Pinellas County Students, Teachers to Ride for Free on All PSTA Buses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2021
Pinellas County Students, Teachers to Ride for Free on All PSTA Buses
Starting January 1, Students and Staff with School District IDs Can Ride for Free
Saint Petersburg, FLA - Today, the Pinellas County School Board approved a partnership with Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) to bring free PSTA bus rides to all students and staff beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The PSTA Board approved the agreement last week.
The opportunity is provided by the Universal Pass or UPASS, an agreement between the school district and the PSTA. Pinellas County Schools (PCS) students and staff will be able to ride free by showing their student or staff ID to the PTSA driver.
“PSTA has numerous public transit routes and bus stops convenient to schools throughout the county,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PSTA. “But UPass offers much more. All PCS students and staff will be able to ride for free, any time, on all routes so they can access jobs, after-school activities, or even the beach.”
“We are thrilled to partner with PSTA to improve transportation options for our students and employees,” said Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Grego. “Not only will our students and staff have free public transit to and from campus, they will also enjoy free PTSA bus service after school hours and on weekends.”
In addition, for the 2022-2023 School Year, PSTA and PCS will work on a pilot program to time PSTA bus routes, route schedules, and PCS bell times to serve students at Dunedin, Largo and Gibbs high schools.
To find out how to ride, visit psta.net/PCS
ABOUT 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. More information is available at psta.net
ABOUT PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS: Pinellas County Schools is fully accredited and is nationally recognized for providing choices for families, developing great teachers, advancing the use of technology, and preparing students for success in college and careers. The award-winning district is the largest employer in Pinellas County, the eighth largest district in the state, and the 28th largest district in the nation.
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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
Pinellas County Schools
Isabel Mascareñas
727-588-6501
mascarenasi@pcsb.org