PSTA Honored with Sustainable Leadership Award
PSTA Honored with Sustainable Leadership Award
Recognized for making sustainability and climate resilience an integral part of its business practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2022
St. Petersburg, FL – The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) was honored today with an inaugural Sustainable Leadership Award. Presented by the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and the Environmental Defense Fund ), PSTA is being recognized for making sustainability and climate resilience an integral part of its business practices.
In 2021, PSTA developed a Sustainable Strategic Plan to improve energy efficiency and ensure all agency initiatives are sustainable. These measures include upgrading the HVAC system in 2018 and transitioning light fixtures to be fully LED, and initiate recycling options for its 30,000 daily transit customers. To date, 90% of light fixtures at the Administration and Operations buildings as well as off-site transit centers are now LED.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Downtown Partnership for our sustainability efforts. PSTA has made energy efficiency a goal for the agency,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PSTA. “While energy use has increased with the on-going addition of electric buses, PSTA has improved energy efficiency by 33% since 2015.”
PSTA has been leading the charge for electric vehicle adoption in the state of Florida. Last year, the PSTA board approved the purchase of 60 all-electric buses in the next 5 years, adding to the existing zero-emission electric fleet of 6 buses. Combined with over 80 hybrid-electric buses, nearly half the fleet is more fuel-efficient and emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the traditional diesel bus. Last year, the PSTA board approved the purchase of 60 all-electric buses in the next 5 years.
“We are also in the beginning stages of a solar project,” added Miller. “That way, the energy going into our electric buses can complete the cycle as truly “zero-emission.””
This Sustainability Leadership Award is the latest recognition for PSTA for its green initiatives.
Additionally, as inaugural members of both the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s Regional Resiliency Coalition and the Pinellas County Sustainability and Resiliency Advisory Committee, PSTA provides oversight, strategic input, and direction on climate-resilient and sustainable policies in the region.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Weaver
PSTA Communications & Public Relations Manager
O: (727) 540-1853 | C: (727) 249-6542
E: Sweaver@psta.net
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.
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