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Coming soon to a bus stop near you

Shorter waits between buses on some routes and an express bus to the beach are in the transit authority's plans.

By JON WILSON
Published August 24, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Five bus routes serving the city could run more often starting as early as January, officials say.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's five-year plan also calls for more frequent service on two other routes beginning in 2007, and in 2008 an express bus linking downtown to the beaches is expected to go on line.

The changes, envisioned as a way to improve public transportation as fuel costs soar and roads remain crowded, have been under discussion for several months.

But now they are closer to reality, said Karl Nurse, the Council of Neighborhood Associations president and a member of the countywide bus agency's board.

"The first expansion will happen no later than May, and some in August next year. I'm trying to make that January and May, respectively," Nurse said.

Meanwhile, another mass transit streamlining idea - this one to make riding buses easier for bicyclists - will be discussed at today's 3 p.m. PSTA meeting. Open to the public, the meeting is at PSTA headquarters: 14840 49th Street N, Clearwater. Routes 52 and 79 serve the headquarters.

The measure would eliminate the requirements to buy a $2 "Bikes on Buses" permit and watch a video about loading bikes on bus racks.

People who combine bicycles and buses to go places provide the PSTA a consistently growing source of ridership, Nurse said. Dropping the permit-and-video requirement might encourage even more use, he said.

"If this impedes what is our fastest growth niche, let's get it out of the way," Nurse said.

He cited a University of South Florida mass transit study that showed other bus agencies have experienced no negative effects when their bike permit requirements were dropped.

PSTA expects 48 new buses to be shipped in by the first of the year. The timing of their arrival, plus the need to transfer some equipment from old to new vehicles, will help determine how quickly the St. Petersburg routes - and others around the county - will see more frequent service.

In St. Petersburg, routes 5, 7 and 15 will run every 30 minutes instead of every hour. Route 18 will run every 20 minutes instead of every 30. Route 19 will get an extra bus to improve service from Eckerd College to Tarpon Springs on Sundays and holidays.

In 2007, routes 11 and 38 will start running every 30 minutes instead of every hour.

The express bus, which would use First avenues N and S for quick rides between downtown and the beaches, is scheduled to start in 2008.

Plans are subject to the year-by-year budget. Public hearings on the PSTA's 2005-06 budget are Sept. 7 and Sept. 14, both scheduled to start at 5:05 p.m..

More than half the PSTA's $42.6-million annual operating budget is supported by property taxes.

The current millage rate is $0.6377 per $1,000 of taxable property value, which means the owner of a $125,000 house with a homestead exemption pays $63.77 to the PSTA every year.

2006

ROUTE 5: Arrives every 30 minutes instead of every hour. Tyrone Square Mall to downtown St. Petersburg, service including St. Petersburg College, Tyrone Gardens Shopping Center, St. Petersburg High School.

ROUTE 7: Arrives every 30 minutes instead of every hour. Tyrone Square Mall to downtown St. Petersburg, service including Campbell Park, Jordan Park, Wildwood.

ROUTE 15: - Arrives every 30 minutes instead of every hour, service including Johnnie Ruth Clarke Medical Center, Gibbs High School, Town Shores.

ROUTE 18: - Arrives every 20 minutes instead of every 30. Downtown St. Petersburg to downtown Clearwater, service including Bay Pines, Heritage Apartments, Seminole Mall, Largo Mall.

ROUTE 19: Improved Sunday and holiday service. Eckerd College to Tarpon Springs, service including U.S. 19.

2007

ROUTE 11: Arrives every 30 minutes instead of every hour. Crossroads Mall to Pinellas Point, service including Abilities of Florida, ParkSide Mall, PTEC, Lakewood High School.

ROUTE 38: Arrives every 30 minutes instead of every hour, service including St. Petersburg Medical Center Hospital, Northeast Shopping Center, Shore Acres, Snell Isle.

2008

Central Avenue Rapid Transit Express - Fewer stops, will use First avenues N and S between downtown and the beaches.

[Last modified August 24, 2005, 01:15:20]