Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
{{Short description|Public transportation provider in Pinellas County, Florida, U.S.}}
{{multiple issues|
{{self-published|date=May 2022}}
{{overly detailed|date=December 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{primary sources|date=May 2017}}
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{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
| logo = PSTA_logo.png
| logo_size =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| company_slogan =
| parent =
| founded = 1984
| headquarters = 3201 Scherer Drive,
St. Petersburg, Florida
| locale = Pinellas County, Florida
| service_area = Pinellas County
| service_type = bus service
| alliance = Pinellas County Government
| routes = 40
| destinations =
| stops = 4602
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet = 210
| ridership = {{American transit ridership| FL St. Petersburg total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual ridership = {{American transit ridership| FL St. Petersburg total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| fuel_type = Clean Diesel, Diesel-Electric Hybrid, Battery Electric
| operator =
| ceo = Brad Miller
| website = {{official URL}}
}}
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is a government agency that provides public transportation for Pinellas County, Florida. The authority manages a fixed-route bus system that encompasses over 40 bus routes - including two express routes to Tampa; the Central Avenue Trolley; the Suncoast Beach Trolley; and the bus rapid transit service, the SunRunner.
History
PSTA's roots trace back to the early 1900s as the St. Petersburg Municipal Transit System (SPMTS). The system began with a streetcar line to Gulfport and eight buses to run several routes throughout the St. Pete area. Unlike the advent and expansion of Tampa's original streetcar system, the Gulfport streetcar only encompassed 23 miles of track along its singular line. However, the line proved to be popular amongst area residents during its heyday. In 1928, the entire SPMTS system carried 4.2 million customers, marking a major milestone for the agency. As the 1930s came and went, streetcar usage began to decline - as was the case nationwide. By 1949, the streetcar line had closed, marking the end of streetcar service in Pinellas County as a whole.{{Cite web|url=https://psta.net/about-psta/history-and-facts/|title=History and Facts {{!}} PSTA|website=www.psta.net|access-date=2020-01-18}}{{cite journal |last1=Lehman |first1=Robert |date=1997 |title=Streetcars in Tampa and St. Petersburg: A Photographic Essay |url=https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/tampabayhistory/vol19/iss1/5|journal=Tampa Bay History |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=5 |doi= |access-date=2022-11-14}}
Despite the demise of the Gulfport trolley, bus service throughout Pinellas County continued to expand throughout the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. In 1970, the Central Pinellas Transit Authority (CPTA) was formed, serving the Clearwater area and northern Pinellas. The agency was fully established by 1973 and operated 9 routes with a fleet of 21 buses. The CPTA saw 900,000 riders in its first year of service. In 1975, SPMTS begins paratransit services and both agencies continue to expand their fleet. In 1978, tourist trolley service (using trolley-replica buses) began in downtown St. Petersburg and became successful. By the 1980s, the two agencies formed a cooperative agreement, which allowed the expansion of routes throughout Pinellas County. This agreement also led to the creation of a single customer service phone number. In October 1984, the two companies formally merged (via an act of the Florida Legislature) to create the PSTA. In the years following their merger, PSTA operated nearly 80 routes with a fleet of nearly 130 buses. The agency begins installing electronic fareboxes and completed its central Pinellas operations center, as well as several bus terminals. In 1990, PSTA obtained its first express route, previously operated by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART). Also in 1990, PSTA established a cross-county bus route via US 19. Further expansion of bus service continued through the 1990s and 2000s; with the construction of bus terminals at Williams Park in Downtown St. Petersburg (opening in 1994) and the Central Plaza Terminal (now known as Grand Central Station) in the Grand Central District off Central Ave near US 19 (opening in 2002). The agency introduced electronic fare cards known as "Go Cards" in 1996, as well as accelerated replacement of outdated buses. In 2001, the Suncoast Beach Trolley began service along the gulf coast beaches and in 2003, PSTA purchased a fleet of commuter buses to operate its express routes. A year later, PSTA and HART introduced an intersystem Passport to allow customers to use each other's systems for a single monthly fare. In 2005, PSTA relocated all of its operations to a single, unified facility in northern St. Petersburg - near Ulmerton Rd and Roosevelt Blvd. In 2006, HART and PSTA agreed to honor each other's reduced fare photo permits.{{Cite web|url=https://psta.net/about-psta/history-and-facts/|title=History and Facts {{!}} PSTA|website=www.psta.net|access-date=2020-01-18}}
