Page was last updated on 02/06/2025.
Sarasota County Area Transit (doing business as Sarasota Breeze Transit, or simply Breeze Transit) is the public transit provider for the city of Sarasota & Sarasota County, FL. The agency provides fixed-route bus service throughout the county, including one route that is operated jointly with Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT). Paratransit service (Breeze Plus) & on-demand van service (Breeze On-Demand) are contractually operated through third parties.
Agency Snapshot
Established: 1979.
Services Provided: Local (fixed-route) bus & trolley services, on-demand van service (contracted), paratransit van service (contracted).
Number of Fixed Bus Routes: 15.
Number of Revenue Vehicles: Roughly 65 buses.
Number of Major Transit Hubs: 5.
NEXT STOPS
Note: The Bay Runner Trolley is a City of Sarasota funded service. The city manages the service through its Parking Management Division & contracts out day-to-day operations to CPR Medical Transport.
Real-Time Vehicle Predictions/Tracking
System Overview
Breeze largely operates using a hub-spoke system, where buses originate out of a central hub. Prior to the 2019 – 2021 system redesign, which eliminated nearly half of the routes the agency ran during much of the 2010s, most routes stemmed out of one of five major transfer hubs in the county. Nowadays, only one hub is handling the bulk of transfers.
Most routes operate Monday through Saturday, with a few routes operating every 30 minutes & the rest hourly. There is limited hourly Sunday service – with only a few routes operating during the day.
In addition to Breeze’s main fixed routes, the agency operates a quad-zone on-demand flex service (Breeze On-Demand) that operates in portions of Sarasota County.
Holiday Schedule
Breeze does not operate on the following major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.
The only exception is the Breeze Siesta Key Trolley, which operates all-year-round.
System Routes
Links to respective current schedules are listed below.
Schedules are current as of 02/01/2025.
- Route 1 – Fruitville Rd
- Route 2 – Cocoanut Ave/University Pkwy
- Route 3 – Bahia Vista St/East Fruitville
- Route 6 – Beneva Rd
- Route 7 – Kensington Park
- Route 8 – Orange Ave/Washington Blvd
- Route 9 – Southeast Sarasota County
- Route 12 – Lockwood Ridge Rd
- Route 14 – Bee Ridge Rd
- Route 17 – US Hwy 41/Sarasota/Venice
- Route 19 – Gulf Gate/Cattlemen
- Route 25 – Swift Rd
- Monday through Saturday
- No Sunday service.
- Monday through Saturday
- Route 33 (Seasonal) – Siesta Key
- Only operates from December to May.
- No Sunday service.
- Route 76 – (Airport) Flyer
- This tourist-based route shuttles customers between SRQ Airport & several downtown Sarasota hotels. The route operates 7-days-a-week from around 7:30am until around 8:00pm, with 30-minute frequency all day.
- The route does not connect to the Downtown Sarasota Transfer Station. However, customers wishing to travel to/from SRQ Airport from/to the station can use Routes 2, 8, or 99.
- The route uses fully enclosed trolley replica vehicles that are equipped with luggage racks for added customer convenience.
- Information Page
- Route 77 – Siesta Islander
- This tourist-based route shuttles customers between Downtown Sarasota & Siesta Key (serving Siesta Village, Siesta Beach, & Turtle Beach Park). It was originally known as the Siesta Key Breeze. The route operates 7-days-a-week from 8:00am until 10:00pm, with vehicles operating every 20 to 30 minutes.
- On New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, & Christmas Day, trolley service operates between 8:00am & 8:00pm.
- On New Year’s Eve, trolley service begins at 8:00am & extends to 1:00am the next morning.
- The route connects to the Downtown Sarasota Transfer Station for easy, convenient transfers to other routes.
- The route uses fully enclosed trolley replica vehicles which feature partially open side portions that can be covered over with a plastic covering during inclement weather.
- Information Page
- This tourist-based route shuttles customers between Downtown Sarasota & Siesta Key (serving Siesta Village, Siesta Beach, & Turtle Beach Park). It was originally known as the Siesta Key Breeze. The route operates 7-days-a-week from 8:00am until 10:00pm, with vehicles operating every 20 to 30 minutes.
- Route 99 – US Hwy 41/Sarasota/Bradenton
- Monday through Saturday
- Jointly operated with MCAT.
- No Sunday service.
- Monday through Saturday
- Breeze On-Demand Zones
- Downtown Sarasota/Lido Key/Longboat Key
- Siesta Key
- Englewood
- North Port
Transfer Points
There are five main transfer hubs in the Breeze system, which are discussed below:
Located in the heart of Downtown Sarasota – at the corner of 1st St & Lemon Ave, the facility handles the bulk of Breeze routes. The facility originally opened in 2007 & is equipped with 7 bus loading bays, restrooms, a customer service center, & a staff breakroom.
The Downtown Sarasota Station currently serves Routes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, & 17.
Located in eastern Sarasota, just off of Cattlemen Rd & Bahia Vista St, the facility opened in 2010 – replacing a transfer point off of Cattlemen & Palmer Blvd – & is equipped with 5 bus loading bays, restrooms, & a staff breakroom. The facility also serves as a stop for Greyhound & Flixbus.
The Cattlemen Station currently serves Routes 1, 3, 19, & the seasonal Route 33.
Constructed in 2015 to help support the growing University Town Center community, the UTC Station – located off Cattlemen Rd by The Mall at UTC – contains 8 bus loading bays, restrooms, & a staff breakroom.
Route 2 is the only route serving the station today due to the 2019 – 2021 system redesign.
Constructed some time in the early 2000s, the Sarasota Pavilion/Gulf Gate Station serves the southern Sarasota area – including the community of Gulf Gate Estates. The facility is situated at the Sarasota Pavilion shopping center & includes restrooms.
The Sarasota Pavilion/Gulf Gate Station currently serves serves Routes 17, 19, & 25.
The historic Venice Train Depot once served Seaboard System passenger trains & now functions as a railroad museum. The facility’s southern pavilion allows for customers to board buses & vans to access points in around Venice & beyond.
The Venice Train Depot currently serves Routes 9 & 17.
Minor transfer points exist at Siesta Key Mall & SRQ Airport.
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.
The Global Transit Guidebook 