DRAFT

Regional Maintenance Training Facility DevelopmentPSTA has partnered with FDOT and the Center for UrbanTransportation Research (CUTR) to develop a certified transitmaintenance technician program. Development of the program wasspurred by an effort on the part of Florida transit agencies toimprove the quality of maintenance staff across the state. Just asautomobile mechanics can earn an Automotive Service Excellence(ASE) certification, students who complete the two-yearFDOT/CUTR course will earn an ASE Bus Master Techniciancertification.On-site training will occur at the PSTA Scherer Drive facility using amaintenance bay and a classroom reserved specifically for conductof the program. Use of the facility is open to community collegesand universities that offer post-secondary vocational programs and students participating in the programcan earn 33 credits toward their Associates Degree. Classroom materials and hands-on equipment suchas bus vehicle parts have been purchased through a funding agreement executed between PSTA andFDOT.Security Camera Installation ProjectSince 2002 PSTA has used an on-board security system on all PSTA buses and trolleys. The original onboardsecurity system employed outdated technology and was no longer supported by the vendor. Thenew on-board security system will use seven cameras instead of the six employed by the original securitysystem and will enhance PSTA’s ability to assist with accident investigation, claims support, employeetraining, and incident investigation.New Restroom Facility (34 th Street Lay-By)A new restroom facility was constructed at one of PSTA’s transfer facilities, the 34 th Street Lay-By. Locatedadjacent to PSTA’s main administration building, that transfer facility serves five PSTA fixed-bus routes,Routes 11, 52, 59, 97, and 98, and is also used as an operator relief point. Placement of the restroomfacility at this location improves PSTA customer service by enhancing the passenger amenities and otherinfrastructure found at this transfer point.AVL/Real-Time Bus Information Procurement (ARRA Funding)PSTA is in the process of installing a new Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system that will includeannunciators for all buses, real-time passenger information, and all other related support amenities.Passenger amenities will include predicted arrival times at terminals and transfer centers using informationmessage boards to be installed outside under canopies at each bus bay at PSTA bus terminals.Tindale-Oliver & Associates, IncPinellas Suncoast Transit AuthoritySeptember 2010 6-3 Transit Development Plan