From the 2009 onward, PSTA began purchasing diesel-electric hybrid buses and attempted to bring forth further expanded bus service, as well as premium transit service such as Bus Rapid Transit or Light Rail Transit to Pinellas County. This began with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the agency, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to conduct an Alternatives Analysis of transit corridors in Pinellas County.{{Cite web|url=https://psta.net/about-psta/history-and-facts/|title=History and Facts {{!}} PSTA|website=www.psta.net|access-date=2020-01-18}} This was then followed up by a series of public engagement sessions and eventually the failed attempt in 2014 by Pinellas County to pass a sales tax referendum (Greenlight Pinellas).{{cite news |last=Marrero |first=Tony |date=2014-11-05 |title=Voters reject Greenlight Pinellas |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/greenlight-pinellas-doing-poorly-in-early-results/2205105/ |work=Tampa Bay Times |location=St Petersburg, FL |access-date=2022-11-14}} In 2012, the agency launched the North County Connector flex-route van service, allowing customers in areas of northern Pinellas to have access to transit service - including those in neighborhoods by which regular transit buses have difficulty accessing or where a traditional fixed bus route would have lower ridership projections. The three routes have since been modified to serve areas with demand for the service.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/masstransit/one-year-later-pstas-north-county-connector-going-strong/2160967/|title = After one year, PSTA's North County Connector proves popular}}
In 2017, PSTA began Direct Connect, which allows customers to summon a ride via taxi or ride share to connect to or from a designated stop or bus terminal {{cite web |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/alt-mobility/shared-mobility/car-sharing/press-release/12296934/pinellas-suncoast-transit-authority-psta-psta-brings-together-uber-and-taxi-to-get-people-on-the-bus |title=PSTA Brings Together Uber and Taxi to get People on the Bus |author= |date=2017-01-19 |website=Mass Transit Magazine |publisher=Mass Transit Magazine |access-date=2022-11-14 |quote=}}. In 2018, a partnership between PSTA, HART, Pasco County Public Transportation, and transit agencies in Hernando, Manatee, and Sarasota counties began working on a regional fare collection system called Flamingo Fares Tampa Bay. This system would allow customers to use either a smartphone app or a smart card to tap a reader device and pay for their transit fares in a seamless, contactless manner. While Manatee County was involved in the initial phase of the program, county officials decided to leave the project in pursuit of a different fare collection vendor.{{cite web |url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2018/3/21/getting_there_flamin |title=GETTING THERE: Flamingo Fares cards to ease commute |author= |date=2018-03-21 |website=Spectrum Bay News 9 |publisher=Spectrum Bay News 9 |access-date=2022-11-14 |quote=}} The same year, PSTA announced that it would partner with Transit App to help provide real-time bus arrival predictions and eventually other features to customers via the use of smartphones.{{cite news |last=Brezina-Smith |first=Veronica |date=2018-11-27 |title=Pinellas transit authority launches app program to help bus riders connect with Uber, Lyft |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/11/27/pinellas-transit-authority-launches-app-program-to.html |work= |location=St Petersburg, FL |access-date=2022-11-14}} The agency also introduced its first two battery electric buses - produced by BYD, and revamped Route 300X to serve Tampa International Airport on most trips.{{cite web |url=https://stpetecatalyst.com/psta-unveils-first-all-electric-bus-wins-grant-to-expand-fleet/ |title=PSTA unveils first all-electric bus, wins grant to expand fleet |last=Manning |first=Margie |date=2018-10-03 |website=St Pete Catalyst |publisher=St Pete Catalyst |access-date=2022-11-14 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-north-pinellas/largo/psta-unveils-new-300x-airport-service-from-largo-to-tampa-international-airport |title=PSTA unveils new 300x airport service from Largo to Tampa International Airport |author= |date=2018-06-18 |website=ABC Action News |publisher=ABC Action News |access-date=2022-11-14 |quote=}}
In 2018, PSTA pushed ahead with planning for what would become the SunRunner, with planning for the project reaching 60% completion by September, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2019/09/18/psta-officials-bus-rapid-transit-project--60-percent-complete- |title=PSTA Officials: Bus Rapid Transit Project "60 percent complete" |last=Paul |first=Ashley |date=2019-09-19 |website=Spectrum Bay News 9 |publisher=Spectrum Bay News 9 |access-date=2022-11-14 |quote=}} The SunRunner branding was formally unveiled in 2020, along with the project groundbreaking.{{cite web |url= |title=Pinellas transit authority breaks ground on bus rapid transit station |last=Brezina-Smith |first=Veronica |date=2020-08-17 |website=Tampa Bay Business Journal |publisher=Tampa Bay Business Journal |quote=}} Despite delays in the project - partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SunRunner opened to customers on October 21, 2022 to great fanfare.{{cite web |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/article/21285031/strong-debut-for-pstas-sunrunner-brt |title=Strong debut for PSTA's SunRunner BRT |last=Wanek-Libman |first=Mischa |date=2022-10-25 |website=Mass Transit Magazine |publisher=Mass Transit Magazine |access-date=2022-11-14 |quote=}} On January 10th, 2025, PSTA opened the new 150 1st Ave North station, featuring glass artwork created by Catherine Woods. A new program was launched on January 10th, called "Sunrunner After Dark"; which extended the full service hours until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. The program is subsidized by the City of St. Pete.
In 2020, PSTA placed an order for 62 new Battery Electric Gillig built buses that will be built over the course of 2023-2028. These buses will replace all of the older Diesel buses built between 2005 and 2006, while some 2007 buses will be replaced with new hybrid buses. This is a part of PSTA's plan to go all electric by 2050.
Effective January 2, 2024, PSTA would stop accepting the old "GO Cards", in favor of contactless payment via Flamingo Fares.
In 2024, PSTA released the Connect Community Bus Network plan (CCBN). The plan is to completely overhaul the bus network while also making service more consistent and efficient than with the current network. PSTA also has a goal of having all services run 7 days a week under CCBN. The service changes are set to go into effect in October 2025.
