BRADENTON -- Manatee County and Bradenton officials celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for the grand opening of the downtown Bradenton Manatee County Area Transit station.

"Congratulations on opening this MCAT transit facility," said Jennifer Stults from Florida Department of Transportation's District 1. "It's gorgeous. ... This new facility will improve the transit experience for MCAT customers."

The station is located along 13th Street West, between Sixth and Eighth avenues. It is expected to accommodate up to five buses at a time. It serves routes 2, 3, 4, 9, and 99.

"I couldn't be more excited about this," said Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston.

Customers will be relocated from the stop near the Manatee County Historic Courthouse to the new station on 13th Street West.

"It's no secret that we've had some setbacks," said Manatee County Commissioner Michael Gallen.

The $2.4 million station's opening was delayed months due to last-minute design modifications. A decorative median had to be shifted a few feet west in order to provide more space for buses as they depart the station.

The station features art murals, restrooms, benches, ticket vending machines and on-site attendant.

The station will open to the public at 5:30 a.m. Saturday