One ‘demonstration model’ and one new trolley to be bought
In unanimously approving their June 13 Consent Agenda of routine business matters, the Sarasota County commissioners gave the go-ahead for the launch of a shuttle service — with trolleys — between the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and downtown Sarasota.
The operation will be under the authority of Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT), which provides the county’s public bus service. The shuttle is expected to begin its routes before the end of this year, according to a county staff memo in the June 13 agenda packet.
“At a Budget Workshop on March 30, 2022, and in the June 2022 Budget Workshops,” that memo pointed out, “the Board discussed ideas about a new service to the SRQ Airport.”
After Jane Grogg, the director of SCAT, discussed the shuttle proposal with the commissioners on April 25, the commissioners reiterated strong support for the plan.
Funding for the shuttle is available in the current county budget and has been built into the 2024 fiscal year budget, which will go into effect on Oct. 1, the staff memo also said.
The June 13 commission vote cleared the way for SCAT to buy a demonstration model trolley, as well as a new trolley. The former vehicle will cost $331,701, while the price of the new one is $491,939.80, the staff memo added.
Following Grogg’s remarks to the board on April 25, Commissioner Joe Neunder told her, “This is a project that will add tremendous value in our community.” He noted, “Sarasota’s on the map. … We’re anticipating growth in visitation.”
In researching facets of how such service could be provided, Grogg explained that day that SCAT staff had met with the SRQ leadership about the increasing passenger counts that the airport is experiencing. In fact, she pointed out, in March, SRQ set a new record for one month.
Another focus of the discussion, she said, was times of day when trolleys would be most in demand for trips to downtown Sarasota. SCAT staff learned that that period stretches from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Therefore, Grogg said, “Our proposal is to focus the shuttle service from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. …”
The trolleys circulating between SRQ and downtown Sarasota would be branded as “Breeze” vehicles, Grogg also noted, in keeping with the name used on the Siesta Key trolleys.
Further, she told the commissioners, SCAT staff learned from data collected by Visit Sarasota County — the county’s tourism office — that more and more visitors are coming to the county by plane, and the tally of those staying in downtown accommodations has risen. Therefore, Grogg said, SCAT staff is planning on a number of limited stops in clusters in the downtown area.
The goal, she continued, is to have each trolley make a loop within 20 to 30 minutes. The tentative cost to ride on the vehicle would be $2, she added.
Passengers will be able to use an app to track the trolley’s progress as they wait for it, Grogg also pointed out.
Great Idea!
So Benderson proposes high density housing at Southgate Mall property based on New Urbanism Transit Oriented Development (TOD). That’s great! However, SCAT is currently operating a bus system that the feds correctly rate as providing service level D. Instead of reforming and upgrading, SCAT will add the SRQ “trolley” that will “breeze” tourists past recently constructed TOD on N. Trail to downtown hotels operating 8 AM – 11 PM. A much better option is operating a service with 15 minute headway from SRQ along N Trail through the center of downtown and along S Trail to Southgate Mall site with one leg continuing along S Trail at 30 minute headway to Sarasota Square Mall and another leg along Bee Ridge Road to I-75, also 30 min. headway, operating 7 days per week during hours that will allow workers who will live in the affordable housing to get to work, using standard 40’ electric buses.