Get Engaged, Be Heard

PSTA recently launched an exciting new project called the Pinellas Community Bus Plan. Why is it exciting you ask? Well, it is exciting because it’s an in-depth study of the PSTA bus system that will identify strengths, areas for improvement, and make suggestions to improve efficiency and increase ridership.

Our researchers are looking at everything, and by everything I mean fares, programs, and services, and even stop-by-stop boarding data for each bus route, population densities in Pinellas, and funding needs.

The Bus Plan will consider the changing mobility needs of the county's residents, workers, and visitors and will ask several very important questions like:

• What and where are the markets for transit service in Pinellas County?
• How is the overall system performing and what are areas for improvement?
• How can PSTA best provide service within its financial limitations and operational capabilities?

The result of the Bus Plan is not just a document but improved transit service on the street.

Community involvement is crucial to developing a good plan, so we will reach out to you in many ways, including public workshops, special events at major transit hubs, and speakers’ bureau presentations. Please let us know if you are a member of an organization that would like to have a presentation and we’ll get you on the calendar.

Meeting and event times, dates, and locations will be posted on http://busplan.psta.net. Here are few of the outreach sessions that are on the schedule so far:

• Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012
  12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs Campus, Fine Arts & Library lobby area
• Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012
  12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs Campus, Fine Arts & Library lobby area
• Thursday, Nov. 8, 2013
  11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  USF St. Petersburg Campus, Dining Hall in Student Center,

Your input will help our researchers develop the Pinellas Community Bus Plan, which will serve as a guide for improved transit service in Pinellas County. It will give recommendations that can be implemented immediately (1-3 year), in the short term (4-6 years), in the mid term (7-10 years), and long term (15 and 25 years). These recommendations will maintain safe, high-quality existing service and introduce service enhancements; maximize efficiency while maintaining high quality service; maintain core services to markets that serve transit-dependent populations, seniors and riders with disabilities; invest resources where they will have the maximum benefit to customers; and increase efficiency and effectiveness of PSTA service.

So, I invite you to attend a workshop if you can, and/or fill the online survey that will be posted to http://busplan.psta.net soon. Your input will help us make a better PSTA for everyone!

~Cyndi Raskin-Schmitt, RidePSTA Blog Editor