Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
![]() | |
Parent | PSTA |
---|---|
Founded | 1984 |
Headquarters |
3201 Scherer Drive, St. Petersburg, Florida |
Locale | Pinellas County, Florida |
Service area | Pinellas County |
Service type | bus service |
Alliance | Pinellas County Government |
Routes | 37[1] |
Stops | 5,109 |
Fleet | 203[1] |
Daily ridership | 14.5 Million annually |
Fuel type | Diesel Hybrid Electric |
Chief executive | Brad Miller |
Website | psta.net |
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) provides public transportation for Pinellas County, Florida. The authority manages a bus system that encompasses 40, including 2 express routes to Hillsborough County, and the Suncoast[2] Beach Trolley (using all Gillig made buses and trolley replicas).
History
- PSTA began in the early 1900s as the St. Petersburg Municipal Transit System (SPMTS). The system began with a streetcar line to Gulfport and eight buses to run several routes throughout the St. Pete area. By 1928, ridership on the system hit 4.2 million. In 1949, the Gulfport streetcar system was closed, marking the end of streetcar service in Pinellas County. Meanwhile, transit service elsewhere continued to expand.
- In 1970, the Central Pinellas Transit Authority (CPTA) was formed, serving the Clearwater area and northern Pinellas. The agency was fully established by 1973 and operated 9 routes with a fleet of 21 buses. The CPTA saw 900,000 riders in its first year of service. In 1975, SPMTS begins paratransit services and both agencies continue to expand their fleet. In 1978, tourist trolley service (using trolley-replica buses) began in downtown St. Petersburg and became successful. By the 1980s, the two agencies formed a cooperative agreement, which allowed the expansion of routes throughout Pinellas County.
- In October 1984, the two companies merged to create the PSTA. In the years following their merger, PSTA operated nearly 80 routes with a fleet or nearly 130 buses. The agency begins installing electronic fareboxes and completed its central Pinellas operations center, as well as several bus terminals. In 1990, PSTA obtained its first express route, previously operated by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART). Also in 1990, PSTA established a cross-county bus route via US 19.
- Massive expansion and improvements took place during the 1990s and well into the 2000s. PSTA constructed its Williams Park terminal in downtown St. Pete in 1994. In 1996, the agency introduced electronic fare cards (called GO Cards) and began replacing their outdated bus fleets with a combination of New Flyer and Gillig buses. In 2001, the Suncoast Beach Trolley began service along the gulf coast beaches and in 2003, PSTA purchased a fleet of buses (from Motor Coach Industries) to operate its express routes. Additional capital improvements were made during the early 2000s as well, including the renovation of the Park Street Terminal. In 2001, the website PSTA.net debuted.
- In 2004, HART and PSTA began an intersystem passport to allow patrons from either county to use each other's bus systems without paying additional fares. A year later, PSTA's current operations center opened near Roosevelt Boulevard. In 2006, PSTA expanded its fleet with the purchase of 48 Gillig low-floor buses. HART and PSTA agreed to honor each other's reduced fare photo permits. In 2007, PSTA introduced an online trip planning system. This system allowed patrons to better plan out their trip throughout the PSTA system. In 2009, the interface was scrapped in favor of a partnership with Google, which HART began partnership back in 2007. This newest alliance allows patrons to seamlessly plan their trips on both the PSTA and HART systems.[2] PSTA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tampa Bay Regional RT), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to conduct an Alternatives Analysis of transit corridors in Pinellas County. The study would focus on the area between downtown Clearwater, Gateway, and downtown St. Petersburg. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recognized the MOU as an excellent example of inter-agency cooperation.PSTA partnered with the MPO, TBARTA and Pinellas County Communications to carry out the region’s first ever eTownHall Meeting on Transit and the Pinellas County Alternatives Analysis. The event was broadcast live on PCC-TV and on the web, and citizens were able to participate online or via telephone. It was the first time that all three technologies were combined for a Town Hall type of event in Pinellas County. In 2010 PSTA added 14 Diesel-Electric Hybrid Buses, bringing the hybrid fleet up to a total of 24 vehicles. These vehicles are branded with the SmartBus logos and are painted a sleek shade of silver.Agency leaders decided that investing in the environmentally friendly and fuel-saving hybrid technology was the best move for both PSTA and the community. As a result, PSTA replaced 10 standard gasoline cars with new Ford Fusion hybrid-electrics. Like their hybrid bus counterparts, the agency has branded its new hybrid sedans as SmartCars.
