Letters to the Editor

Roney is something

After reading the Louis Roney column “Play On!” of Sept. 29 (“Amusing musings”), I must make a comment. Louis Roney is constitutionally and genetically incapable of doing nothing!

He has accomplished more doing nothing in the last half of his life than most people will ever achieve in their whole lifetimes, no matter how much they plan to do or are able to do. That is a blessing to all of us.

Keep it up, Louis!

—Lorraine Wood

Orlando

Ads for buses make sense

During the school year, school buses are a familiar sight in the community. School transportation is a fundamental aspect of education, with children needing the appropriate transportation to travel to and from school. However, in light of the volatile nature of oil prices coupled with the economic downturn, school districts are looking for new ways to promote efficiency and better use their existing resources. A unique opportunity to realize a new revenue stream for district transportation is in the form of school bus advertisements.

I’d like to first preface this discussion by noting that public transportation is no stranger to advertisements. In Washington, D.C., the walls that the Metro travels through have ads on them, while here in Central Florida, our Lynx buses have a variety of advertisements on them, ranging from public service information to UCF colors. As Lynx notes, more than 2.4 million people per month see their fleet. In fact, a 2009 report sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration noted that the “… overarching conclusion is that transit advertising is well-positioned to grow ….”

Estimates from organizations that are already involved in public and school transportation advertisements have provided estimates that, based on Orange County’s 959 routes, a monthly revenue stream could be in the ballpark of $240,000, with school year (10-month) revenue at $2.4 million. Seminole County, with 390 routes, could see an estimated school year revenue amount of $975,000. Since advertisements have been introduced to school buses in various areas throughout the country, there has not been one recorded accident involving a bus with an advertisement or due to a driver being distracted by such an advertisement. Surely, such an opportunity should be reviewed and discussed.

I have filed House Bill 19, relating to public school transportation, which would provide school districts the flexibility in examining if school bus advertisements are appropriate for their district, and if so, how they may go about procuring such business while maintaining the integrity of the familiar yellow bus, promoting age and social appropriate businesses, while ensuring, foremost, the safety of the riders. In this bill, there are specific prohibitions against advertisements that would be inappropriate for school transportation. No socially questionable, politically related or age-inappropriate advertisements would be permitted, similar to the restrictions that other public entities have such as Lynx. Additionally, signs would be limited to a size that would in no way compromise the safety features of the bus, such as the red stop signs or the emergency door. Revenue earned from this program would be given back to the district, with a certain allocation going toward fuel costs, and the rest being used at the discretion for the district to use.

I have already received positive feedback for this initiative. Several companies have expressed their interest in being able to pursue this media opportunity, while others have noted how this new source of revenue could help alleviate the increasing burden of fuel costs. In 2009-10, OCPS spent $6.3 million alone on diesel fuel for its fleet. The budget for this current school year is $9.5 million.

I look forward to presenting this bill in Tallahassee.

If you would like additional information on this or any other state agency or issue, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 407-884-2023. As always, it is an honor to serve you.

—Florida Rep. Bryan Nelson

District 38