The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is drumming up support for its planned state-of-the-art transit center, with local leaders and stakeholders gathering Sept. 16 in Clearwater, Fla., to show their commitment to the project.
“We are here today in agreement that this is our most pressing transportation need in Pinellas County,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. “Downtown Clearwater is one of the busiest transportation hubs in Tampa Bay. It’s time we move forward to meet the needs of our community and help grow our local economy in an environmentally responsible way.”
“This project has been talked about for over a decade and today it is almost a reality. The exciting part of this new hub is the ability to add an express bus route from Tampa International Airport to Clearwater Beach,” said David Allbritton, board member of PSTA and Clearwater City Council member. “We’ll make it easier for people to reach Clearwater and our beautiful beaches. In a time where multi-mobility is so important, this will be a game changer for the economy of our downtown. It’s a big win for our community, local business and future redevelopment plans.”
Many businesses, local governments and representatives have sent letters of support and commitment for the new transit hub. The center would be built on a vacant lot at the corner of Court Street and Myrtle Avenue. It will be multimodal and specifically designed to integrate PSTA buses and trolley with other forms of transportation. The plan includes 16 bus bays, bicycle and scooter storage, ride-sharing connections, ADA boarding requirements and a “green” design, including solar panels and electric bus charging stations. The plan also provides flexibility for future passenger rail service.
It’s a much-needed replacement for PSTA’s 40-year-old station at Park Street, which is functionally obsolete and in need of upgrades for more than a decade. The center serves 14 routes and 2,300 riders each weekday. However, it is unable to accommodate all the current routes, forcing some bus operators to pick up and drop off passengers on side streets. In addition, newer hybrid and all-electric buses cannot fit under the old, leaky roof.
PSTA has requested a $25-million grant from the Biden Administration’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program to pay for the transit center. The remainder of the $34 million project budget will be funded by contributions from the city of Clearwater, Florida Department of Transportation, Forward Pinellas and PSTA. The goal is to have construction begin in spring 2023, with the facility to be completed by fall 2024.
