Citrus Connection is the public transit system of Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...

, operated by the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (LAMTD). The system operates a fleet of 38 buses on 21 routes in the Lakeland area, including service provided for Winter Haven Area Transit

Winter Haven Area Transit

Winter Haven Area Transit is a bus system based in Winter Haven, Florida. The system operates 9 of its own buses, and another 4 buses are provided for WHAT by the Citrus Connection. There are 8 routes serving Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lakeland, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Lake Wales, Frostproof,...

 to the neighboring cities of Auburndale

Auburndale, Florida

Auburndale is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,032 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 12,381...

, Winter Haven

Winter Haven

Winter Haven may refer to:* Winter Haven, Florida* Winter Haven High School* Winter Haven Red Sox* Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport* Winter Haven Super Sox* Winter Haven Area Transit* Winter Haven...

 and Bartow

Bartow, Florida

Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...

.

The system also operates paratransit

Paratransit

Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....

 service with 15 Handy buses.

Citrus Connection has operated since 1982. LAMTD is financed by a property tax and by funding from federal, state and city government.

In September 2008, the Polk Transit Authority was established with a view to the eventual consolidation of the LAMTD and Winter Haven Area Transit

Winter Haven Area Transit

Winter Haven Area Transit is a bus system based in Winter Haven, Florida. The system operates 9 of its own buses, and another 4 buses are provided for WHAT by the Citrus Connection. There are 8 routes serving Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lakeland, Lake Alfred, Haines City, Lake Wales, Frostproof,...

, and the extension of transit service throughout Polk County

Polk County, Florida

Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...

.

Route list

• 1 Florida Ave. Corridor
• 3 Lakeland Hills Corridor
• 10 Circulator
• 12 Lakeland to Winter Haven
• 14 Combee/Edgewood
• 15 Kathleen/Providence/Harden
• 22XL Bartow Express
• 33 South Florida/Carter Rd.
• 39 Bradley
• 45 George Jenkins/Swindell
• 46 10th/Wabash/Ariana
• 47 Duff Rd. Shuttle
• 57 Airport
• 58 College Connector/Lakeside Village

Bus Fleet

• 1993 (1037)
• 1998 (368, 369, 371, 373, 377)
• 1999 (1040-1044)
• 2001 (1050-1055)
• 2002 (1056-1059) W.H.A.T.
• 2002 (1060-1067)
• 2004 (1068)
• 2005 (1069-1072)
• 2006 (1073-1077)
• 2010 (T96-T100) W.H.A.T.