The Sarasota-Manatee Area Regional Transit Study (SMART Connect) will evaluate various transit options for the extension of premium transit service from the Sarasota/Manatee County line north to Bradenton and Palmetto, and from Sarasota Memorial Hospital south to Venice and North Port. The goal of the study is to identify viable corridors that can extend premium transit services in order to connect major activity centers; connect redeveloped areas to employment centers; and provide a resource to local decision makers who can utilize the findings in order to develop and implement future multimodal improvements.

Corridor Description: Transit connection building on the Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Northern terminus of the study is the USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus; the Southern terminus is Westfield Southgate Mall in North Port.

Type of Study: Regional Transit Corridor Evaluation

Project Start Date and Length of Study: Spring 2011 (12 months)  

Project Sponsor: Florida Department of Transportation, District 1

Consultant: Tindale-Oliver & Associates

Smart Connect Website 

SMARTConnect Fact Sheet

Project Map

Project Presentations

SMART Connect Presentation, June 2011