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A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION OUTLOOK Orlando has a bus rapid transit system in place. Image courtesy Sarasota County THE SARASOTA AND MANATEE COUNTY COMMISSIONS AGREE TO PURSUE A BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM ALONG U.S. 41 AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HIRING A PRIVATE OPERATOR FOR REGULAR BUS SERVICE By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor The Sarasota and Manatee county commissions not only are looking at regional cooperation on a bus rapid transit system, but this week they also approved an interlocal agreement to explore jointly hiring a private firm to operate their existing bus systems. tem — the plan to which the Sarasota board committed earlier this year. Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said he would like to talk with City of Bradenton and City of Palmetto officials, so they can weigh in as well We're starting to put together a on planning for a BRT During their combined puzzle here to actually show what you system. meeting on April 16 in have in place today could work. Sarasota, the focus reJonathan Paul, SaraJonathan Paul mained on the U.S. 41 sota County's interim Interim Director Transportation Planning transportation plancorridor for a bus rapSarasota County ning director, pointed id transit (BRT) sys-