For Immediate Release
March 30th, 2026
MEDIA ADVISORY—TODAY Hurricane Recovery Milestone: Major Funding Delivered to Rebuild Shattered Dunedin Pier
Dunedin, FL—Marking a major milestone in the recovery of coastal Tampa Bay communities from hurricanes Helene and Milton, significant federal funding will be delivered Monday morning to help rebuild the iconic Dunedin Pier, which was twisted and torn apart by Hurricane Helene’s destructive storm surge. (PHOTOS ATTACHED—MORE AT THIS LINK)
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna worked to secure the vital $800,000 in federal funding, which will be presented Monday to representatives from the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) and the City of Dunedin. These funds will specifically reconstruct the portion of the pier used by PSTA’s Clearwater Ferry, creating a permanent dock for the ferry service, which serves as an important transportation and tourism link to other Pinellas County communities.
The City of Dunedin has worked tirelessly since the storm to assemble funding from a range of sources to rebuild the entire pier and restore it as a centerpiece of Dunedin’s beloved Downtown. The funds presented by Congresswoman Luna on Monday will be coordinated with funding from FEMA, the State of Florida’s Disaster Fund, and the city’s general fund to bring the pier back to life. Construction is now underway, with completion expected by the end of this year.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
What: Presentation of check for major funding to rebuild Dunedin Pier
When: Monday, March 30 at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Dunedin Marina at the base of the currently closed Dunedin Pier (for GPS, search for 148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin, FL)
Who:
- Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna
- PSTA CEO Brad Miller
- City of Dunedin Vice Mayor and PSTA Board Member Robert Walker
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
PSTA’s Clearwater Ferry has made stops at the Dunedin Pier since 2018, connecting the city with Clearwater Beach and Downtown Clearwater. When Hurricane Helene ripped apart the pier on September 26, 2024, the Dunedin portion of the ferry service was halted for more than a year.
That stopped service cut off a flow of visitors to Downtown Dunedin’s businesses as well as a popular way for Dunedin locals to get to Clearwater Beach. In October 2025, service to Dunedin resumed with a small temporary dock. Because of the funding being presented Monday, that stopgap measure will be replaced by a full, permanent dock in the months ahead.
Stephanie Weaver
Communications & Public Relations Manager
C: (727) 249-6542
E: sweaver@psta.net
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ABOUT PINELLAS SUNCOAST TRANSIT AUTHORITY
Since 1903, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has served as the premier public transit provider for Pinellas County, Florida’s most densely populated county. The SunRunner, Tampa Bay’s first-ever Bus Rapid Transit service, provides a reliable, car-free option from downtown St. Pete and St. Pete Beach. With 41 fixed-route bus routes, two express routes to downtown Tampa, the Suncoast Beach trolley, Jolley Trolley and Looper and their paratransit service Access, PSTA provides 10.7 million rides annually. For more information about PSTA, visit www.psta.net