Sarasota/Bradenton Transit Thread

[HARTride 2012]

I know we've been creating a couple of threads about MCAT/SCAT related topics in the Tampa Bay forum. I just wanted to remind everyone that this thread is still here. I am not very sure what is the best course to post future topics on MCAT and SCAT.

We could possibly merge all of the threads made in the Tampa Bay forum into one thread, but keep this thread active in the Florida forum. So in other words, we could have this thread here in the Florida Forum, and one in the Tampa forum for MCAT/SCAT topics.

If anyone else has something different, please post it.

[SDK4]

Originally Posted by HARTride 2012

I know we've been creating a couple of threads about MCAT/SCAT related topics in the Tampa Bay forum. I just wanted to remind everyone that this thread is still here. I am not very sure what is the best course to post future topics on MCAT and SCAT.

We could possibly merge all of the threads made in the Tampa Bay forum into one thread, but keep this thread active in the Florida forum. So in other words, we could have this thread here in the Florida Forum, and one in the Tampa forum for MCAT/SCAT topics.

If anyone else has something different, please post it.

Not a whole lot going on in the area, still waiting on SCAT's BRT program to get moving soon.

[HARTride 2012]

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article...-transit&tc=ar

Sarasota looks to private firms for transit

By Dale White


Published: Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 9:24 p.m.
( page of 2 )

SARASOTA COUNTY - A move to privatize the local bus system is pitting county officials against the bus drivers, and leaving bus users wondering what the fallout may mean for them.

The county is looking to turn all or part of the Sarasota County Area Transit over to a private company in an effort to save money. The county has begun the process by asking for information from any companies that operate transit systems and may be interested in taking the wheel at SCAT.

It received responses from three companies with extensive experience: Tectrans, MV Transportation and McDonald Transit Associates.

The county's next step will be to ask for specific proposals from those firms and any others that may want to be considered.

"We've always said we'd try to operate by the Yellow Pages rules," County Administrator Jim Ley said. "If somebody is doing it in the private sector, we ought to be looking at them if we're doing the same ... We're stewards of the taxpayers and should provide the best service at the best cost."

Ley compared the concept with the county's beach concessions, which it leases to private vendors to operate.

"It would still be a public operation," Ley said of SCAT. "The public still owns the buses, the facilities."

Yet Anthony Gonzalez, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 1701, which represents 120 of SCAT's 150 drivers, said he is concerned about the fate of passengers and bus drivers if a private entity takes over and tries to make SCAT profitable.

"They could cut routes, cut salaries, cut drivers," Gonzalez said.

At 75 cents a trip for most passengers and 35 cents for seniors and the disabled, SCAT is a crucial service to many of the county's work force who cannot afford a car, Gonzalez said.

"They rely on SCAT to go to the doctor, the grocery store, their jobs," Gonzalez said. "With the economy the way it is, I don't think we need to add to the unemployment situation."

Even under private management, SCAT is unlikely to be profitable and would still require federal subsidies, Ley said.

Yet private management could possibly streamline the operation and make it better, he said. It might take over SCAT entirely or be hired strictly to assume administrative or maintenance duties.

Ley contends that SCAT's unionized employees should not worry about their fate.

"This is not a union-busting thing," Ley said, adding that the county may have a request for proposals ready in about a month.

[SDK4]

Still waiting some 3 years later to hear anything new about our BRT plans. Sarasota is so slow.

[HARTride 2012]

Sarasota is at a snail's pace with EVERYTHING! EX: The Lemon St transfer center took FOREVER to complete.

[HARTride 2012]

http://sarasota.wtsp.com/news/transp...ts-month/53724

Express bus service from North Port to Sarasota starts this month

Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) will debut its new Express bus service on Monday, April 25.

With local gas prices nearing $4 per gallon, SCAT’s new Express service will provide commuters between North Port and downtown Sarasota with an affordable transportation option. For just $2.50 one way or $5 round trip, a rider can make the 70-minute, one-way trip with limited stops between North Port and Sarasota.

Fares approved Tuesday by the Sarasota County Commission also include a 30-day pass for $85 and a discounted half-fare pass of $42.50 for persons 65 years or older and eligible persons with disabilities.

“This is truly an express commuter service, different from anything we’ve done before,” said SCAT General Manager Anthony Beckford. “The idea is to get people to work faster, comfortably and safely.

“In addition to saving money on gasoline, the Express rider can add more than two hours of productive or relaxation time to each day by leaving the driving to us,” Beckford added.

The route operates Monday-Friday with four round trips in the morning and four in the evening. The first bus will leave at 5:30 a.m. from the Shoppes of North Port and at 5:44 a.m. from North Port City Hall, where a park-and-ride lot will be constructed. The last bus from Sarasota will arrive in North Port at about 8:30 p.m.

The Express bus will leave North Port and travel north on Interstate 75 to Sarasota. It will make stops at major employers, including hospitals and government offices. The route will serve:

•U.S. 41 and Sumter Boulevard
•North Port City Hall on Sumter Boulevard
•Doctors Hospital and commercial offices at the intersection of Bee Ridge and Cattlemen roads
•Sarasota Memorial Hospital on U.S. 41 at Waldemere Street
•Government offices and the Judicial Center on U.S. 301 and Ringling Boulevard
•Offices on Ringling Boulevard at Pine Place
•City of Sarasota downtown area at Lemon Avenue
The six 40-foot Express buses have seats for 40 passengers, compared with the 32 seats on SCAT’s regular fleet of 35-foot buses.

A second Express route to service North Port-Venice-Sarasota will be added later this year.

The California-based Gillig Corporation built the buses, which were purchased totally with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds of about $2.53 million. A state grant will largely fund operational costs for three years. Fares are expected to cover 25 percent of the annual operating cost of the service, which is projected to be about $710,407 for both the North Port-Sarasota Express route and the Planned North Port-Venice-Sarasota route.

For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000, or visit the website, www.scgov.news/scat.
.

[HARTride 2012]

I know there isn't much activity here, but I had the opportunity to briefly visit downtown Sarasota today & I noticed that SCAT has purchased several more 35-foot Gillig BRT Hybrid buses (I'm sure this is in addition to the 40-foot hybrids they bought for the new express route). I am guessing that at this rate, the Phantoms are slowly becoming less frequent on some routes.

[HARTride 2012]

I had the opportunity today to return to Sarasota & snapped some photos at the Lemon St terminal. I managed to get a couple of the Gillig Phantoms, one 35-ft low floor, and a 30-ft low floor BRT. Also snapped a photo of one of the minibuses (Glaval Titan II).

EDIT: Also to note, SCAT's website now features estimated arrival times & a GPS bus locator on its website.
http://scattrack.scgov.net/bustime/home.jsp

The Chicago CTA has had these features in place for some time now, so it is definitely great to see such a small agency like SCAT to be able to take advantage of these services.