Bus routes
PSTA operates 38 routes (including one limited express route) that traverse Pinellas County and 2 express routes that connect into downtown Tampa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.psta.net/about-psta/history-and-facts/|title=History and Facts {{!}} PSTA|website=www.psta.net|access-date=2020-01-18}}
=Local=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;border:1px;" |
| No.
! Name ! Terminus 1 ! Terminus 2 ! Operates ! Direction ! Notes |
|---|
| 4
|4th Street |34th St. N Transfer Center (PSTA Facility) - St. Petersburg |25 Way/Roy Hanna Drive - St. Petersburg |Daily (Frequent Weekday Service) |Bi-Directional |Buses run every 20 minutes during early mornings on weekdays, every 15 minutes during the day on weekdays, every 30 minutes during evenings on weekdays and all day on Saturdays, and every hour on Sundays and holidays |
| 5
|Tyrone Square Mall via 5th Ave. N |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |Grand Central Station - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional |Serves as a shuttle between Grand Central and Tyrone Mall. |
| 7
|Tyrone Square Mall via Midtown/9th Ave. N |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |2nd Ave. S/4th St. S - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 9
|Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N/Gateway |Gateway Mall - St. Petersburg |Grand Central Station - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional (serves 116th Ave. N, Goodwill Industries, and Gateway Mall in a one-way clockwise pattern). | |
| 11
|28th St. N/Pinellas Point |34th St. N Transfer Center (PSTA Facility) - St. Petersburg |25 Way/Roy Hanna Drive - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional |Hourly service seven days a week |
| 14
|3rd Ave. N/4th St. N - St. Petersburg |Palms of Pasadena Hospital - South Pasadena |Daily |Bi-Directional |Alternating trips interline with Route 16 on weekdays. |
| 15
|2nd Ave. S/4th St. S - St. Petersburg |Gulfport Casino - Gulfport |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 16
|16th St. N |Gateway Mall - St. Petersburg |3rd Ave. N/4th St. N - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional |Hourly weekday service (interlines with Route 14 on weekdays), with buses running approximately every hour and 10 minutes on weekends |
| 18
|Clearwater/Bay Pines VA Medical Center/St. Petersburg via Seminole Blvd/Tyrone Square |Grand Central Station - St. Petersburg |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |Daily |Bi-Directional |Buses leave every 30 minutes during weekdays, every 30 minutes on Saturdays, and hourly on Sundays and holidays |
| 19
|Largo Transit Center - Largo |Huey Ave. & Tarpon Ave. - Tarpon Springs |Daily |Bi-Directional |Buses leave every 30 to 45 minutes Monday through Saturday and every hour on Sundays and holidays |
| 20
|Pinellas Point/Tyrone Square |Roy Hanna Dr & 25 Way S - St. Petersburg |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional |Hourly service seven days a week |
| 22
|22nd Ave. N, Northwest Community Center, Tyrone Square Mall, and 4th & 22nd Ave |4th St. N/22nd Ave. N |Tyrone Square Mall-St. Petersburg |Monday thru Saturday |Bi-Directional (buses travel on a one-way counter-clockwise loop around 22nd Ave. N, 4th St. N, 30th Ave. N, and Dr. MLK St. N) |No Sunday Service |
| 23
|Tyrone Square Mall via 22nd Ave. S/Gulfport |3rd Ave. N/4th St. N - St. Petersburg |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 32
|Downtown St. Petersburg Circulator |4th Ave. N/15th St. N - St. Petersburg |6th St. S/6th Ave. S - St. Petersburg |Monday Through Saturday Limited Service (Circulator) |One-Way Directional Loop | |
| 34
|US 19 South of Largo/34th St. N |Largo Transit Center - Largo |46th Ave. S/34th St. S - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional (frequent weekday service) |Buses leave every 20 to 30 minutes Monday through Friday, every 30 minutes on Saturdays, and every hour on Sundays and holidays. Eckerd College is only served during select Monday through Saturday trips. |
| 38
|Downtown St. Pete/Tyrone Square Mall via 38th Ave. N |4th Ave. N/1st St. N- St. Petersburg |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional |Interlines with Route 75. |
| 52
|Grand Central/Downtown Clearwater via E Bay/W Bay Dr and 49th St. N |Grand Central Station - St. Petersburg |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |Daily |Bi-Directional |Buses leave every 20 to 30 minutes Monday through Friday (peak times), every 30 to 50 minutes Monday through Friday (off-peak times), every 30 minutes on Saturdays, and every hour on Sundays and holidays. Service will terminate at PSTA complex when CCBN goes into effect. |
| 58
|Gateway Mall/Seminole City Center via 118th Ave. N |Gateway Mall - St. Petersburg |Seminole City Center - Seminole |Weekdays Only - Peak hour service |Bi-Directional | |
| 59
|Ulmerton Road |34th St. N Transfer Center (PSTA Facility) - St. Petersburg |1 St. & 4 Ave. - Indian Rocks Beach |Daily |Bi-Directional |15 minutes weekday peak and midday service, 30 minute Saturday service, and hourly Sunday and holiday service. |
