Manatee County Commissioners to receive transit progress report

At tomorrow’s meeting, Manatee County Commissioners will get an annual report on the progress of the Manatee Connect transit development plan.

As part of the State of Florida grant program for public transportation, Manatee County is required to submit a report to the state each year.

The report lists Manatee County Area Transit’s accomplishments in the 2015 fiscal year, and outlines areas for improvement for the next year.

In January 2013, the board approved a new color scheme and logo for MCAT buses and stops. Stops along MCAT’s three main corridors, Manatee Avenue and State Road 64, Cortez Road and U.S. Highway 41 have been fully-branded, and staff is working to switch over other route stops to the new look.

The county began construction in January for a new maintenance and operations facility for the transit system. The county received a $15.9 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to replace the current, 50-year-old facility. The new location for MCAT’s facilities will be on a parcel of land bordering Sarasota County line near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Construction is slated for completion in 2016.

In 2015, Route 6 along State Road 70 is being extended Monday through Saturday. The additional service will require $534,688 to operate annually, and is already funded. The approved FY2015 operating budget for MCAT was $8.4 million 

IF YOU GO

What: Manatee County Commission
When: 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 28
Where: Commission Chambers, First Floor, Manatee County Government Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton.