Page was last updated on 02/04/2025
Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) is the public transit district in Manatee County, Florida, serving the municipality of Bradenton and the county’s gulf coast beaches. The agency provides fixed-route bus service throughout the county, including one route that is operated jointly with Sarasota Breeze Transit, a couple of flex-route van zones, & a door-to-door paratransit service (the Handy Bus).
Agency Snapshot
Established: Information Not Available.
Services Provided: Local (fixed-route) bus & trolley services, on-demand van service, paratransit van service.
Number of Fixed Bus Routes: 15.
Number of Revenue Vehicles: Roughly 40 buses.
Number of Major Transit Hubs: 3.
NEXT STOPS
Notice Regarding Fares
Manatee County instituted an 18-month systemwide fare-free pilot program, effective 11/01/2022, to evaluate how residents would use the system without a fare payment mechanism in place. As of 03/13/2024, the county has made the system fare-free for the foreseeable future – citing the need to have an affordable alternative transportation avenue available.
When using Route 99 into Sarasota County, Sarasota Breeze fares & fare policy will apply. To view Breeze fares, scroll down on the page & select the Pay tab.
Real-Time Vehicle Predictions/Tracking
System Overview
The MCAT system is primarily hub-spoke, with centralized hubs to allow for seamless transfers. There are three main transfer hubs within Manatee County, with smaller transfer points throughout the network. Most of MCAT’s routes serve the central portion of the county, with lesser service along the beaches & even lesser service in east county. Low ridership & funding constraints have made it nearly impossible to serve outskirt communities such as Lakewood Ranch.
Most of MCAT’s routes operate Monday through Saturday, with mostly hourly service (a couple of routes operate with 30 minute frequency). There is very limited Sunday service – with only beach trolley routes operating.
Holiday Service
MCAT does not operate on the following major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. The agency also typically ends service early on Christmas Eve.
The only exceptions are the Anna Maria Trolley & the Beach Connexion Shuttle – which operate all-year-round.
System Routes
Please click on the route name to view the current schedule.
All routes listed operate Monday through Saturday unless otherwise noted.
- Route 1: Ellenton Outlet Mall
- Route 2: Bradenton Circulator
- Route 3: Manatee Ave – Downtown Bradenton to just west of I-75
- Route 304: Manatee Ave – Downtown Bradenton to Manatee Beach
- Route 4: 9th Ave E/W
- Route 5: Anna Maria Trolley
- Operates all week, all year, including holidays
- Route 6: Cortez Rd
- Route 8: Oneco/Bayshore Gardens
- Route 9: 9th Ave W/26th St
- Route 12: State Rd 70
- Route 13: Palmetto Circulator
- Route 16: 15th St E
- Route 75: Beach Connexion Shuttle
- Operates all week, all year, including holidays
- Route 99: US Hwy 41/Sarasota/Bradenton
- Jointly operated with Sarasota Breeze Transit
- Route 201: North County Connexion
- Route 203: Skyway Connexion
- Limited weekday service
- On-Demand/Flex Services
- Longboat Key Shuttle
- Operates all week, all year, except some major holidays
- Advance reservations are required to use the service
- Port Manatee Connexion
- Operates Monday through Saturday, except some major holidays
- US 301 Connexion
- Limited weekday service
- Advance reservations are required to use the service
- Longboat Key Shuttle
Transfer Points
There are three main transfer hubs in the MCAT system, which are discussed below:
Situated at the northern fringe of Downtown Palmetto, the Palmetto Station serves the needs of Palmetto with three bus loading slots, restrooms, a park-n-ride lot, & a customer service window.
The Palmetto Station currently serves Routes 1, 13, 201, & 203, as well as the Port Manatee Connexion service.
Situated within the heart of Downtown Bradenton, this vital transfer hub has five bus loading bays, restrooms, & a customer service window. While there is no on-site park-n-ride lot, affordable metered parking is available at the nearby 12th St W parking garage. The hub also features a public artwork display that encompasses the entire length of the bus loading area.
The Bradenton Station currently serves Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 13, 99, 201, & 203.
Located within a county-owned complex (a former shopping center) along 301 Blvd (former US Hwy 301), just across from the DeSoto Square Mall, the DeSoto Station replaced a former bus transfer point that was situated on the mall’s property. The hub features eight bus loading slots, restrooms, park-n-ride spaces in the main complex lot closest to the terminal building, and a customer service window.
The DeSoto Station currently serves Routes 2, 6, 8, 12, 16, 99, & 203.
Vehicle Fleet
MCAT operates roughly 40 Gillig Low Floor buses, with a few being trolley replicas for the Anna Maria Trolley. The agency previously operated Gillig Phantoms & Supreme Corp trolleys. Below is a summary of what the agency currently operates.
Gillig Low Floor Diesel
Gillig Low Floor Diesel Replica Trolley
Fleet Roster
Active Fleet Gallery
Below is all of the photos that I’ve taken of the MCAT’s current revenue service vehicles.
Gillig Low Floor Diesel
Gillig Low Floor Diesel Replica Trolley
Retired Fleet Gallery
Below is all of the photos that I’ve taken of MCAT’s retired vehicles.
Gillig Phantom
All units were retired as of 2023.
Gillig BRT Hybrid
To my knowledge, most, if not all units are retired as of late 2023.
Disclaimer
While I do my best to keep the information listed in the Transport sections accurate, please keep in mind that schedules, fares, & other information is subject to change without notice. To obtain the latest information, please contact the transit agency directly. If you spot something wrong, please let me know via the Contact form.
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