A new era is coming to Pinellas county. As of May 29^th, 2020 PSTA has officially received federal funding for the Bus Rapid Transit project. The funding, along from funds from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and City of St. Petersburg, completes the requirements for the cost of this project. Construction will officially begin in July, 2020.  

Expected to be completed in 2022, residents and visitors to Sunshine City will be able to enjoy a quick, low-cost and frequent bus service to destinations along the Central Avenue corridor, South Pasadena and St. Pete Beach. It will offer an affordable commute option for the 50,000 jobs that are located within a half of mile of the project corridor. This groundbreaking project will better accommodate the increasing transportation that accompany the rapid growth in the most densely populated county in the state.  

What is BRT? 

• BRT is a specialized, train-like transit service with frequently arriving buses - often running in their own specially dedicated lane
• The service is Rapid for numerous reasons, including:
• Serving only a limited number of stops along the route
• Riders paying fares before they board so the vehicle isn't waiting at the station while passengers pay on board
• Riders may board using any door instead of only the front door
• No steps or stairs! Raised stations provide level boarding so passengers with bikes or wheelchairs can easily move on and off the bus
• Buses have technology that allows vehicles to communicate with the traffic signals along the route
• BRT features specially branded buses and stations that give riders the look, feel and experience of rail transit
• In short, BRT provides many of the benefits and advantages of rail transit, but at a fraction of the cost