MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County commissioners passed an ordinance Tuesday that would make the fare-free pilot program permanent in the county.

In November 2022, Manatee County commissioners kick-started an 18-month pilot program that allowed residents to take the bus free of charge. It is only for certain bus routes with Manatee County Area Transit.

“Instead of incurring some additional costs to our fare boxes, which were exorbitant. We decided just take the fare boxes out, put in a pilot program, and see if people would ride the bus, get off the road. And in a time when things are less and less affordable for our residence we were trying to create a little more affordability,” commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said.

What You Need To Know

  • Manatee County Commissioners voted during their Tuesday meeting to make the free fare pilot program a permanent addition

  • The 18-month free of charge bus rides were to expire in May of this year, but now it's permanent

  • It's a free fare for fixed routes, handy bus services, and the Longboat Key shuttle, and the Skyway and Port Manatee ConneXion Shuttle

With the program ending in May, commissioners decided to keep it permanently due to its success.

“The program was wildly successful. Within six months ridership was up 28%. Now we are well over a 50% increase in just 18 months,” Ostenbridge said.

It’s a way for everyone to save money, especially for life long bus rider Eric Williams, who is a Bradenton native.

“I’ve been catching the bus since I was 13-years-old. I love it,” he said.

Williams has been an MCAT bus rider since he was a kid. It was a transportation option that allowed his family to save money.

He has carried that same mentality with him as an adult and continues to save money by riding the bus. Now that the county has announced select bus routes will be free of charge, Williams says he’s thankful.

“It’s good because I go to dialysis three times a week. I do my shopping,” he said.

Williams has been going to his weekly appointments for eight months. He says being able to ride for free has been a huge help.

County commissioners also say traffic has decreased because of more people choosing to take the bus.

Williams feels that is a good thing that will help other families who can’t afford transportation.

“It’s really good. There’s going to be a lot of people riding the bus and you don’t have to pay any fare and that’s a good thing,” he said.

It’s a free fare for fixed route buses, handy bus services, the Longboat Key shuttle, and the Skyway and Port Manatee ConneXion Shuttle.