. Prior to launching Go Glades, there was the Belle Glade Express which provided a similar service in the city of Belle Glade only. Go Glades increases travel mobility by serving all areas of the Glades. “When the Belle Glade Express went away in December, I was concerned how that would impact the mobility needs of everyone in the Tri-Cities. Fortunately, Palm Tran and FDOT were able to debut Go Glades before the Belle Glade Express was discontinued. I want to thank Palm Tran and FDOT because if they had not stepped in to fill that gap, many would have lost their primary method of transportation,” said South Bay Mayor Joe Kyles. The kick-off event concluded by recognizing naming contest winner Telica Abrams-Cunningham. She received a certificate from the office of Commissioner Melissa McKinlay honoring her for choosing the winning name: Go Glades. She was also presented with an oversized Palm Tran bus pass symbolizing the three 31-day bus passes she won through the competition.
Abrams-Cunningham thanked Palm Tran and spoke on how she originated the catchy name Go Glades. “I’m from Pahokee, and they consider us the Glades so I thought well... the Glades would be on the go so Go Glades!” she said. “I appreciate Palm Tran choosing my name. It’s an honor. Thank you so much.”
Photos were taken to conclude the ceremony and attendees were given free Go Glades t-shirts and Palm Tran umbrellas to commemorate the event.
