MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Starting on Monday, Sarasota is extending its van transportation system into Manatee County.

Commissioners in both counties decided to allow Breeze On Demand to travel from Longboat Key into Sarasota.

"The expansion allows now for the entire length of Longboat Key to be served by those individuals," said Jane Grogg, who has played an active role in implementing a more efficient way of transportation between the two locations. 

Grogg is the director of Breeze On Demand for Sarasota County. For the past two and a half years, anyone traveling in or out of Sarasota County from the Manatee portion of Longboat Key would need to get off the MCAT bus and into the Breeze On Demand van.

"The direction was to reinvest funds that were previously used for low-performing fixed routes and put that towards the on-demand service," she said.

Earlier this month, commissioners voted to allow Breeze On Demand vans to transport people in the Manatee portion of Longboat Key.

"For example, if you were in downtown Sarasota and going to your job, you can book your trip from downtown, and the van would pick you up, telling you what time to arrive," she said.

Grogg says it's been a more popular option for people and a huge cost saver for the county because they are using their funds only for those who request a ride. "Those numbers of trips have grown exponentially," she said.

All you have to do is download the app, and it will show you a map of where you are. Then you type in where you want to go. Wherever you are in the zone, the van will come to you. It could also be a shared ride.

"Using technology to help people travel is growing in general in the transit industry, so providing this service is the new way of doing business," Grogg said.

Customers will have to pay $2 to ride, and it's in operation from Monday through Saturday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.