| 60
|McMullen Booth Frontage Road/Downtown Clearwater |McMullen Booth Frontage Road - Clearwater |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |Daily |Bi-Directional |McMullen Booth Road is only served on select trips |
| 61
|Indian Rocks Beach/Dunedin |Indian Rocks Shopping Center - Indian Rocks |Countryside Mall - Clearwater |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 62
|Tyrone Square Mall/The Shoppes of Boot Ranch |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |The Shoppes of Boot Ranch - Palm Harbor |Monday through Saturday Only |Bi-Directional |Safety Harbor is no longer served as of October, 2016. Customers may use the Safety Harbor Flex Connector from Countryside Mall to connect to Safety Harbor. |
| 65
|Seminole City Center/Indian Rocks/Clearwater |Seminole City Center - Seminole |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 66L
|Tarpon Springs/Indian Rocks Beach |Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks - Tarpon Springs |Morton Plant Hospital - Clearwater |Weekdays Only (Peak Times) |Bi-Directional |Select Peak Direction trips serve Clearwater Fundamental Middle School |
| 67
|Downtown Clearwater/Downtown Oldsmar via SR 580 & Hercules |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |Downtown Oldsmar |Monday through Saturday Only |Bi-Directional | |
| 68
|Tyrone Square Mall/John's Pass Village |John's Pass Village - Madeira Beach |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 73
|Tyrone Square Mall/Downtown Clearwater via Keene Rd/Starkey Rd/Park St |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |Monday through Saturday Only |Bi-Directional | |
| 74
|Gateway Mall/Seminole City Center via Park Blvd |Gateway Mall - St. Petersburg |Seminole City Center - Seminole |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 75
|Tyrone Square Mall/Gateway Mall |Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg |Gateway Mall - St. Petersburg |Daily |Bi-Directional |Interlines with Route 38. |
| 76
|Downtown Clearwater/Countryside Mall via Belcher Road & Sunset Point |Countryside Mall - Clearwater |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |Monday through Saturday Only |Bi-Directional | |
| 78
|Downtown Clearwater/Countryside Mall via SR 580 |Countryside Mall - Clearwater |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 79
|St. Petersburg/Largo Transit Center via 66th St. N |3rd Ave. N/4th St. N - St. Petersburg |Largo Transit Center - Largo |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
| 90
|St. Pete Beach/Downtown St. Pete |Roy Hanna Dr @ 25th Way S - Pinellas Point |St. Pete Beach |Daily |Bi-Directional |Peak hours only |
| SR/SUN
|SunRunner |3rd St S and 6th Ave S - St. Petersburg |Pinellas County Beach Access at 4700 Gulf Blvd - St. Pete Beach |Daily (Frequent Service) |Bi-Directional |Buses run every 15 minutes during the day, every day, with 30 minute service operating between 8:00pm and 12-midnight each day. |
| 812
|Countryside/Tampa (Van) |Countryside Mall - Clearwater |HART Northwest Transfer Center - Tampa |Monday through Saturday |Bi-Directional |Hourly service all day |
| 814
|Countryside/Safety Harbor (Van) |Countryside Mall - Clearwater |Philipppe Park - Safety Harbor |Monday through Saturday |On-Demand |Was converted into a fully on-demand based service in December, 2023. |
=Express services=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;border:1px;" |
| No.
! Name ! Starting Point ! Terminus ! Operates ! Direction ! Notes |
|---|
| 52LX
|Clearwater/St. Pete Limited Express |Park Street Terminal - Downtown Clearwater |Grand Central Station - Downtown St. Petersburg. |Weekdays Only - Peak Hour Service |Bi-Direction |Buses leave every 30 minutes, creating a roughly 15 minute combined headway spread between the 52 and 52LX. Buses also serve the Carillon Business Park. Service will be discontinued when CCBN goes into effect. |
| 100X
|St. Petersburg/South Pinellas Express |The Pier - Downtown St. Petersburg |Marion Transit Center - Downtown Tampa |Weekdays Only |Bi-Directional |Also serves Gateway Mall (St. Petersburg) and Britton Plaza (Tampa) |
| 300X
|Central Pinellas Express |Ulmerton Park-N-Ride - Largo |Marion Transit Center - Downtown Tampa |Weekdays Only |Bi-Directional |Most trips also serve Tampa International Airport (Rental Car Center Bus Hub) |
=Contracted Services=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;border:1px;" |
| No.
! Name ! Starting Point ! Terminus ! Operates ! Direction ! Notes |
|---|
| |Grouper
|Clearwater Beach general vicinity and Sand Key |St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport |Daily |On-Demand |New contracted on-demand, shared-ride service designed to take customers between points within the vicinity of Clearwater Beach (including northern Sand Key) and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. Rides must either originate or terminate at the airport [https://psta.net/services/grouper/]. |
| |Clearwater Ferry
|Downtown Clearwater |Clearwater Beach Transit Center |Daily |Bi-Directional | |
=Trolley Services=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;border:1px;" |
| No.
