Overview
- The county’s contracted operator stopped MARTY fixed-route and paratransit service without warning on Thursday, leaving regular riders with no county-run transit option.
- The operator told the county it has lost money since taking over in July 2025 and asked for a large contract increase before ending service immediately.
- County officials say they received a 180-day termination notice about two weeks earlier but were not warned the company would stop operations the same day.
- United Way of Martin County activated its Ride United program to provide limited pre-scheduled rides and received an initial $2,500 donation from Ashley Capital, but the group warns it cannot replace MARTY long term.
- Restoring MARTY will require renegotiating contracts, resolving insurance and funding gaps, finding vehicles and staff, and the county has given no timeline for when service might resume.