OUR STORY
About Us
About Us
About Big Bend Transit
Big Bend Transit, Inc., founded in 1978, provides transportation services to the general public through a reservation system. In addition to providing service in the Leon County Area, Big Bend Transit is the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for a seven-county region that includes Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, Taylor, Madison, Franklin, and Gulf Counties. We offer transportation through two programs: the Medicaid Recipient Program and the Transportation Disadvantaged Program. Through these programs, we can provide a low-cost means for participants to attend appointments, get to school or work, and enjoy recreational opportunities across the Big Bend region.
Shuttle buses and vans save money and time
We offer our clients reliable convenience, customized service, and centralized billing. All clients will receive courteous, personalized service from our experienced Big Bend Transit staff of coordinators and drivers.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide safe, reliable, courteous, and affordable transportation to the community while maintaining dignity and respect for our customers. This service improves the quality of life for our customers by providing access to health care, education, employment, and recreation. We regularly request feedback to improve our service to our customers, as they will always be our highest priority.
Core Values
Integrity
We prioritize honesty and adhere to high ethical standards. Every action and every decision upholds the values and principles of Big Bend Transit, Inc.
Golden Rule
We respect all people, value differences among them, and treat them in the way that we wish to be treated. To do this, we must know ourselves and have empathy for others.
Excellence
We strive to constantly improve in order to meet and exceed the high expectations of our customers.
Community
We have a sense of responsibility and a commitment to our community, which defines our existence.
Compassion
We show the utmost care and kindness to others and help individuals who are in need.
Safety
To ensure the safety of our customers and the Safety - To ensure the safety of our customers and the public while providing reliable and timely services to our customers and the community.
150k
trips
per year
+45
years in
business
7
counties
served
Rural Communities
Medicaid Recipients
Frequent Commuters
Individuals with Disabilities
Transportation-Disadvantaged Individuals
Senior Citizens & Elderly
Who We Serve
Our History
Big Bend Transit, Inc. (BBT) was established in 1978 to meet the growing need for dependable, affordable transportation across rural communities in North Florida. Under the early leadership of Ted Waters, BBT began its work in Gadsden and Jefferson Counties, where limited mobility options created barriers to employment, medical care, education, and basic community access. The success of these early efforts led to steady expansion throughout the 1980s and 1990s as additional counties sought coordinated transit solutions.
Today, BBT serves Franklin, Gulf, Taylor, Madison, Gadsden, Jefferson, and parts of Leon County, providing a full range of mobility options including demand-response transportation, deviated fixed routes, commuter express services, Medicaid and coordinated services for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
BBT collaborates closely with county governments, Local Coordinating Boards, health departments, senior centers, nonprofit partners, and state agencies such as FDOT and the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged. These partnerships ensure transportation remains accessible, safe, and responsive to local needs.
Across the region, BBT now provides more than 150,000 trips per year, serving as a critical lifeline that helps residents reach work, school, medical appointments, grocery stores, social programs, and essential community resources throughout the Big Bend.
Honoring Ted
Waters, Big Bend Transit’s Original General Manager
On September 5th, 2012, the Florida transportation community lost a transportation advocate, provider, and friend with the passing of Big Bend Transit's General Manager, Ted Waters. Ted was an advocate for public transportation and the people that it served. His career in the Florida public transportation spanned 35 years, 32 of which were spent building Big Bend Transit into a company that provided outstanding service to all of its riders.
Throughout the state, Ted was known for his commitment to improving the accessibility of transportation services for everyone, and he was a leader in promoting the benefits of public transportation and the coordinated system. He was also respected for his knowledge and expertise in public transportation and was always willing to serve as an advisor to other Florida coordinated systems. Ted is remembered for the many innovative ways he created that led to greater efficiency for the coordinated service Big Bend Transit provided to meet the needs of the transportation-disadvantaged community.
The Florida Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged honored Ted for his contributions to the Florida coordinated transportation system in 2007, when he was given the prestigious Sheila Winitzer Shining Star Award, and again in 2011, when he was given the William G. and Budd Bell Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ted is greatly missed by all of those who knew him in the public transportation field, but his legacy, dedication, and commitment to excellence will continue at Big Bend Transit.