MCAT opens new fleet facility

Manatee County Government unveiled its new transit fleet facility Dec. 5.

The facility, located at 2411 Tallevast Road, will be the new headquarters for Manatee County Area Transit, which serves nearly 2 million passengers each year.

A Federal Transit Administration grant funded $15.9 million of the $17.4 million price tag for the campus. 

"The new Manatee County Transit Fleet Facility is the  foundation upon which the transit system will grow and expand in the future, and that system growth furthers economic development in the community," said Transit Division Manager William Steele in a statement.

Willis Smith Construction built the project in 13 months. It consists of four buildings: an office and maintenance building; a fuel depot; a bus wash station and a logistics building. It also has 185 vehicle parking spaces and 75 bus parking spaces. 

The new facility replaces MCAT’s current home at 1108 26th Ave. E., parts of which date back to 1961. MCAT has used the facility since 1974.