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PSTA reports ridership gains; ferry service resumes after deadly Clearwater crash
Summary
PSTA reported mixed ridership trends in spring 2025, with large increases on tourist-oriented services, and confirmed cooperation with FWC after a fatal ferry crash; ferry service resumed May 8, 2025.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) reported May 14 that countywide ridership in March 2025 was down about 1 percent overall, while several tourist-oriented services saw sharp increases.
Council member Fig Sanders, presenting the PSTA activities report, said Clearwater Ferry ridership rose sharply this spring — from 3,063 rides in March to 5,471 in April — and exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the season. Sanders also reported an on-water collision April 27 that resulted in one passenger fatality and 10 serious injuries: "PSTA and the Clearwater Ferry are heartbroken for the person who lost their life, everyone who was hurt, and their families. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation and PSTA and the ferry are fully cooperating." PSTA resumed the Clearwater ferry service May 8 and currently operates the route Thursday through Sunday.
PSTA also reported strong early results for its airport express on-demand service between St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport and Clearwater Beach, with ridership up 43 percent and 670 riders in April. The agency said the U Pass program, which lets partner schools, hotels and businesses provide passes for riders, recorded a March 2025 peak exceeding 200,000 rides by participating students, employees and guests.
Sanders closed the report by noting PSTA adopted a countywide connected community bus network March 26, 2025, that will streamline routes starting October 2025; PSTA will conduct rider outreach and city briefings through the summer.
No public comment was recorded on the PSTA report.
