St. Pete Beach approves renewal with PSTA after agency offers to match city budget

The St. Pete Beach City Commission voted to authorize the city manager to execute the 8th addendum to the interlocal agreement with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) for FY2026 transit service after PSTA officials offered to accept the amount the city had budgeted.

PSTA’s lead presenter, Darden Rice, told the commission the agency had experienced internal personnel and documentation changes that delayed the agreement and created communication lapses. “We have now put a system in place… So if the city decides tonight to amend the draft agreement for the total of $22,600 and send it to PSTA, we will happily sign it and approve it,” Rice said, referring to the amount the city had already budgeted.

Commissioners pressed PSTA for ridership and service metrics during a question-and-answer session. James Bradford, PSTA chief operating officer, provided multi‑year ridership figures for several services that touch St. Pete Beach, noting declines on some routes and stronger performance on the Sunrunner: “F Y 24, 761,000 on the Sunrunner; F Y ’25, 732,000 rides,” he said, and highlighted top local stops at 75th & Boca Ciega Drive and the St. Pete Beach access point.

Commissioner Marriott moved to authorize the city manager to execute the contract at the revised amount PSTA offered; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The commission did not set longer-term service commitments in the vote but asked PSTA to return with FY2027 projections and more detailed ridership breakdowns by origin. Staff said PSTA will provide monthly and comparative ridership figures to the city manager’s office.

Next steps: staff will finalize the amended interlocal agreement for the city manager to sign and will schedule a follow-up presentation from PSTA with detailed FY2027 projections and historical comparisons.