! Name ! Starting Point ! Terminus ! Operates ! Direction ! Notes |
|---|
| CAT
|Central Avenue Trolley |The Pier - St. Petersburg |Grand Central Station |Daily |Bi-Directional |Operates every 30 minutes at all times. |
| SBT
|Suncoast Beach Trolley |Park Street Terminal - Clearwater |75th Ave and Gulf Blvd - St. Pete Beach |Daily |Bi-Directional |Extended weekend service. Provides AM circular service through Island Estates and northern Clearwater Beach until Jolley Trolley service begins for the rest of the day. |
=Trolley Services=
PSTA operates two fixed-route trolley services using trolley-replica buses - the Central Ave Trolley (CAT) and the Suncoast Beach Trolley (SBT). The CAT traverses Central Ave between Downtown St. Pete's Pier District and Grand Central Station, while the SBT traverses Gulf Blvd between Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach (the latter also serves Downtown Clearwater via the Memorial Causeway Bridge). Until December, 2023, the CAT served St. Pete Beach.
The CAT connects to other PSTA routes along Central Ave - including at Grand Central Station and Downtown St. Pete. The SBT connects to Route 59 in Indian Rocks Beach, Route 68 at Johns Pass, and other routes in Clearwater.
=North County Connector=
The North County Connector was originally launched in 2012 and was modeled off of HART's HART Flex service. The sub-network used cutaway vans to access areas of northern Pinellas County that would be otherwise inaccessible to standard transit buses. The three original routes consisted of Route 811 - serving the eastern Lake Tarpon area, Route 812 - serving Oldsmar and Town-N-Country, and Route 813 - serving Palm Harbor. Route 811 was eliminated in 2015 due to low usage. In 2016, service to Safety Harbor was added in part due to the rerouting of Route 62. This eventually led to the creation of Route 814 in 2016.
In 2019, the routes were restructured to become standard fixed routes. However, the 800-series route numbers were kept due to the continuation of the routes being operated by cutaway vans.
In December, 2023, Route 813 was eliminated due to low ridership, while Route 814 was converted into a fully on-demand based model. Customers may contact PSTA by phone or use the PSTA Access smartphone app to summon a ride [https://www.psta.net/services/814-on-demand/].
=SunRunner BRT=
Since 2009, PSTA has been planning some form of bus rapid transit (BRT) service to better serve customers along higher-ridership corridors. The first area of focus is the 1st Ave N/1st Ave S and Pasadena Ave corridors to allow customers a faster trip between Downtown St. Pete and St. Pete Beach. In the mid 2010s, concrete plans were presented for the county's first BRT route utilizing the aforementioned corridors. In 2019, the SunRunner name was given to the project and construction began in 2020. The SunRunner launched in October 2022.
The SunRunner route operates on fifteen-minute intervals everyday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Buses continue to run on their full schedule until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights due to a program called Sunrunner after dark, launched in January 2025. The 1st Ave N, 1st Ave S, and Pasadena Ave corridors utilize dedicated bus lanes with stylized stations. Stylized stations are placed along Gulf Ave, however buses still mostly run in mixed traffic. The Sunrunner utilizes 40' Gillig BRT Plus buses.
Bus Hubs/Transit Centers
- Grand Central Station - Downtown St. Petersburg - Serving Routes: 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 18, 34, 52, 52LX, 79, 90, CAT (Also serving Downtown St. Pete are Routes 4, 14, 16, 20, 23, 32, 79, 100X, Looper
- Park Street Terminal - Downtown Clearwater - Serving Routes: 18, 52, 52LX, 60, 61, 65, 66L, 67, 73, 76, 78, Jolley Trolley, SBT
- Tyrone Square Mall - Serving Routes: 5, 7, 18, 20, 22, 23, 38, 62, 68, 73, 75, 79
- Countryside Mall - Serving Routes: 19, 61, 62, 67, 76, 78, 812, 814 (on-demand)
- Gateway Mall - Serving Routes: 4, 9, 16, 58, 74, 75, 100X
- Pinellas Park Transit Center - Serving Routes: 11, 34, 52, 52LX, 74, 75
- Serves as a stop for Greyhound.
- PSTA 34th Street Transfer Center - Serving Routes: 4, 11, 52, 52LX, 59
- Largo Transit Center - Serving Routes: 19, 34, 52, 52LX, 79
- Ulmerton Park-n-Ride - Serving Routes: 59, 300X
- Largo Mall - Serving Routes: 18, 59
- Seminole Shopping Center - Serving Routes: 18, 58, 65, 74
- Indian Rocks Shopping Center - Serving Routes: 59, 61, 65
- Clearwater Beach Transit Center - Serving Routes: SBT, Jolley Trolley
Connection to PCPT
In addition to the cross-bay express routes, PSTA also provides connections to Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) bus routes 18 and 19 via PSTA routes 19 and 66.
