SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a funding agreement between the City of Clearwater and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) to provide enhanced Jolley Trolley service during Spring Break period of March 2, 2025 through May 3, 2025, with the City contributing an amount not to exceed $108,171.00 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
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SUMMARY:
Alternatives for traveling to Clearwater Beach during the Spring Break season are critical to the economic vitality of Clearwater and our tourism industry. The City and PSTA propose utilizing the parking lots at 112 S. Osceola Avenue and 200 S. Osceola Avenue as park and ride lots for the period commencing March 2, 2025 through May 3, 2025. Instead of driving, users will have the option of taking the free Trolley services to and from the Beach or paying to ride the Clearwater Ferry Taxi Service. The Trolley service will be free only for people who board the trolley at the 112 S. Osceola Avenue and 200 S. Osceola Avenue Park and ride site lots, at the Clearwater Beach Transit Station on the north side of Memorial Causeway, or at the Clearwater Beach Municipal Marina designated pick up location.
PSTA currently provides regular service on several routes between Downtown and Clearwater Beach, as well as north and south along the Beach. PSTA operates the Suncoast Beach Trolley which runs from Downtown Clearwater south to St. Pete Beach and has an agreement with the Jolley Trolley to operate a Beach circulator (North and South Beach routes), as well as the Coastal route connecting to Tarpon Springs. As part of this additional agreement, PSTA developed a service plan that will increase the number of vehicles serving the Beach during the Spring Break season, especially on the weekend periods from Friday through Sunday during spring break periods for local school districts and during the Sugar Sands Festival.
The proposed agreement sets forth the City’s commitment to contribute an amount not to exceed $108,171.00 towards PSTA’s additional financial obligations, including PSTA’s agreement with the Jolley Trolley to provide enhanced service on its Beach circulator routes during the Spring Break season. This amount is 50% of the total cost; PSTA will provide the other 50%.
Riders will have significantly shorter wait times this season with additional vehicles to maintain the service at 30-minute intervals Monday through Thursday and 15-minute intervals Friday through Sunday. The free park and ride service is planned to start at 10:00 AM and end at the regular close of service (approximately 10:00 PM Sunday-Thursday and 12:00 AM Friday/Saturday).
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in Public Works - Parking Division operating cost code 4351333-581000 (payment to agencies) to fund this agreement. Parking operations are funded by Parking Enterprise Fund revenues. These monies were contemplated within the FY24-25 budget.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
4.4 Develop accessible and active transportation networks that enhance pedestrian safety and reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions.
