ST. LUCIE COUNTY – The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners has accepted $300,000 in funding from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) through the Transit Corridor Development Program (CDP) to support continued operation of the Lakewood Park Regional Transit Route, also known as route 7.

The grant provides 100 percent state funding and does not require a local match, allowing the county to strengthen regional transit service while preserving local resources.

Route 7 serves the Lakewood Park community in the northern portion of Fort Pierce, providing residents with a direct public transportation connection to employment centers, healthcare, shopping and other essential services throughout the region. The route begins and ends at the Fort Pierce Intermodal Facility and extends north into Indian River County, where riders can connect to the GoLine transit system at the Intergenerational Center hub on Oslo Road. Within St. Lucie County, Route 7 also connects with Route 1, which provides service south into Martin County, as well as several additional local transit routes.

This regional connectivity allows residents to travel across county lines without relying solely on personal vehicles, helping reduce the number of cars on major corridors while improving mobility for residents who depend on public transportation.

The funding will support continued operation of the Lakewood Park Regional Transit Route, ensuring riders in one of the county’s largest residential areas maintain reliable transit access to destinations throughout the Treasure Coast.

“This route plays an important role in connecting residents in the Lakewood Park community with the broader regional transit network,” said St. Lucie County Transit Director Adolfo Covelli. “By supporting Route 7, we are maintaining a service that helps residents move throughout the region while strengthening connections between St. Lucie, Indian River and Martin counties.”

Route 7 was first identified in the county’s Transit Development Plan as early as 2009 as a priority project to support regional mobility and economic development. The route was implemented in 2015 and has undergone several service adjustments to improve ridership and enhance connectivity across the region.

For more information about St. Lucie County’s public transportation services, including routes, schedules and fare information, visit the St. Lucie County Area Regional Transit (ART) site.