Sarasota County has been working on securing a federal grant for a North-South Rapid Bus Transit system.
The proposed project will improve service for several key markets, shorten times to key destinations and service from elsewhere will benefit from increased frequency and more efficient routing.
The Alignments being considered are US41, Rail Road Corridor, Old Bradenton Road and US301. There are options available for the corridor treatment, such as dedicated busway corridor, exclusive bus lane, signal priorities and queue jumper lanes. The Locations and Styles are to be determined but will have consistent rider amenities at each station. The SCAT service does a good job connecting where the people are and major single employers are already covered well, but this proposed project links north and south to major employment areas.
A recent SCAT survey of riders asked detailed questions about orgin, destination, and trip purpose. Best indicator of future ridership trends. The key travel markets were SRQ to Downtown, SRQ to SMH area, Universities to Downtown, Universities to Southgate, Downtown to Pavilion/Stickney Point Area, MCC North Port to Sarasota, Venice to Downtown, Bee Ridge/Cattlemen to Southgate and MCC Bradenton to Sarasota.
The study time line so far where workshops Sept. - Oct. 2007, public eduction and participation June - Sept. 2008, complete data collection and analysis with technical input in Jan - Aug 2008 and then fall 2008 submittal to FTA, 2009 Complete National Environmental Protection Act Review, 2009-2010 FTA Project Construction Grant Agreement, 2011-2012 Initial Project Implementation.
To view the Ft. Collins Colorado Bus Rapid Transit line go to http://www.fcgov.com/mason/ that has similarities to Sarasota.
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