Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/264109
Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), utility and drain- age considerations and permitting and land acquisition costs are all factors that lead to an expense between $15,000 and $34,000 for a Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) shelter, the Sarasota County Commission learned last week. However, Commis- sioner Joe Barbetta — who has been adamant over the years about the need for more shelters to go up — remained convinced a less expensive means to accomplish the goal could be found. "I ride up and down [U.S. 41] and I see sticks in the ground with a SCAT stop sign and a bike lock … and that's a bus stop," he said during the board's Feb. 12 meeting. "I'm at the point right now An illustration shows the costs associated with putting up a medium Sarasota County Area Transit shelter. Image courtesy Sarasota County COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REMAIN WARY OF BUS SHELTER EXPENSES, WITH ONE COMMISSIONER CALLING FOR A NEW MEANS OF PROCURING THE STRUCTURES STILL TRYING TO PARE COSTS We don't just drop off passengers with nowhere to go necessarily. … In some cases, we might have a 100-foot sidewalk extension. … ADA is actually a significant consideration. Isaac Brownman Director Capital Projects Sarasota County By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor