- Who: Martin County Transit, the MARTY contractor, and the county’s bus riders
- What: All MARTY bus service stopped Thursday and 29 employees were laid off
- Where: Martin County, Florida
All MARTY bus service in Martin County stopped Thursday, Oct. 8, after the company that runs the system walked away from its contract and laid off 29 employees. County officials say they got no advance warning that service would end that day.
A Contract Dispute Ends With Empty Bus Stops
The contractor, Martin County Transit, pointed to rising operating costs. CEO Karen Deigl said the company entered the agreement in good faith and tried to find a way forward, and she described the decision as a difficult one. The company also acknowledged that the shutdown may have felt sudden to riders and residents.
At an afternoon press conference, county leaders said the two sides had been negotiating after the vendor asked for a significant increase in the contract price. According to the county, the company gave notice about two weeks ago that it planned to leave in 180 days. Instead, it ended service Thursday.
Martin County Public Works Director Jim Gordon said the county was not told the cancellation would take effect that day. Assistant County Administrator George Stokus said staff are working to restore service as quickly as possible. In a written statement, Martin County said it is looking for ways to bring transit back and limit the effect on riders. The county has not given a restart date.
Riders waiting at stops Thursday found no buses. One 67-year-old veteran told WPTV he depends on MARTY daily and had received no notice. Another resident said the layoffs should have come with more notice so people could make other plans.
United Way’s Ride United Program Fills Part of the Gap
The United Way of Martin County is offering help through its Ride United program, which provides free, pre-scheduled Lyft rides to eligible residents. The rides cover trips to work, grocery stores, medical appointments and other essential destinations. The program began in September 2022 and has provided thousands of rides.
The organization said it was already dealing with higher demand and reduced funding before MARTY stopped running, and it expects requests to climb. President and CEO Carol G. Houwaart-Diez said transportation is essential for people who rely on it to reach jobs and medical care.
Ashley Capital has pledged an initial $2,500 donation to support the response, along with a gift from another donor. United Way stressed that Ride United cannot replace MARTY’s fixed-route and paratransit services. It called its effort a temporary measure that depends on available funding.
The shutdown comes less than a year after WPTV reported that Martin County bus ridership jumped following the launch of free fares in early 2026.
Where Riders Can Get Help Now
- Residents who need a ride can call the United Way of Martin County at 772-283-4800 or visit unitedwaymartin.org/rideunited.
- Residents who need paratransit assistance can call 772-463-2822.
- Updates on MARTY will be posted on the county’s transit page at martin.fl.us/transit, and the county says it will keep providing updates as it works toward restoring service.