Fares
New fare changes went into effect on 10-11-2015.Kids under 6 ride for free with fare-paying rider; limit 3.[3]
- One-Way Cash Fares
- PSTA Local Routes: $2.25
- Local Route Student and Youth Fare (Restrictions Apply): $1.10
- Discount Local: $1.10 (Proper ID Required)
- PSTA Express Routes: $3
- PSTA Passes
- 1-Day Unlimited GO Card
- Local and Express: $5
- Discount (Proper ID Required): $2.50
- 7-Day Unlimited GO Card
- Local and Express: $25
- Discount (Proper ID Required): $12.50
- 31-Day Unlimited GO-Card uRides for 31 Consecutive Days.
Not valid on 100X and 300X.
Valid for: Adult Student, Youth, Senior, Disabled, (with proper ID)* ID Required: Adult Student ID, PSTA Senior/Disabled Photo ID, HART Senior/Disabled Photo ID, PCPT Senior/Disabled Photo ID, Government-issued Photo ID (showing age as of 65 years or older), or Medicare Card. To obtain a PSTA Senior/Disabled Photo ID, present proof of age 65 years or older at a PSTA Customer Service Center. *Reduced Fare now includes adult students, youth 18 and younger as well as people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders.- Proper ID Required): $35
- 20-Ride GO Card
- Description: Valid for 20 Rides on the 100X and 300X Express Buses
to Tampa
ID Required: None Fee $48
- Description: Valid for 20 Rides on the 100X and 300X Express Buses
- 1-Day Unlimited GO Card
Platinum Pass -Description: Unlimited Rides for 7 Consecutive Days - for Youth 18 years or younger. Not valid on 100X and 300X. ID Required: PSTA Youth Photo ID, HART Youth Photo ID, Pasco PCPT Youth Photo ID, Government-issued Photo ID (showing age of 18 years or younger), or School Student ID. To obtain a PSTA Youth Photo ID, present proof of age 18 years or younger at a PSTA Customer Service Center.$12.50
- 'The Passport'Description: Unlimited Access on All PSTA and HART Services for an Entire Calendar Month ID Required: None
- For use on all PSTA and HART Bus, Trolley, and Streetcar Routes. $85
Bus routes
PSTA operates 34 routes that traverse Pinellas County and 2 express routes that connect into downtown Tampa.[4]
Local
No. | Name | Starting oakhurst rd at 86 | Terminus | Operates | Direction | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 4th Street | Goodwill Industries Suncoast Facility - St. Petersburg | 25 Way/Roy Hanna Drive - St. Petersburg | Daily (Frequent Weekday Service) | Bi-Directional | Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes on weekdays |
5 | Tyrone Square Mall via 5th Ave N | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | Williams Park Transit Center - St. Petersburg | Daily | Bi-Directional | Limited Sunday Service |
7 | Tyrone Square Mall via Central Plaza Terminal | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | Williams Park Transit Center - St. Petersburg | Daily (Frequent Weekday Service) | Bi-Directional | |
11 | Carillon/Pinellas Point | PSTA Headquarters - St. Petersburg | 25 Way/Roy Hanna Drive - St. Petersburg | Weekday Service Only | Bi-Directional | |
14 | Palms of Pasadena Hospital | Williams Park Transit Center - St. Petersburg | Palms of Pasadena Hospital - South Pasadena | Monday through Saturday Service Only | Bi-Directional | |
15 | Gulfport | Williams Park Transit Center - St. Petersburg | Gulfport Casino - Gulfport | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
18 | Clearwater/Bay Pines VA Medical Center/St. Petersburg via Seminole Blvd/Tyrone Square | Williams Park Transit Center - St. Petersburg | Park Street Terminal - Clearwater | Daily (Frequent Weekday Service) | Bi-Directional | Buses leave every 20 to 30 minutes during weekday peak hours. Limited Sunday Service. |
