DRAFT

PSTA Alternatives Analysis CorridorsThe AA corridors reflect the study area for the Pinellas County AA. The study area connects the Gatewayarea, Downtown St. Petersburg, Downtown Clearwater, and Hillsborough County via I-275. The AAcorridors will represent a major mass transit corridor in the county that could include the implementation ofrail service with a connection to HSR service in Downtown Tampa.Cross-Bay Express Bus ConnectorsThis network of express bus services will provide inter-county connectivity and will support regional travelpatterns between Hillsborough and Pinellas County. Two service routes will provide a direct connectionbetween the HSR service and Pinellas County beaches. One service route will operate betweenDowntown St. Petersburg and Tampa International Airport, and the last route will mimic the existing PSTARoute 100X service, which currently provides commuter express service between Gateway and the MarionTransit Center in Downtown Tampa.Premium Bus NetworkThe premium bus network is based on the MPO’s Countywide Enhanced Bus Transit Concept Plan (2008).That plan was prepared to delineate a conceptual premium bus network that consists of a dynamic set oftransportation modes operating in concert to improve mobility and accessibility to major activity centersthroughout the county. The premium bus network will consist of bus rapid transit, limited-stop, and expressbus services.Local Service NetworkPSTA has developed a concept for a network of local bus service that will support the MPO’s CountywideEnhanced Bus Transit Concept Plan. A set of guiding principles was developed for this analysis, along withcatchment areas for feeder routes and community circulators. This network of service routes will lay thefoundation for the future local bus and circulation system implementation, which will support the premiumbus network.Financial PlanThe following financial plan is predicated on Pinellas County seeking a sales tax increase to fund transitinfrastructure and operations. The sales tax would be used in part to fund bus improvements and in part tofund fixed-guideway transit improvements. For the purposes of developing costs for the financial plan,fixed-guideway service improvements are assumed to consist of light rail service. Due to the long-terminvestment required by light rail transit service and the desire to provide better information to be used inother county, regional, and state plans, the vision plan contained herein stretches well beyond the 10-yearTDP timeframe and, in fact, covers a 25-year planning horizon.Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc.Pinellas Suncoast Transit AuthoritySeptember 2010 7-15 Transit Development Plan