Cross-county bus ride? Maybe one day

Although discussions between Manatee and Sarasota counties about combining transit services stalled approximately two years ago, the conversation may get a jump start.

On Tuesday, following a discussion request from Sarasota County Commission newcomer Paul Caragiulo, commissioners said they do not want hit the brakes on a comprehensive operations transit analysis that’s underway. But they agreed to at least hold a joint meeting with Manatee County officials, who on April 21 reaffirmed their support for a joint-transit concept.

“We have to start the conversation somewhere,” Caragiulo said.

Transdev, an international mobility company, submitted an unsolicited proposal in November — and resubmitted it April 8 — to combine the counties’ transit systems for a collective savings of at least $2.5 million.

Sarasota County commissioners already had identified an opportunity to save on operating costs by outsourcing its paratransit services, which are currently handled 50% by two private vendors and 50% by Sarasota County. A request for proposals is out for bid now. 

Staff plans to present a contract to the board in August, and analysis would take up to 12 months.

“We’re always looking for ways to save taxpayers dollars,” Sarasota County Commissioner Charles Hines said. “We are moving in a logical progression to review our bus system. We should continue to do it. We shouldn’t feel pressured to do something because someone sent us a proposal.”

Transdev presented a similar proposal to Sarasota and Manatee counties in 2013. Although both counties initially supported the idea, the concept never advanced. 

“I don’t know why it fell apart, but I know it was under a different administration at that time,” said Matthew Wood, vice president of business development for Transdev North America. 

Wood said Transdev’s mission is to improve ridership (it’s incentivized to do so because of its contract structure) and create more efficient, responsive routes, financial savings and other benefits.

In Nassau County, Long Island, N.Y., Transdev has served as the county’s private-public operating partner since 2013; since then, it has increased service hours by 6% while reducing operating costs by $32 million annually, Wood said.

In New Orleans, as the operating partner for the public transit system, Transev reduced costs while increasing passenger trips 68% and mileage by 33%.

Wood said Transdev would present statistics and recommendations for improving services on a monthly basis to both boards, which would retain budgetary control, set policy directives and determine fares. 

Although Transdev’s initial analysis has identified improvements for route structuring along the U.S. 41 corridor, additional services out east may be something to consider one day, he said.