19 | US 19 | 46th Ave & 34th St - St. Petersburg | Huey Ave & Tarpon Ave - Tarpon Springs | Daily (Frequent Weekday Service) | Bi-Directional | Buses leave every 20 to 30 minutes during weekday peak hours. Limited Sunday Service. |
20 | Pinellas Point/Tyrone Square | Roy Hanna Dr & 25 Way S - St. Petersburg | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | Daily | Bi-Directional | Limited Sunday Service. |
22 | 22nd Ave N, Northwest Community Center, Tyrone Square Mall, and 4th & 22nd Ave | 22 Ave N | Tyrone Square Mall-St.Petersburg | Monday thru Saturday | Bi-Directional | No Sunday Service |
23 | Tyrone Square Mall via 22nd Ave S/Gulfport | Williams Park Transit Center - St. Petersburg | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | Daily | Bi-Directional | Limited Sunday Service. |
32 | Downtown St. Petersburg Circulator | Williams Park Transit Center - St. Petersburg | Arlington Ave/11th St - St. Petersburg | Monday Through Saturday Limited Service (Circulator) | One-Way Directional Loop | |
CAT | Central Avenue Trolley | The Pier - St. Petersburg | 9th Ave and Gulf Way - Pass-A-Grille | Daily | Bi-Directional | Extended weekend service; frequent weekday service |
38 | Downtown St. Pete/Tyrone Square Mall via 38th Ave N | Williams Park - St. Petersburg | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
52 | Downtown St. Pete/Downtown Clearwater via E Bay/W Bay Dr | Williams Park - St. Petersburg | Park Street Terminal - Clearwater | Daily | Bi-Directional | Late service on weekdays. |
58 | Gateway Mall/Redington | Gateway Mall - St. Petersburg | Seminole Blvd & Park Blvd - Redington Shores | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
59 | Williams Park/Indian Rocks Beach via MLK St & Ulmerton Rd | Williams Park - St. Petersburg | 1 St & 4 Ave - Indian Rocks Beach | Daily | Bi-Directional | Serves the St. Petersburg Greyhound station. |
60 | McMullen Booth Frontage Road/Downtown Clearwater | McMullen Booth Frontage Road - Clearwater | Park Street Terminal - Clearwater | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
61 | Indian Rocks Beach/Dunedin | Indian Rocks Shopping Center - Indian Rocks | Palm Lake Village - Dunedin | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
62 | Tyrone Square Mall/The Shoppes of Boot Ranch | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | The Shoppes of Boot Ranch - Palm Harbor | Monday through Saturday Only | Bi-Directional | |
66 | Tarpon Springs/Indian Rocks Beach | Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks - Tarpon Springs | Indian Rocks Shopping Center - Indian Rocks | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
67 | Downtown Clearwater/Downtown Oldsmar via SR 580 & Hercules | Park Street Terminal - Clearwater | Downtown Oldsmar | Monday through Saturday Only | Bi-Directional | |
68 | Tyrone Square Mall/John's Pass Village | John's Pass Village - Madeira Beach | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
73 | Tyrone Square Mall/Downtown Clearwater via Keene Rd/Starkey Rd/Park St | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | Park Street Terminal - Clearwater | Monday through Saturday Only | Bi-Directional | |
74 | Williams Park & Downtown St. Pete/Indian Rocks Beach via Park Blvd | Williams Park - St. Petersburg | Indian Rocks Shopping Center - Indian Rocks | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
75 | Tyrone Square Mall/Gateway Mall | Tyrone Square Mall - St. Petersburg | Gateway Mall - St. Petersburg | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
76 | Downtown Clearwater/Westfield Countryside via Belcher Rd & Sunset Point | Westfield Countryside - Clearwater | Park Street Terminal - Clearwater | Monday through Saturday Only | Bi-Directional | |
