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Florida BRT project awarded $21.8 million funding through FTA programme

Posted: 29 July 2020 |

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will use the funding to develop a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Florida BRT project awarded $21.8 million funding through FTA programme

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a $21.8 million grant award to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) for the Central Avenue “SunRunner” Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in St. Petersburg, Florida. The project aims to provide faster, more reliable transit services from downtown St. Petersburg to the Gulf Beaches area. 

“This $21.8 million federal investment in a new bus rapid transit system in the St. Petersburg area will provide residents with better access to employment, healthcare, educational opportunities, and other important services,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary, Elaine L. Chao. 

The St. Petersburg project is a 10.3-mile BRT line to be constructed by PSTA via the Central Avenue corridor. The total cost of the project is $43.9 million with $21.8 million in funding through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) programme. 

“FTA is proud to join Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in Florida to improve public transportation in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “The Central Avenue BRT project will provide fast and efficient service, improving mobility and travel times in this busy corridor.”

“This federal investment is an economic boost for Pinellas County as the project will create jobs and help communities recover from the COVID-19 public health emergency,” Williams added.

Construction of the BRT is expected to be complete in 2022. PSTA has already completed construction at the Pinellas County Beach access parking lot to allow easy transfers between our existing Central Avenue Trolley and BRT. 

Funding for the Central Avenue BRT project is provided through FTA’s CIG programme, which provides funding for major transit infrastructure projects nationwide. Projects accepted into the programme must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds. 

FTA has advanced funding for 35 new CIG projects throughout the nation under this administration since 20 January 2017, totalling approximately $8.5 billion in funding commitments. With this new funding agreement, this Administration has executed 24 CIG funding agreements totalling $5.8 billion in CIG funding.