Clearwater Ferry
The PSTA has a partnership with the Clearwater Ferry which was founded in 2015 and initially privately owned.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-04 |title=PSTA expands Clearwater Ferry service |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/alt-mobility/water-transportation/press-release/55265493/pinellas-suncoast-transit-authority-psta-psta-expands-clearwater-ferry-service |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Mass Transit |language=en}} The partnership formally started in January 2025.{{Cite web |title=New, expanded ferry service links downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2025/01/31/new--expanded-ferry-service-links-downtown-clearwater-to-clearwater-beach |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}
On April 27, 2025 at 8:43pm, one person died and several were injured after a 37' recreational boat with 6 aboard collided with a dimly lit 40' PSTA pontoon boat with 44 aboard.{{Cite web |title=1 dead, several hurt after hit-and-run boat crash into Clearwater Ferry |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/breaking-news/2025/04/28/1-dead-several-hurt-after-hit-and-run-boat-crash-into-clearwater-ferry/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}[https://patch.com/florida/tarponsprings/who-jeffry-knight-nodx PSTA pontoon boat lighting needs an upgrade], Patch Media, April 30th 2025, By Alympia Peaceful[https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/30/us/clearwater-florida-ferry-collision-boat-driver-hnk Attorney for boat driver in Clearwater ferry collision denies he fled the scene as victim’s family demands answers], CNN, May 1st 2025, by Hanna Park[https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/passengers-on-jeff-knights-boat-describe-fatal-ferry-crash-where-the-f-were-their-lights Passengers on Jeff Knight’s boat describe fatal ferry crash: ‘Where the f*** were their lights?’], WFLA, May 2nd 2025, by Rachel Tucker Knight's attorney says the stern light of the Clearwater Ferry pontoon boat wasn't lit. The stern light is the tail light of the boat. It is required to be white with a 135 degree angle.[https://stpetecatalyst.com/boat-passengers-clearwater-ferry-had-no-stern-lights/ KnowBoat passengers: Clearwater Ferry had no stern lights], Catalyst, May 2nd 2025
Active Fleet
PSTA operates a fleet of 210+ transit buses and paratransit vehicles.{{Cite web|url=https://globaltransitguidebook.com/transit_focus_pages/florida-transports/tampa-bay-area-florida/pinellas-suncoast-transit-authority-revised-10-16-19/psta-bus-fleet/|title=PSTA Vehicle Fleet|date=2014-04-27|website=The Global Transit Guidebook by HARTride 2012|language=en|access-date=2020-01-18}} The bus fleet consists of a fleet of Gillig Low Floor and BRT buses as well as BYD buses. They are powered by clean diesel, diesel-electric hybrid, and battery electric vehicle. All buses were equipped with barrier shields in the operator area during the course of 2020 through 2021, and many buses are being fitted with LCD screens that display next stops and customer information - replacing the LED-based scroll signs near the front of the bus interior. From 2002-2008, PSTA installed yellow flashing strobe lights at the rear of their buses for extra visibility, but these were eventually removed around the mid-2010s and replaced with normal red brake lights. Many PSTA vehicles receive mid-life modifications and refurbishments to extend their lifespans by 5-10 years.
= Transit Fixed-Route Buses =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Builder/Model !Picture !Numbers !Length (Feet, Meters) !Fuel Type !Notes |
|---|
| 2006
|Gillig Low Floor |2601-2636, 2650-2661 |40', 35' (12m, 10m) |Diesel |2601 was a late 2005 model. 2660 is painted silver livery with black logos. 2601, 2602, 2604, 2606, 2607, 2609, 2613, 2615, 2618, 2620, 2622, 2624, 2626, 2628, 2629, 2631-2633, 2635, 2654-2656, 2658 and 2659 are no longer in service. |
| 2007
|Gillig Low Floor |2701-2711, 2712-2718 |40', 35' (12m, 10m) |Diesel |2701, 2706 and 2716 are no longer in service. 2711 was reactivated on 11/7/24 after being out of service for 2 months. 2710 was also reactivated in February 2025. 2703 was repainted into PSTA's new livery and has new mirrors and features. |
| 2009
|Gillig Low Floor BRT |2901-2903, 2910-2911 |35' (10m) |2901-2903: Hybrid, 2910-2911: Diesel |Pilot Hybrid units. PSTA also ordered 2 Gillig BRT diesels in case the hybrids weren't favored. Unit 2901, 2910 and 2911 are no longer is service. |
| 2010
|Gillig Low Floor BRT |10101-10114 |35' (10m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |10105 is no longer in service. |
| 2012
|Gillig Low Floor BRT |12101-12108 |40' (12m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |12106 is no longer in service. |
| 2013
|Gillig Low Floor BRT | |13101-13108 |40' (12m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid | |
| 2014
|Gillig Low Floor BRT |14101-14108 |40' (12m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid | |
| 2015
