PSTA One Step Closer to Making Decade-Long Dream a Reality with New Transit Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15th, 2024
PSTA One Step Closer to Making Decade-Long Dream a Reality with New Transit Center
City of Clearwater & PSTA swap land to transform transportation
Pinellas County, FL—The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) and the City of Clearwater are celebrating a milestone following more than a decade of work to transform transportation in northern Pinellas County. They have officially closed on the two acres of land swapped by the City to PSTA for a new, Multimodal Transit Center. Located at the corner of Court Street and Myrtle Avenue, the LEED-certified, state-of-the-art transit center will be placed in the heart of downtown, adjacent to the Pinellas Trail, the new City Hall, and other city administration buildings.
“The new Clearwater Transit Center isn’t just a hub for transportation; it’s a gateway to transformation,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PSTA. “It opens doors to new destinations, fosters connections between people and places, and propels communities forward on the tracks of innovation and growth.”
“This investment will create and support access to thousands of jobs,” added Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector. “The Clearwater Transit Center transit center will connect dreams, opportunities, and communities, ushering in a future where every journey is a pathway to possibility.”
The new Clearwater Transit Center will replace a nearby facility built in the 1980s that is outdated and overcapacity. The existing center in Downtown Clearwater was built before the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the roof clearance prevents buses purchased after 2017 from entering the terminal. However, the new transit center will be two times larger and will be able to accommodate modern electric buses along with 2,300+ riders daily.
The new transit center will include:
Connections to multi-modal services throughout Pinellas County including Uber, Lyft, and PSTA access
Covered bike racks and amenities
Retail space & coffee shop
Public art and wayfinding
EV charging infrastructure
Solar panels
Real-time arrival/departure information
Future connection to passenger rail
PSTA was awarded $20 million in federal grants by the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of the Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. The remainder of the project will be funded by contributions from the City of Clearwater, FDOT, Forward Pinellas, and PSTA. Construction is set to begin next year, with the goal of opening in 2026.
For more information about PSTA—including its routes and schedule—click here.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Stephanie Weaver
PSTA Communications & Public Relations Manager
O: (727) 540-1853 | C: (727) 249-6542
ABOUT PINELLAS SUNCOAST TRANSIT AUTHORITY
Since 1903, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) serves 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 10.2 million rides annually. For more information about PSTA, visit www.psta.net