PSTA could eliminate its shuttle between St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Clearwater Beach and cut another route serving Pinellas County’s beach communities under an FY27 proposal that would eliminate five transit services and raise several fares.
The Grouper Airport Shuttle connects St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport with Clearwater Beach. Route 90 serves Bay Point Plaza, County Beach Park, Tradewinds resorts, Boca Ciega Drive and the 75th Avenue and Corey Avenue area. Both would disappear under the proposal the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will take back to a public hearing Wednesday.
They are two of five services PSTA has proposed eliminating. The others are the Snapper on-demand service in Safety Harbor and Clearwater and routes 16 and 58. PSTA Access service along the affected bus routes would also end.
PSTA is also proposing an 11-cent increase on fares paid onboard by credit or debit card and an increase in the Transportation Disadvantaged bus pass copay from $11 to $13.
The proposal calls for increasing the Grouper fare from $8 to $10 and raising group ticket rates, although PSTA’s public notice simultaneously lists the Grouper Airport Shuttle among the services proposed for elimination. The notice does not explain how the proposed Grouper fare increase relates to the proposed elimination of the airport shuttle.
PSTA also proposes a fuel-price fare escalator for ferry services. The notice provides no additional details about how the escalator would work.
PSTA will hold its second public hearing on the proposed changes Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 9 a.m. at its St. Petersburg headquarters. The hearing will also be livestreamed on PSTA’s website.