|Gillig Low Floor BRT |15101-15113 |40' (12m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |15104 was involved in an accident in 2017 and returned to service in 2019. 15111 was involved in an accident in 2023 and returned to service in 2024, being repainted into the Teal and white livery and has new features. 15112 and 15113 are wrapped for express service. 15101 is a pilot bus equipped with LCD screens (screens are installed on all 2020 and 2021 buses), as well as white colored destination signs that were adapted to the 2018 & 2019 Gillig orders. |
| 2016
|Gillig Low Floor BRT (BRT front, Standard rear) | |16101-16107 |40' (12m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |All buses are wrapped for express service, with some units containing interior luggage racks for Route 300X service. Uses BAE Drive. |
| 2017
|Gillig Low Floor BRT (BRT front, Standard rear) |17101-17103 |35' (10m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |Last buses to use orange LED displays. |
| 2018
|Gillig Low Floor BRT (BRT front, Standard rear) |18101-18109 |35' (10m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |Arrived in Fall 2018 All units have been repainted into the teal and white paint scheme. |
| 2018
| |18110-18111 |35' (10m) |Battery-Electric |First battery electric buses for PSTA. Arrived in August 2018. Will eventually be phased out in favor of Gillig Made buses. |
| 2018
|Freightliner S2 | |1801-1808 |27' (8.2m) |Diesel |Used on connector routes. |
| 2019
|Gillig Low Floor BRT (BRT front, Standard rear) |19101-19109 |35 (10m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |Arrived in Spring 2019 All units have been repainted into the teal and white paint scheme. |
| 2020
|BYD K9S | |20110-20113 |35' (10m) |Battery-Electric |Last BYD bus order under the original 5 year contract. All future electric bus orders (subject to change) will be through Gillig. Will eventually be phased out in favor of Gillig Made buses. |
| 2021
|Gillig BRT Plus |21101-21109 |40' (12m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |Arrived in Fall 2021. Used for SunRunner BRT service. |
| 2024
|Gillig BRT Plus | |21110-21112 |40' (12m) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |An order for three additional hybrid buses was placed in 2022 to provide operational spares for the SunRunner. Numbering continues off from the 211XX series rather than using 241XX numbers. |
| 2023
|Gillig Low Floor Plus EV | |23101-23106 |40' (12m) |Battery Electric |First Gillig EV order for PSTA. The pilot units are 23101 and 23102, while the 1st production units are 23103 through 23106. A total of 62 buses have been ordered - to be produced and delivered over the course of five years. # 23101 was showcased at the APTA Mobility Conference in Minneapolis, MN. |
| 2024
|Gillig Low Floor Plus EV | |24101-24108 |40' (12m) |Battery Electric |Production was split into two batches, with the first eight vehicles being produced & delivered during the spring of 2024. All units are in service as of December, 2024. |
| 2024
|Gillig Low Floor Plus EV | |24109-24124 |40' (12m) |Battery Electric |Production was split into two batches, with the remaining vehicles being produced in late 2024 & being delivered during the period between November, 2024 & February, 2025. All vehicles are in service as of late-February 2025. |
| 2025
|Gillig Low Floor Plus EV |25101-25125 26101-26107 26108-26120 |40' (12m) |Battery Electric |Delivered in 3 batches, with the 1st batch using 251XX numbers and the 2nd using 261XX numbers. The 2nd batch concludes the 2020 contract order of 62 total units, while the 3rd batch fulfills the 2024 contract order of 13 total units. The 3rd batch contains the rear plug style door option that the 21100 series (SunRunner) hybrid vehicles possess. |
= Paratransit Vehicles =
These smaller paratransit buses and vans are used on a service called PSTA Access. These vehicles use 3-digit fleet numbers to distinguish them from the heavy-duty transit vehicles.
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Builder/Model !Example !Numbers !Length !Fuel Type !Notes |
|---|
| |Ford
StarCraft Allstar | |2XX |20' (6m) |Gasoline |Some units are used on the Grouper service. |
| 2023
|Ford Transit L3 |300-359 |19' (5.7m) |Gasoline |Used on PSTA Access. |
= Tourist Trolley Replicas =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Builder/Model !Example !Numbers !Length !Fuel Type !Notes |
|---|
| 2020/21
|Hometown Manufacturing Streetcar |2001-2020 |35' (10m) |Clean Diesel |Trolley-replica buses, replacing all 2007, 2008, and 2009 Gillig models. Vehicles began entering service in December, 2021. |
= Future Orders =
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Builder/Model !Picture !Numbers !Length (Feet, Meters) !Fuel Type !Notes |
|---|
| 2025-2026
|Gillig Low Floor (BRT front/Standard rear) | |9 buses total |35' (10.7) |Diesel-Electric Hybrid |9 units to be produced under the 2024 contract consisting of 22 total units (13 battery-electric and 9 diesel-electric hybrid). Specs are assumed to be similar to the 2017-2019 hybrid buses. This portion of the order is slated for fulfillment once all of the battery electric units have been produced. |
=Retired Fleet=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Builder/Model !Example !Numbers !Length !Notes |
|---|
| 1973
TDH3302A | |101-121 |30' (9m) |Formerly Central Pinellas Transit Authority 101-121 |
| 1975
|General Motors T6H4523A | |201-214 |35' (10m) |Formerly Central Pinellas Transit Authority 201-214 |
| 1976
