MARTY public transit service stops immediately after operator withdraws from contract

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — MARTY public transit service in Martin County stopped immediately on Thursday after its operator withdrew from its contract, citing rising operating costs.

Martin County Transit, LLC notified the county that it would withdraw from the operating contract effective Oct. 8. The company had operated the MARTY transit system since July 2025.

The company said expenses for insurance, fuel and maintenance rose beyond the financial assumptions used in its proposal and contract award. It said it absorbed significant losses and worked with Martin County on possible adjustments but could not reach a financially sustainable solution.

“We entered this contract in good faith and made every effort to find a path forward,” Karen Deigl, president and CEO of Martin County Transit, LLC, said in a statement. “We understand how important MARTY is to its riders and the community, and this decision was not made lightly.”

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CBS12 last reported on MARTY in November 2025 after the public transit system announced it would become fare-free after charging riders $1.50.

It was not immediately clear what alternative transportation options, if any, would be available for MARTY riders.