78 | Downtown Clearwater/Westfield Countryside via SR 580 | Westfield Countryside - Clearwater | Park Street Terminal - Clearwater | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
79 | Downtown St. Pete/Whitney Rd & US 19 | Williams Park - St. Petersburg | Whitney Road - Clearwater | Daily | Bi-Directional | |
90 | St. Pete Beach/Downtown St. Pete | Grand Central Station - St. Petersburg | St. Pete Beach | Daily | Bi-Directional | Peak hours only |
97 | 49th St & Carillon/Downtown St. Pete | Williams Park - St. Petersburg | Criminal Justice Center - Clearwater | Weekdays only | Peak direction only | Peak hours only |
98 | 49th St & Carillon/Downtown Clearwater | Park Street Terminal - Clearwater | Carillon Office Complex - St. Petersburg | Weekdays only | Peak direction only | Peak hours only |
444 | Pinellas Park Circulator | Chrystal Lakes Manor | Walmart Via US19 Mainlands of Tamararac | Weekdays only | Circulator |
Express services
No. | Name | Starting Point | Terminus | Operates | Direction | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100X | St. Petersburg/South Pinellas Express | Gateway Mall, St. Petersburg | Marion Transit Center, Tampa | Weekdays Only | Bi-Directional | Operated by PSTA |
200X | Clearwater Express | Marion Transit Center, Tampa | Eddie C. Moore Complex Park-N-Ride, Clearwater | Weekday Rush Hours | Peak Direction | Operated by HART. |
300X | Central Pinellas Express | Ulmerton Park-N-Ride, St. Petersburg | Marion Transit Center, Tampa | Weekdays Only | Bi-Directional | Operated by PSTA |
Suncoast Beach Trolley
PSTA Suncoast Beach Trolley connects patrons to the Pinellas Gulf Coast Beaches via trolley-replica buses (similar to HART's downtown trolleys, but rubber-tired). The Suncoast Beach Trolley also connects to the Central Avenue Trolley (at St Pete Beach), as well as local routes: 59 (at Indian Rocks Beach), 68 (at Johns Pass) and 90 (at St Pete Beach), for seamless travel to and from other Pinellas destinations.
North County Connector
There are two flex-route cutaway van-operated "Connector" routes that operate in northern Pinellas County. The Dunedin/Palm Harbor Connector runs from Westfield Countryside to the Palm Harbor WalMart (off US 19 and Alderman Rd), with select trips going to the SPC Tarpon Springs Campus, and the Oldsmar/Tampa/Countryside Connector runs from Westfield Countryside to the HART Northwest Transfer Center in Town-N-Country, via Oldsmar and the Shoppes at Boot Ranch. Both connector routes run Monday through Saturday.
Connection to PCPT
In addition to the cross-bay express routes, PSTA also provides connections to Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) bus routes 18 and 19 via PSTA routes 19 and 66.
Active Fleet
The PSTA bus fleet encompasses of different models, Gillig, and Motor Coach Industries.
Transit buses
Year | Builder/Model | Example | Numbers | Length (ft) |
Active | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Gillig G27D102N4
Low Floor |
2101-2116 | 40 | Y | All revenue service buses are painted in the new livery | |
2002 | Gillig G27D102N4, G27E102R2
Low Floor |
2201-2210 (40-foot), 2230-2233 (29-foot) | 40 and 29 | Y | All revenue service buses are painted in the new livery. #'s 2230 and 2231 are no longer in service. #'s 2232 and 2233 are used as spares for the North County Connector. | |
2003 | Motor Coach Industries Model D-60 | ![]() |
2301-2309(40-foot) | 40 | Y | Express Buses from Pinellas County to Hillsborough County |
2005 | Gillig G29D102N4, G29B102N4, G29E102R2
Low Floor |
