Manatee County announces additional services over Fourth of July extended weekend

Manatee County announces additional services over Fourth of July extended weekend
Posted on 06/24/2019

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (June 24, 2019) – In an effort to help drivers avoid heavy beach crowds over the Fourth of July weekend, Manatee County Area Transit will offer free rides onto and off of Anna Maria Island via Manatee Avenue next week.

Anyone traveling to Manatee Public Beach via Manatee Avenue from Thursday, July 4 through Sunday, July 7 may pick up the MCAT free of fare at any MCAT stop between 75 Street West and Anna Maria Island. MCAT buses will also run twice as frequently along Manatee Avenue between 75th and the beach, so one bus should arrive at stops every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"Anna Maria Island has been especially crowded during holiday weekends recently, so the fare special is an incentive to ask people to take the bus to the Island and back," said Public Works Director Chad Butzow.

In addition, there will be additional Sheriff's Office Deputies on Anna Maria Island to help direct traffic at the busiest intersections. The County will place many more public portalets near the public beaches and have them serviced daily from July 4 – 7. Trash will be removed more frequently from public beach areas during the weekend.

County Government offices will be closed Thursday, July 4 to observe Independence Day. MCAT's regular fixed route, para-transit service and Longboat Key Shuttle service will be suspended on July 4 but will resume July 5.

All trash, recycling and yard waste collections for the week will be postponed one day from Thursday through Saturday for residents in unincorporated Manatee.

Manatee County parks and beaches will be open to the public. Manatee County-owned golf courses will be open. G.T. Bray Recreation Center will be closed. Blackstone Skate Park and G.T. Bray Skate Park will be open.

Manatee County’s publicly owned natural preserves will remain open.

Manatee County’s public libraries will be closed on Thursday, July 4 and will reopen Friday, July 5.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.