Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) staff is
working toward allowing passengers to use
debit and credit cards to purchase passes
online by Jan. 1, 2015, The Sarasota News
Leader has learned.
"Nowadays, it's a preferred method of pay-
ment," Kendra Keiderling, the new marketing
and outreach coordi-
nator for the county
bus service, acknowl-
edged in an interview
this week with the
News Leader.
Keiderling encoun-
tered a barrage of
questions and comments when she told mem-
bers of the Siesta Key Village Association
(SKVA) on July 1 that SCAT accepts only cash
or checks, even if a person wants to buy a
monthly or seasonal pass.
"Nobody carries cash," past SKVA President
Cheryl Gaddie noted.
"I don't carry cash
at all with me," said
S h e r i f f ' s D e p u t y
Chris McGregor.
In an interview with
the News Leader on
July 15, Commissioner
Siesta Key leaders say tourists will be more inclined to use Sarasota County Area Transit's new
service on the island if they can pay for passes with debit and credit cards. File photo
MODERNIZING A PAYMENT SYSTEM
SARASOTA COUNTY AREA TRANSIT STAFF HOPES TO HAVE A SYSTEM
IN PLACE BY EARLY 2015 TO ALLOW ONLINE DEBIT AND CREDIT CARD
PAYMENTS FOR PASSES
I think it will be easier for college
students — for anyone — to go online to
purchase their pass.
Kendra Keiderling
Marketing and Public Outreach Coordinator
Sarasota County Area Transit
By Rachel Brown Hackney
Editor