The population in 1979 was about 150,000 residents. At that time none of the buses were air conditioned, nor did they have power steering. Over the 20 years that the County has been operating public transit as the Sarasota County Transit Authority, bus service has dramatically increased, with yearly ridership increasing from 648,210 passengers in 1980 to close to 1.8 million expected this year. Today, with year-round residents of Sarasota County exceeding 300,000, the SCAT bus system has grown to 26 buses and 3 trolleys serving 21 routes. The service will expand again in early 2001 with 2 new routes to outer Fruitville Road and to Lakeview Elementary School.
All SCAT buses are wheelchair accessible and also have a special front door kneeling feature.
Also in 1998 the employees of Sarasota County Area Transit were honored and chosen as recipients of a County Superior Accomplishment Award. Sarasota County Government E-mail technical questions about this site to webmaster or use the feedback area .