Getting to Clearwater and its famous beaches is about to become much easier. PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Travel Authority) announced that it has been awarded $20 million in federal funds for a new Clearwater transit center connecting downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, as well as the rest of Pinellas County.
PSTA says the new transit center will be built on a city-owned vacant lot at the corner of Court Street and Myrtle Avenue in downtown Clearwater. Plans for the new facility include 16 bus bays, bicycle and scooter storage, ride-sharing connections, ADA boarding requirements, and an environmentally-friendly “green” design including solar panels and electric bus charging stations.
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Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2023 and be completed by 2025, and the new facility will be a welcomed addition for those visiting Clearwater’s award-winning beaches. Parking on Clearwater Beach is difficult, as any locals know, and the new project will provide an alternate means of transportation. The expanded facility will also be a boon for commuters in and out of Clearwater and throughout Pinellas County.
This new transit center will more than double the size of the current one, and projections estimated the total cost to be ~ $40 million. The remainder of the project will be funded by contributions from the City of Clearwater, FDOT, Forward Pinellas, and PSTA.
PSTA continues connecting entirety of Pinellas
The news comes on the heels of PSTA’s recent announcement that the SunRunner bus rapid transit line will launch in October, connecting downtown St. Pete and St. Pete Beach, with 16 stops along the route.
The new transit center will serve as a replacement for the 40-year-old facility operating now that has become outdated and unable to accommodate the needs of the growing Tampa Bay region. While the center serves 14 routes and 2,300 riders each weekday, PSTA says 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.
“After years of trying to get the funds to replace the old Park Street terminal, this new transportation hub will be an absolute game-changer,” said Pat Gerard, Chair of the PSTA Board of Directors. “This will make it easier for people to reach Clearwater, and our beautiful beaches. It’s a big win for our community, local business, and future redevelopment plans.”
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