Advantage Pinellas is a partnership between Forward Pinellas, PSTA, and local jurisdictions, which includes a series of plans that explore what transportation improvements are needed to better meet the needs of people who live in, work in or visit Pinellas County. Advantage Pinellas includes recommendations for pedestrian, bicycle, roadway, and transit improvements that can be implemented over the next 5 to 25 years. Recommendations have been incorporated into PSTA’s Transit Development Plan and Forward Pinellas’ 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan.
PSTA was the lead on developing the transit element of Advantage Pinellas. As part of this effort, PSTA evaluated everyevaluated every bus route in its system as well as other services like DART, Transportation Disadvantaged and Direct Connect. PSTA talked to riders, bus operators, customer service specialists, and other stakeholders to get ideas on how to improve service.
Goals

Increase Transit Ridership
More trips on transit

Make Transit More Competitive with Driving
Faster, more reliable, more frequent

Build financial Sustainability
Final Plan
The Final Advantage Pinellas Transit Plan included two 10-year scenarios:
Maintenance Plan - Maintain existing services including amenities program and regular planned bus replacements, plus implementation of the SunRunner BRT, Flamingo Fares, I-275 Bus on Shoulders Project, Autonomous Vehicle Demonstration Project, and development of the Strategic Sustainability Plan.
Optimal Plan - Maintenance plan plus enhanced frequency and span on most routes, additional BRT routes, expansion of mobility programs, Clearwater Beach to Clearwater Beach Express, Downtown St. Petersburg to TIA Express, additional AV pilots transitioning to regular service, revenue vehicle expansion, Clearwater Intermodal Center, Gateway Intermodal Center, PSTA satellite facility, electric bus charging infrastructure, and other capital infrastructure.
PSTA’s 10-year Operating and Capital Priorities