SCAT offers new services and schedule changes starting June 14
No surprise that April 2008 average daily SCAT ridership was up 14 percent over April 2007. Guess the high gas prices have lots to do with that. But the expansion of services has also helped. More frequent service makes the system better.
Among the new services or schedule changes taking effect June 14 are:
* Sunday service will now be offered on Route 6 (Beneva), operating every 90 minutes from 6:14 a.m.-11:33 p.m. Also, Route 12 (North Lockwood), which previously only had one run on Sunday, will now operate every 90 minutes from 7 a.m. - midnight.
* Route 18 (Longboat Trolley) will operate every 30 minutes Monday-Sunday from 5:30 a.m. to late at night. SCAT is partnering with MCAT to offer the trolley service from downtown Sarasota, to St. Armands Circle and Longboat Key to Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island.
* Route 12 (North Lockwood) will run every 30 minutes Monday-Saturday before 7 p.m., and every 60 minutes after 7 p.m.
* Route 11 (Siesta Key), Route 17 (Trail) and Route 19 (North Port via U.S. 41) will add evening trips.
* The new Route 40 (Webber Limited) will operate 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday from the SCAT Administration Office at 5303 Pinkney Ave., Sarasota, with limited stops on McIntosh Road between Proctor Avenue and Webber Street, and on Webber between McIntosh and Tuttle Avenue. The Route 40 bus also will stop at Westfield Southgate Mall and at SCAT’s Downtown Transfer Station.
* Route 21 (Englewood Loop) will operate Monday-Friday only, from 9:18 a.m. to 3:57 p.m. Saturday service will be discontinued.
* The Route 5 (Osprey) schedule has been completely revised. The Route 5 bus will leave the Downtown Transfer Station earlier to accommodate connections between Sarasota Memorial Hospital and the Sarasota Pavilion Transfer Station.