SARASOTA COUNTY — The Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization received an update Monday on the Sarasota-Manatee Area Regional Transit study that one day could make it easier for users of mass transit to get from North Port all the way to Palmetto.

The SMART study is a research project that assesses the feasibility of providing north-south premium transit services in Manatee County and a partnership between FDOT, the MPO, Sarasota County Area Transit, Manatee County Area Transit and the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority. The study investigated population and employment centers, current transit ridership, activity centers and economic development potential.