|General Motors T6H4523A | |1164-1173 |35' (10m) |Formerly St. Petersburg Municipal Transit System 1164-1173. |
| 1978
|General Motors TW7603 | |401-404 |35' (10m) |Formerly Central Pinellas Transit Authority 401-404 |
| 1979
|General Motors T7W603 | |1174-1187 |35' (10m) |Formerly St. Petersburg Municipal Transit System 1174-1187. |
| 1980
|General Motors T7W603 | |601-614 |35' (10m) |Formerly Central Pinellas Transit Authority 601-614 603 was sold off to an operator in Puerto Rico as 92099 and 805. It sat in a junkyard from 2004 until 2012 where it was bought out by Francisco Santiago/"Escolar". Its since been restored as a school bus. |
| 1982
|General Motors T8J604 | |1200-1224 |40' (12m) |First 40-foot (12-meter) buses in St. Petersburg/Clearwater Formerly St. Petersburg Municipal Transit System 1200-1224. |
| 1983
|General Motors T7J604 | |701-707 |35' (10m) |Formerly Central Pinellas Transit Authority 701-707. |
| 1983
|Flxible 40096-6T | |8301-8308 |40' (12m) |Formerly HART 311, 313-318, 321 bought in 1986. 8301-8307 were sold to Palm Tran as 8301-8307 in 1995. |
| 1985
35096-6T | |1001-1015 |35' (10m) |First buses ever Purchased new by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. |
| 1989
|Flxible 35096-6T | |8901-8915 |35' (10m) | 1 unit (unknown model year) was bought by Fleetwood and was used as a shuttle at Shades of Green Resort in Bay Lake, FL. It was spotted running in March 2008. |
| 1991
|Gillig Spirit | |9101-9110 |30' (9m) |9103 and 9105 were sold off to Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation (Citilink) as 9158-9159. 9101, 9104 and 9108 were sold to Albany Transit System (GA) as 823-825. |
| 1992
Orion I/01.502 | |9201-9210 |30' (9m) | |
| 1993
|Flxible 35096-6T | |9301-9321 |35' (10m) | |
| 1994
|Gillig Phantom S50T3596 | |9401-9432 |35' (10m) |Retired as of 2007. 9428 was wrecked in March 2006 and was sold to Abbott Trailways HQ in Roanoke, VA for parts. |
| 1995
|Advanced Vehicle Systems AVS-22 |2001 |21' (6m) | First battery electric vehicle ordered by the PSTA. Used on shuttle services. |
| 1996
D40LF |9601-9615 |40' (12m) | Powered by a Detroit Diesel engine with Allison Transmission. Some units were repainted into the 2005 Blue and White Livery prior to retirement. 9601, 9609, 9610, 9613-9615 sold to Paul Revere Transportation. Retired in 2009 in favor of Gillig buses. |
| 1997
|New Flyer D30LF, D35LF | |9701-9735 (35'/10m), 9750-9759 (30'/9.1m) |30', 35' (9m, 10m) |Powered by a Detroit Diesel engine with unknown transmission. Some units were repainted into the 2005 Blue and White Livery prior to retirement. 9702, 9705, and 9729 sold to Maingate Transportation. 9713 and 9718 sold to Transtar. Retired in 2009 in favor of Gillig buses. |
| 1998
|New Flyer C40LF | |9801-9804 |40' (12m) |Powered by a Detroit Diesel engine with an Allison Transmission. Some units were repainted into the 2005 Blue and White Livery prior to retirement. Retired in 2009 in favor of Gillig buses. |
| 1999
|Gillig G21D102N4 | |9901-9908 |40' (12m) |First Gillig Low Floor buses bought by PSTA, retired around the mid-late 2010s |
| 2001
|Gillig G27D102N4 Low Floor |2101-2116 |40' (12m) |2111 sold to City Sightseeing San Francisco and renumbered as 229. All units were repainted into the 2005 Blue and White Livery prior to retirement. Retired in 2018. |
| 2002
|Gillig G27D102N4, G27E102R2 Low Floor |File:PSTA 2002 Gillig Low Floor 2201.jpg |2201-2210 (40'/12m), 2230-2233 (29'/8.8m) |40', 29' (12m, 8.8m) |All units were repainted into the 2005 Blue and White Livery prior to retirement. 2230 was destroyed in a crash test with a school bus in 2015. Retired as of 7/1/19. |
| 2003
|Motor Coach Industries (MCI) D4000 |2301-2310 |40' (12m) |Used on express routes. Retired as of 2017. 2306, 2308 and 2309 were auctioned off in August 2017. |
| 2005
|Gillig Low Floor |2501-2508 (40'/12m), 2510-2517 (35'/10m), 2530-2534 (29'/8.8m) |40' (12m) |Units 2501-2503, 2505, 2507, 2510, 2513, 2531-2533 were sold off at auction shortly after retirement. Retired as of April 2025. |
| 2007
|Gillig G29B102N4 Low Floor Trolley | |720-722 |35' (10m) |Trolley-replica buses, modified by Cable Car Classics. Retired in 2021 due to heavy wear and tear. |
| 2008
|Gillig Low Floor | |2801-2815 2830-2835 |40' 35' (12m)(10m) |All units retired as of April 2025. All 35' (10m) buses retired early in July 2019 due to mechanical issues. 2802 was donated away to a nonprofit organization in 2021 and currently serves as a mobile food pantry. Units 2803, 2805, 2806, 2811, 2812 and 2814 were sold off at auctioned shortly after retirement. |
| 2008
|Gillig G27B102N4 Low Floor Trolley | |820-825 |35' (10m) |Trolley-replica buses, modified by Cable Car Classics. Powered by clean diesel. Retired in 2021 due to heavy wear and tear. |
| 2009
|Gillig G30B102N4 Hybrid Low Floor Trolley | |920-926 |35' (10m) |Trolley-replica buses, modified by Cable Car Classics. Powered by the same Advanced Hybrid drive train as the SmartBus. Distinguishable by a white roof. Retired in 2021 due to heavy wear and tear. |
| 2012
|Ford E-450 Champion LF Transport | |1225-1232 |25' (7.6m) |Retired in 2015 due to mechanical defects. |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}}
- [http://sites.google.com/site/tampabaytransit Tampa Bay Transit]
{{FloridaTransSystems}}
Category:Bus transportation in Florida