Ribbon-cutting to mark DeSoto Center bus terminal opening

MANATEE — Manatee County Area Transit officials will host a ribbon-cutting at 9 a.m., Tuesday to mark the opening of the bus terminal and transfer station at DeSoto Center, 600 301 Blvd. W.

Manatee County commissioners, officials of the Florida Department of Transportation and other dignitaries will be on hand to celebrate the completion of the $1.2 million project.

The terminal, under construction for more than a year, replaced the temporary transfer station in the DeSoto Center parking lot that was established when the Cortez Plaza station was closed in 2006.

“The terminal is a key element of the county transit system,” said Ralf Heseler, manager of MCAT.

Another MCAT station on Eighth Avenue West in Palmetto will be completed and opened before the end of the year, Heseler said.

This story was originally published October 12, 2009 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Ribbon-cutting to mark DeSoto Center bus terminal opening."