Votran Prepares for Hurricane Milton with Free Rides to Shelters and Service Adjustments

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Posted On: October 8, 2024

Votran will operate regular bus routes as long as storm conditions permit on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Based on current weather projections, final buses will depart their starting points at 4 p.m., with all operations ending at 5 p.m. All Votran vehicles will be removed from the roads once winds reach sustained speeds of 35 mph. After the storm, Votran will assess the roads and resume once conditions allow.

In coordination with Volusia County Emergency Management, Votran is facilitating emergency preparations. With emergency shelters across Volusia County opening tomorrow morning, Votran will offer free transportation to these locations. During a declared emergency evacuation order, all Votran bus stops will serve as evacuation assembly points.

For individuals with special needs who cannot access regular bus stops, Votran encourages them to contact their customer service team directly to arrange transportation as soon as possible.

Shelter Transfer Points and Special Routes

Starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, four transfer points will facilitate transitions between Votran and school buses bound for shelters. These points include the Transfer Plaza in Daytona Beach, DeLand ITF (Routes 30 & 31), Market Place Connection Point in Orange City (Routes 31 & 33), and the Julia & Sams Connection Point in New Smyrna Beach (Route 40, NSB Flex, and Edgewater Flex Services).

A special evacuation route will also operate in Edgewater and Oak Hill from 8 a.m. Wednesday until weather conditions deteriorate. This route, marked "Evacuation Bus," will travel along US-1 from New Smyrna Beach to Oak Hill, looping back to where evacuees can transfer to school buses.

Route 60 will run hourly on Wednesday. The last full route departs from the Transfer Plaza and Amelia Superstop at 3:32 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively. A final trip at 4:02 p.m. from the Transfer Plaza will only go as far as the Volusia County Branch Jail.

Limited Votran Gold and VoRide Operations

On Wednesday, Votran Gold Service will prioritize life-sustaining trips and automatically cancel all non-essential trips. The service will conclude at noon. The Votran office lobby will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

VoRide services in West Volusia will continue as long as safety allows. Riders are advised to complete essential travel before conditions deteriorate.

Post-Storm Services and Re-entry

Votran is committed to facilitating evacuees' swift return to their homes. This decision will be coordinated with county, state, and municipal law enforcement agencies, as well as adjacent counties, and publicly announced.

Upon resumption after the storm, Votran bus service will follow a modified schedule until road conditions are deemed safe for travel. Some routes may be altered or suspended based on roadway assessments.

Contact Votran

For further information or assistance, residents can contact Votran at the following numbers: Daytona Beach at 386-761-7700, West Volusia at 386-943-7033, and New Smyrna Beach at 386-424-6800.