$21.8 Million To Be Given To St. Pete Bus System: President Trump

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The largest amount of money ever in the public transportation history of the Tampa Bay region — a total of $21.8 million — has been given to the Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit project in St. Petersburg.

This is provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pinellas County Transit mentioned in a tweet on May 29. President Donald Trump also mentioned it in a tweet. It will connect St. Petersburg to popular beaches through state-of-the-art transit buses with free wi-fi.

The project is Pinellas County's New Bus Rapid Transit project, and its website lists the many benefits to its riders:

• BRT is a specialized, train-like transit service with frequently arriving buses - often running in their own specially dedicated lane.

The service is Rapid for numerous reasons, including:

• Riders may board using any door instead of only the front door
• No steps or stairs! Raised stations provide level boarding so passengers with bikes or wheelchairs can easily move on and off the bus
• Buses have technology that allows vehicles to communicate with the traffic signals along the route
• Riders paying fares before they board so the vehicle isn't waiting at the station while passengers pay on board
• Serving only a limited number of stops along the route
• BRT features specially branded buses and stations that give riders the look, feel and experience of rail transit
• In short, BRT provides many of the benefits and advantages of rail transit, but at a fraction of the cost

Why a BRT line linking St. Petersburg and the beaches?

• To provide a fast, easy and reliable transportation option that serves major attractions, destinations and residential communities alike
• This faster service, along with sleek, train-like vehicles and free WiFi, is projected to attract large numbers of new riders who will eagerly embrace this money-saving, car-free option
• It will offer an unprecedented affordable commute option for the 50,000 jobs that are located within a half mile of the project corridor
• Millions of tourists and beach residents will be able to enjoy a convenient, easy, one-seat ride to a multitude of attractions, events, restaurants and destinations all along the route as it travels toward downtown St. Petersburg
• Visitors to the Sunshine City will be able to enjoy a quick, low-cost and frequent bus service to destinations along the Central Avenue corridor, South Pasadena and St. Pete Beach
• Residents who now avoid the beaches during peak season because of traffic and parking issues will, once-again, be able to enjoy those world-famous destinations year-round thanks to the fast, reliable service of the BRT
• This groundbreaking project will better accommodate the increasing transportation demands that accompany the rapid growth in the most densely populated county in the state

For more information about the project, visit their website at Bus Rapid Transit PSTA.