New Clearwater Transit Center Receives $20 Million Federal Grant Boost

CLEARWATER, FL — A proposed Clearwater Transit Center received a major financial boost Wednesday when the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority was awarded a $20 million federal grants Wednesday for the construction of the bus station.

The funding, confirmed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, is the first Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant awarded to Pinellas County to cover a portion of the costs of the 16-bay transit center to be built on a 2-acre city-owned lot at Court Street and Myrtle Avenue.

The facility will link downtown Clearwater bus riders to Pinellas County beaches and beyond, and will include sustainable features like solar panels and charging stations to charge electric buses along with bicycle and scooter storage, ride-sharing connections, special boarding for people with disabilities.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled that a new Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority transit hub is coming to downtown Clearwater,” said U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg.

“Throughout my years as representative of the people of Pinellas, I’ve proudly supported the modernization and expansion of PSTA. With the new SunRunner project launching this fall in St. Pete, and electric buses hitting the road in Clearwater, this transit center will serve as a nexus for a truly interconnected Pinellas. From the gulf to the bay, PSTA isn’t hitting the brakes any time soon,” he said.

“This couldn’t be a more exciting day for not only Pinellas County and PSTA, but throughout the entire region, on receiving this federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation,” said Brad Miller, chief executive officer of the PSTA. “These funds will help replace a 40-year-old over-capacity existing structure with a new state-of-the-art sustainable transit center that will benefit the community, economy and our environment.”

See related stories:

• Tampa Bay's 1st Rapid Transit System, SunRunner, To Debut Oct. 21
• Sunrunner Bus Rapid Transit System Receives More Federal Funding
• First Completed SunRunner Station Unveiled In Downtown St. Pete
• Construction Begins For St. Pete's Historic Rapid Transit Line

Miller said it’s a much-needed replacement for PSTA’s 41-year-old station at Park Street, which is functionally obsolete and has been in need of upgrades, including plumbing repairs and a new roof, for more than a decade.

The center serves 14 routes and 2,300 riders each weekday. However, the interior space isn't designed for that many riders, and it is unable to accommodate all the current routes, forcing some bus and trolley operators to pick up and drop off passengers on side streets, he said. 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, chairwoman of the PSTA Board of Directors and a Pinellas County commissioner. “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.”

The new state-of-the-art transit center will be two times larger than the Park Street terminal, will be LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, and will be built with connections for future passenger rail service.

The remainder of the project will be funded with a $3.6 million contribution from the city of Clearwater, including the donation of the property, $2.3 million from the Florida Department of Transportation, $9 million from Forward Pinellas and the PSTA, and another $9.6 million for other federal sources.

The final design for the center will begin this fall, and construction is set to begin in 2023 for completion in the spring of 2025.