FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:  Lucy Keely, Lee County Emergency Management
                        (239) 477-3600

                        Jeff Shuler, LeeTran
                        (239) 277-5012

PUBLIC TRANSIT EMERGENCY EVACUATION TRANSPORTATION ROUTES ESTABLISHED

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 6, 2004) - In a joint effort to enhance public safety throughout Lee County, LeeTran and Lee County Emergency Management have established four emergency evacuation public transit routes. These routes will whisk citizens from specially designated stops along the routes to nearby emergency storm shelters. Three of the four evacuation routes were designed to serve many low-lying and coastal areas in the county, such as Bonita Springs, North Ft Myers and Ft Myers Beach.

Blue and White signs inscribed with, "Storm Shelter Pickup Point" and the hurricane symbol, have been posted at many of the regular stops along the designated routes. The evacuation routes serve the stops that have this special sign. People who would like to use one of the routes mentioned below to get to a public shelter should locate the "Storm Shelter Pickup Point" nearest their home.

Lee Tran buses will start running these routes upon notification by Emergency Management that shelters are open. These buses will be specially marked with the route numbers below and the word "Evacuation" above the windshield and to the left of the front passenger door. Buses on Evacuation Routes will only stop for passengers at the Storm Shelter Pickup Points. Each bus will deliver passengers to a shelter managed by the American Red Cross or Emergency Management. When the storm clears, the buses will return passengers to the closest pickup point to their home.

Storm Shelter Pickup Points Routes are listed below:

Route 90E in North Fort Myers runs from Merchants Crossing to Pine Island Road along Bayshore Road to Hart Drive, north to Tucker Lane, to Ebson Drive, south to Laurel Lane and back to Merchants Crossing.

Route10E in Fort Myers runs from the Lee Tran Transfer Center along M.L. King Blvd., making numerous stops at side streets, to the Stars Complex, north on Marsh to Ballard Ave., to Nuna Ave., to Tice Street, Palm Beach Blvd., Michigan Avenue and returns to the Lee Tran Transfer Center.

Route 130E begins at Santini Plaza going north on Estero Blvd., making numerous stops, to San Carlos Blvd., to McGregor Blvd., to Pine Ridge Road, to Gladiolus Dr., to Winkler Road, east on Cypress Lake, through Edison College, along Summerlin Road, through the Pine Manor neighborhood and ending at Edison Mall.

Route 150E begins at the Publix Bonita Grande Crossing Shopping Plaza and runs Bonita Grande Drive to Bonita Beach Road to Imperial Street. Continues west on Dean Street, north on Old U.S. 41, east on Rosemary Road to Manna Christian Ministries, back to Old U.S. 41, north to U.S. 41 with stops at Production Circle, Cypress Bend Resort to Woodsmoke Camping Resort ending at the old Winn Dixie Shopping Center.

Buses are expected to fill rapidly and riders are asked to limit their carry on baggage to one bag per person. Make sure you have packed your medications, change of clothing, toilet articles, food and some form of picture identification. No animals are allowed on the buses or in the shelters with the exception of service animals.