Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/273295
A new Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) Route 30 will meet demand on the northern edge of Sarasota County, providing public transportation to the Mall at University Town Center, which is scheduled to open in October, and Nathan Benderson Rowing Park. Approved by the County Commission in a 4-1 vote on Wednesday, March 5, the route will run along University P a r k w a y f r o m t h e Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to the State College of Florida. (See the accompanying map.) It will also make a stop in Lakewood Ranch. The annual operating cost of $714,000 will be split for the first 18 months by a $529,000 Federal Transit Administration grant and $529,000 in a required county match. To cover the county's share without dip- p i n g f u r t h e r i n t o the county's coffers, SCAT will decrease other services. Those r a n g e f r o m e l i m - i n a t i n g r o u t e s t o increasing headway for others. (Headway Construction continues on the Mall at University Town Center, which is set to open in October. Photo by Norman Schimmel THE COUNTY WILL ADD A NEW UNIVERSITY PARKWAY BUS ROUTE, BUT SEVERAL FACETS OF TRANSIT SERVICE WILL CHANGE TO FUND IT MEETING DEMAND The University route is needed. It is a no-brainer with what is going on there. Charles Hines Chairman Sarasota County Commission By Roger Drouin County Editor