Longboat Key Shuttle Service Kicks Off Saturday

BRADENTON, FL — Folks looking for an easier way to get around Longboat Key will have an on-demand service available to them starting Saturday. Manatee County Area Transit and Sarasota County Area Transit have announced that April 15 is the official launch date for the Longboat Key Shuttle.

The new on-demand, call-ahead service will be available on Longboat Key for trips between Bay Isles and Coquina Beach. The curb-to-curb service is meant for residents and visitors alike. The fare is $1.50 a trip with the shuttle officially replacing MCAT’s Longboat Key Trolley. SCAT, Manatee County officials say, will continue to operate its Route 18, which offers hourly service between Bay Isles and downtown Sarasota.

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"The Longboat Key Shuttle was developed in response to the desires of residents of Longboat Key,” said William P. Steele, Manatee County Transit Division Manager. "Many residents voiced a desire for a more personalized on-demand, curb-to-curb service that is more accessible for those who are elderly or have limited mobility.”

Folks who want to use the service are asked to call 941-745-2317 to reserve a trip by 5 p.m. on the day before planned travel. Once a reservation is made, the service will pick up and drop off passengers within the Longboat Key Shuttle service area, a media release from Manatee County said. The shuttle provides service throughout the island with connections to the Anna Maria Island Trolley at Coquina beach. Mainland destinations may also be accessed with connections at Bay Isles and Coquina Beach.

A subscription service and pre-paid fare options are also available. People who transfer from mainland bus routes will also find that shuttle operators will accept SCAT or MCAT bus passes.

For more information about the shuttle, visit www.mymanatee.org/mcat online.

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Photo courtesy of Manatee County