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Council approves four‑year PSTA funding agreement to add Thursday ferry service
Summary
City Council on Jan. 13 authorized a four‑year agreement with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) to add Thursday Clearwater Ferry service. The city’s net additional cost after partner offsets is roughly $7,000 annually, officials said; earlier subsidies and vessel purchases are handled under separate agreements.
City Council approved a four‑year funding agreement with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) on Jan. 13 to expand ferry service to include Thursdays in Clearwater.
City Manager Dan Sutterson told council the agreement is intended to leverage an existing PSTA grant that requires four days of service; the city had already entered a separate 10‑year agreement with Clearwater Ferry for Friday–Sunday service. Sutterson said the PSTA grant and other state funding had helped offset the city’s earlier subsidy and that PSTA offered a $100,000 concession in recognition of prior city support. When combined with the PSTA agreement, the net incremental annual cost to add Thursday service is “a little over $7,000,” staff said.
Councilmembers asked technical questions about overlapping contracts, contract terms and ridership trends. A Clearwater Ferry representative, Julie (last name Rodriguez), presented historical ridership numbers, noting a high of roughly 73,000 riders in 2016 and that ridership has moved in parallel with funding levels and dock infrastructure. City and ferry officials said changes in Jolly Trolley routing and new marina work will improve connections and expand the ferry’s ridership potential.
Councilmembers noted Dunedin’s inability to participate immediately because of storm impacts but staff said Dunedin’s role in the regional grant may be possible later. A council member asked staff to correct a signed attachment to the agenda packet; staff agreed to deliver a corrected agreement to the council before the Thursday meeting.
Council voted to authorize the funding agreement as presented. Staff said it would provide a corrected PSTA attachment to match agenda figures.
