Notices

Gulf Islands Ferry Enhances Summer Schedule

Service extended to accommodate strong ridership numbers

BRADENTON, FL (June 10, 2025) – The Gulf Islands Ferry, the Bradenton Area’s popular alternative mode of travel between downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island, is bringing back Wednesday service to its weekly schedule. Passengers can now ride the Gulf Islands Ferry five days per week beginning June 18, 2025.

The two 50-foot catamarans ride the waterways between the downtown Bradenton Riverwalk Pier and the Historic Bridge Street Pier on Anna Maria Island.

“As Manatee County continues to welcome visitors this Summer, the Gulf Islands Ferry is easing the traffic on our roadways,” said Manatee County District 3 Commissioner Tal Siddique.

In addition to providing easy transport to the island, the service is an extended commitment to working to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the area for future generations by eliminating carbon emission from car travel to the island. Featuring energy-efficient design elements, the vessels further support the Bradenton Area’s Love It Like a Local initiative and Leave No Trace commitment.

Weather permitting, the boats will depart from the Riverwalk Pier beginning at 7:30 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. to the Historic Bridge Street Pier, on Anna Maria Island with service starting at 9 a.m. through 9 p.m.

For more information and the full schedule, visit www.gulfislandsferry.com or the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau website.

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ABOUT THE GULF ISLANDS FERRY

Launched in January 2024, the Gulf Islands Ferry connects downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island. This public transportation service, supported by the tourist development tax, was launched in an effort to cut down on high traffic and car use attempting to access Anna Maria Island during peak travel seasons. This year-round service offers a convenient and affordable 45-minute ride to the island all while taking in abundant marine wildlife and the amazing local views of the Bradenton Area from the Manatee River and intercoastal waterways.

The ferry routes are operated by two ADA-accessible catamarans and a soon to come third boat, the Manatee Belle, which will be fully enclosed and offer a faster service out to the island. Up-to-date run times and scheduling can be found at www.gulfislandsferry.com, or riders can call customer service at 727-200-6487.

For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (June 3, 2025) — As part of its ongoing efforts to help residents prepare for severe weather, Manatee County is making self-service sandbag locations available to the public throughout the entire 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Beginning immediately and continuing through November 30, 2025, residents can access sand and bags at the following locations from dawn to dusk daily:

• Blackstone Park – 2112 14th Ave. W., Palmetto

• Myakka Community Center – 10060 Wauchula Rd., Myakka City

• Palma Sola Park – 7815 40th Ave. W., Bradenton

• Parrish Park Overflow Parking – 77550 Ft. Hamer Rd., Parrish

• Rubonia Community Center – 1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto

• Rye Preserve – 905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish

• Manatee County Stormwater Facility – 5511 39th St. E., Bradenton

Each location is self-service, so residents should bring their own shovels and be prepared to fill and transport the sandbags themselves. Bags and sand are provided at the locations while supplies last.

A map of sandbag sites is available at mymanatee.org/storm by clicking on the "Sandbags" tab.

“Having sandbags ready ahead of a storm can make a big difference in protecting homes and property,” said Manatee County Commission Chair George Kruse. “We encourage residents to prepare early and make use of these resources now—before a storm is on the way.”

Residents are also reminded to stay up to date on local storm alerts and preparedness resources throughout the season by visiting mymanatee.org/storm and following Manatee County Government on social media.

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

Manatee County “Big Bin Advantage” to Streamline Waste Collection

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (April 30, 2025) – Manatee County Utilities customers soon will be able to experience the “Big Bin Advantage,” a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing waste-collection services for residents in unincorporated areas. This program introduces larger, more efficient rolling bins for garbage collection, aligning with industry best practices and allowing for future service improvements.​

"We’re teaming up with our haulers to roll out a better, more reliable collection system,” said District 1 Commissioner Carol Ann Felts. “This proven technology is already working in nearby areas. We know any change takes some getting used to, but this update is important to keep up with the needs of our growing community.”

Residents will receive free 96-gallon garbage bins, which they can begin using immediately. These larger receptacles are designed to accommodate increased waste volumes, reduce litter, and support the County waste haulers as they transition to more efficient, automated collection systems.​ Here is a video highlighting the production process for the bins.

“The Big Bin Advantage represents a significant step forward in modernizing our waste-management services,” said Patrick Shea, Manatee County Utilities Director. “By adopting larger, standardized bins, we are aligning with industry standards that prioritize efficiency, environmental responsibility, and customer convenience.”​

The move to larger bins supports the county’s ongoing efforts to streamline waste collection. Currently, garbage, recycling, and yard waste pickups occur on different days, leading to multiple truck visits each week. The new system will help consolidate these services, allowing all pickups to occur on the same day, thereby reducing truck traffic and wear on neighborhood roads.​

In addition to the new bins, the County is implementing automated-collection methods, enhancing worker safety, reducing operational costs and improving overall service reliability.​ The Big Bin Advantage also complements Manatee County’s already-in-place single-stream recycling program, which simplifies the recycling process by allowing residents to place all recyclable materials into a county-provided container without the need for sorting. ​

Residents will begin receiving their new bins in the coming weeks, with full implementation expected by October 6, 2025. For more information about the Big Bin Advantage and other waste-management initiatives, please visit mymanatee.org/BigBin, contact Manatee County Utilities Customer Service at (941) 792-8811 or dial 3-1-1.​

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

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Manatee County Information Outreach

NEWS line: (941) 745-6397 (NEWS)

news@mymanatee.org