FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29,2020

PSTA Awarded $21.8 Million in Federal Grants for Bus Rapid Transit Project

St. Petersburg, FL – The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) was awarded $21.8 million in federal grants today for construction of the region’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

The funds, which were confirmed this morning by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA), will cover some of the costs to link downtown St. Petersburg to our county’s world-famous beaches. The first transit project of its kind in the Tampa Bay region, BRT is a globally proven solution to improve transit reliability and address traffic congestion. Features on the Pinellas County project include semi-dedicated lanes, limited stops and safety enhancements for riders including level boarding platforms and ADA compliant crosswalks.  

“This couldn’t be a more exciting day for not only Pinellas County and PSTA, but throughout the entire region, on receiving this federal funding from the FTA,” said Brad Miller, CEO of PSTA. “Being the first BRT in the Tampa Bay area, it is setting the new standard of how to better serve our community with fast and reliable transportation service.”

“This is the next chapter in a brand-new future of transportation options for our citizens that will make our community more economically competitive and the best place possible to live, work, and play,” said Past-Chair Commissioner Janet Long, of Pinellas County.

Visitors to the 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.

“The BRT is a critical component of our transportation strategy, and part of the larger solution to some of the transportation challenges we are facing,” said St. Petersburg Mayor, Rick Kriseman.

“This project will bring St. Petersburg residents and visitors to the restaurants, shops and beaches along the route without the parking and traffic problems that are of concern to the beach communities,” said PSTA Chair Joe Barkley.

The federal money comes from FTA’s Capital Investment Grant program. This grant combined with Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) New Starts Program and Design Grant, plus contributions made by the City of St. Petersburg and PSTA will fund the entire project costing $43.93 million.

"Congratulations to PSTA for receiving federal approval for this important bus rapid transit project,” said FDOT District 7 Secretary, David W. Gwynn. “As we look for additional ways to move people through our region, this project will hopefully be the first of many multi-modal projects to gain federal funding in the Tampa Bay Region.”

Construction of the BRT is expected to be complete in 2022. PSTA has already completed construction at the Pinellas County Beach access parking lot to allow easy transfers between our existing Central Avenue Trolley and BRT. 

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Stephanie Weaver

PSTA Communications & Public Relations Manager

O: (727) 540-1853 | C: (727) 249-6542

E: Sweaver@psta.net

PSTA: The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is the public transit provider for Pinellas County, providing more than 12.1 million rides per year. PSTA operates 40 bus and trolley routes with a fleet of 210 vehicles.