Some Manatee County Bus Routes To Get Service Updates Starting Saturday

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Beginning Saturday, Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) will make several changes to its fixed-route bus service.

The modifications are made possible by grant funding from the Florida Department of Transportation and start-up funding from Manatee County’s Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Department.

This additional funding allows MCAT to enhance transit service for important travel corridors and provide more convenient transportation options for Manatee County commuters, according to a county news release.

Route 99, which connects Manatee and Sarasota counties via U.S. Highway 41, will increase service frequency during peak hours between 5 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. daily. Both MCAT and Sarasota County Area Transit buses will operate on the new schedule, with buses arriving every 20 minutes during these peak periods instead of every 30 minutes.

Route 2, which serves east Bradenton and Samoset, will also see enhancements. Buses will now arrive every 30 minutes increasing the frequency from the current 60-minute service, 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“The Route 2 service enhancements along with MCAT’s new 20-minute peak-period service for the Route 99/US Highway 41 corridor will provide Samoset residents with greatly improved local and regional public transportation services,” William Steele, transit division manager, said. “These improvements are the result of partnerships with FDOT and our Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity Department working in conjunction with MCAT to improve public transit services and travel opportunities. The Samoset service enhancement is an important part of the Inclusive Manatee project to enhance economic opportunities in Manatee County’s Southwest District.”

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Additional service modifications will begin Saturday for MCAT routes 3 and 12. For Route 3, which serves the Manatee Avenue corridor between I-75 and Manatee County Public Beach, there will be changes to the timing of the last trips of the day. The late-night buses will now depart the Downtown station at 8:15 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. Eastbound trips from Manatee Beach will now depart at 8:35 p.m. and 9:10 p.m.

Route 12, serving State Road 70, will push back the last departure from DeSoto Station to 6:35 p.m. on weekdays, Monday through Friday.

All changes to MCAT route schedules will be available on each bus and online at www.mymanatee.org/MCAT. Passengers can also call the MCAT Rider Information Line at (941) 749-7116 for more information.