Manatee County Area Transit


Manatee County Area Transit provides public transportation for Manatee County, Florida and is operated by the county.

Fares

The regular bus fare is $1.50 on all local fixed routes. Discounted fares of $0.75 are available for students, disabled, seniors, medicare card holders, and active duty and military veterans. There is no fare for children 5 years or younger and seniors 80 and older. There is no fare for the Anna Maria Island Trolley and the Sunday Beach Express. Discounted fares are not available for the Longboat Key Shuttle.
Unlimited ride cards are available for purchase for 1 day, 7 day, or 31 days. Regular and discounted rates are available. There is also a 31-day regional pass available for purchase. This pass is good for unlimited rides on both MCAT and SCAT buses.
Riders can also purchase and access their bus passes using the Token Transit mobile app
A Mobility Card will be provided to the rider by MCAT when a disability or Veteran status is present to serve as documentation and proof for the discount card. The Mobility Card will alleviate the need to carry medical or Veteran documentation that qualifies the rider for the discount card. This is a separate card from the M Card and will need to be carried with the M Card in case verification is needed. Mobility Cards can be obtained by presenting a letter from a physician or Veteran eligibility paperwork to the Downtown Station and Desoto Station Ticket Sales Offices.

Bus routes

Most local fixed route bus services operate Monday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Skyway ConneXion service operates on weekdays ONLY, no service on Sundays and holidays.
The Anna Maria Island Trolley operates daily from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Beach Express operates Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fixed route and Handy Bus service ends at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The Longboat Key Shuttle service will end at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
The Anna Maria Island Trolley service operates all holidays. Service will end at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
The Beach Express operates on all Sundays and Holidays.
RouteDestinationsEffective Date
1Ellenton Outlet MallNovember 10, 2018
2East BradentonNovember 10, 2018
3Manatee AvenueNovember 10, 2018
49th AvenueNovember 10, 2018
6Cortez RoadNovember 10, 2018
8Oneco-Bayshore GardensNovember 10, 2018
99th Avenue West & 26th StreetNovember 10, 2018
12State Road 70November 10, 2018
13PalmettoNovember 10, 2018
1615th Street EastNovember 10, 2018
75Beach ConnexionDecember 7, 2019
99U.S. 41November 10, 2018
201North County ConnexionNovember 10, 2018
203SkyWay ConnexionNovember 10, 2018
TrolleyAnna Maria IslandNovember 10, 2018
TrolleyBeach ExpressNovember 10, 2018
ShuttleLongboat KeyNovember 10, 2018

Bus Fleet

MCAT's fleet consists of Gillig Phantom, Low Floor, Low Floor BRT, and Replica Trolley. They operate both clean-diesel and diesel-electric hybrid buses.
In 2018, MCAT was awarded $1.9 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration to replace or rehabilitate their fleet of buses.