The Manatee County Area Transit announced last week that the Longboat Key trolley service was cut back to one-hour intervals and will now run from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Previously, the service operated on half-hour intervals for longer periods of the day under a Florida Department of Transportation grant. When that grant expired, it was not renewed by the DOT, an MCAT press release said.
Officials from Longboat Key, Manatee County and Sarasota County worked to keep the service operating and signed an agreement last fall for funding and operation through 2011.
MCAT director Ralf Heseler said the two counties and Longboat Key are funding the service in proportion to the size of each area served.
MCAT operates a fare-free trolley to Coquina Beach, where riders can transfer to the Longboat Key fare-based service.
Heseler said the trolley stops on Longboat Key are about two to four blocks apart. The trolley also stops at St. Armands Circle and in downtown Sarasota before beginning its return trip.
The service costs 75 cents, while riders ages 60 and older are only charged 35 cents, the release said.
Unlike the Island trolley, the LBK Trolley will not operate on major holidays, including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
