Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/107047
THAT MUCH?! The planned route system for Sarasota County Area Transit shows the widespread area where bus shelters are needed. Image courtesy Sarasota County SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS EXPRESS SHOCK OVER THE COST OF BUS SHELTERS AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO CONSTRUCT THEM By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor After Sarasota County commissioners expressed shock this week at the cost and length of time it takes to erect shelters for Sarasota County Area Transit bus stops, new SCAT Manager Glama Carter promised to provide an in-depth analysis of the issues during an upcoming budget workshop. • $6,000 for land acquisition. • $15,000 to $25,000 for design, permits and construction. • $6,000 for the bench and shelter itself. • $2,000 for the installation of the structure. As part of a two-hour presentation during the • $4,000 for annual maintenance of each shelter, which has remained unfunded. commissioners' Jan. 29 meeting in Venice, Carter pointed out that of the 2,000 SCAT stops "Now, Glama, please don't take this wrong," across the county, only 138 have shelters. Commissioner Joe Barbetta began. "You are She then provided a breakdown of the esti- new to this, but we've been talking about this mated total cost of $30,000 to $40,000 involved [shelter issue] for the six years I've been on in putting up a single shelter: the commission — from day one. … I have