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, March 1, 2026 through May 3, 2026, with the City contributing an amount not to exceed $154,325.00 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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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 temporary parking lot at Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue South and Gould Street as a Park and Ride lot for the period commencing March 1, 2026, through May 3, 2026. Instead of driving, users will have the option of taking the free Trolley services to and from the Beach. The Trolley service will be free for people who board the trolley at the Martin Luther King Jr., Avenue and Gould Street lot, locations throughout downtown and at the beach designated pick-up locations.
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.
The proposed agreement sets forth the City’s commitment to contribute an amount not to exceed $154,325.00 towards PSTA’s additional financial obligations, including PSTA’s agreement with 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%.
The MLK Park-and-Ride lot will be serviced Friday through Sunday only, except during the Sugar Sand Festival. During the festival, service will operate every 30 minutes Monday through Thursday and every 15 minutes Friday through Sunday. Service at all other locations will operate from 10:00 a.m. until the end of service, approximately 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
4351333-581000 - $154,325.00
A first quarter budget amendment will increase Public Works - Parking Operations cost code 4351333-581000, Payment to Agencies, by $38,712.10 to provide additional funding needed for this contract. Budgeted parking revenues are sufficient to cover this expenditure increase.
The operations of Public Works - Parking Division are funded by revenues from the Parking Enterprise Fund.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
4.4 Develop accessible and active transportation networks that enhance pedestrian safety and reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions.