2501-2508 (40-foot), 2510-2517 (35-foot), 2530-2534 (29-foot) | 40, 35 and 29 | Y | All revenue service buses are painted in the new livery. #'s 2530 through 2534 are used for the North County Connector. | |
2006 | Gillig G29D102N4, G29B102N4
Low Floor |
2601-2636 (40-foot), 2650-2661 (35-foot) | 40 and 35 | Y | All of these buses are in the new livery. | |
2007 | Gillig G29D102N4, G29B102N4
Low Floor |
2701-2711 (40-foot), 2712-2718 (35-foot) | 40 and 35 | Y | All of these buses are in the new livery. | |
2008 | Gillig G27D102N4, G27B102N4
Low Floor 35FT and 40FT |
2801-2815 (40-foot), 2830-2835 (35-foot) | 40 and 35 | Y | All of these buses are in the new livery. | |
2009-2015 | Gillig G30B102N4, G27B102N4
Low Floor |
![]() |
2901-2903 (35-foot hybrid), 2910-2911 (35-foot straight diesel), 10101-10114 (35-foot hybrid), 12101-12108 (40-foot hybrid), 13101-13108 (40-foot hybrid), 14101-14108 (40-foot hybrid), 15101-15113 (40-foot hybrid) | 35/40 | Y |
Low Floor |
2016 (Planned Purchase) | Gillig
Low Floor |
16101-16107 (Hybrid, unknown length) | Unknown | N | These buses will also be "Smartbus" Hybrids | |
Trolley Replicas
Year | Builder/Model | Example | Numbers | Length (ft) |
Active | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Gillig G29B102N4
Low Floor "Trolley" |
720-722 | 35 | Trolley-replica buses, modified by Cable Car Concepts. | ||
2008 | Gillig G27B102N4
Low Floor "Trolley" |
820-825 | 35 | Trolley-replica buses, modified by Cable Car Concepts. Powered by clean diesel. | ||
2009 | Gillig G30B102N4
Hybrid Low Floor "Trolley" |
920-926 | 35 | Trolley-replica buses, modified by Cable Car Concepts. Powered by the same Advanced Hybrid drive train as the SmartBus. Distinguishable by a white roof. | ||
Retired Fleet
Year | Builder/Model | Example | Numbers (if available) | Length (ft) |
Time in service | Number of buses in fleet | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973 | General Motors
TDH3302A |
101-121 | 30 | from Central Pinellas Transit Authority | |||
1975 | General Motors
T6H4523A |
201-214 | 35 | from Central Pinellas Transit Authority | |||
1976 | General Motors
T6H4523A |
1164-1173 | 35 | from St Petersburg Municipal Transit System | |||
1978 | General Motors
TW7603 |
401-410 | 35 | from Central Pinellas Transit Authority | |||
1979 | General Motors
T7W603 |
1174-1187 | 35 | from St Petersburg Municipal Transit System | |||
1980 | General Motors
T7W603 |
601-614 | 35 | from Central Pinellas Transit Authority | |||
1982 | General Motors
T80604 |
1200-1224 | 40 | from St Petersburg Municipal Transit System | first 40-foot buses in St Petersburg/Clearwater | ||
1983 | General Motors
T70604 |
701-707 | 35 | from Central Pinellas Transit Authority | |||
1985 | Flxible
35096-6T |
1001-1015 | 35 | First buses bought new by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority | |||
1983 | Flxible
40096-6T |
8301-8308 | 40 | Bought used from Hillsborough Area Regional Transit | formerly HART 311, 313-318, 321 | ||
1989 | Flxible
35096-6T |
8901-8915 | 35 | ||||
1991 | Gillig
Spirit |
9101-9110 | 30 | ||||
1992 | Bus Industries of America
Orion I/01.502 |
9201-9210 | 30 | ||||
1993 | Flxible
35096-6T |
9301-9321 | 35 | ||||
1994 | Gillig
Phantom S50T3596 |
9401-9432 | 35 | 1994- | |||
1995 | Advanced Vehicle Systems
Electric |
2001 | 30 | Battery-operated electric bus | |||
1996 | New Flyer
D40LF |
9601-9615 | 40 | 1996–2008 | Retired in 2008 | ||
1997 | New Flyer
D30LF, D35LF |
9701-9735 (35-foot), 9750-9759 (30-foot) | 30 and 35 | 1997–2009 | Retired in 2009 | ||
1998 | New Flyer
C40LF |
9801-9804 | 40 | 1998- | CNG fuel | ||
1999 | Gillig
G21D102N4 |
9901-9908 | 40 | 1999- |