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U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $21.8 Million Grant Award for Central Avenue BRT Project in St. Petersburg, Florida

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a $21.8 million grant award to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) for the Central Avenue “SunRunner” Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in St. Petersburg, Florida. The project will provide faster, more reliable transit service from downtown St. Petersburg to the Gulf Beaches area. 

“This $21.8 million federal investment in a new bus rapid transit system in the St. Petersburg area will provide residents with better access to employment, healthcare, educational opportunities, and other important services,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. 

The St. Petersburg project is a 10.3-mile BRT line to be constructed by PSTA from downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach via the Central Avenue corridor. The total cost of the project is $43.9 million with $21.8 million in funding through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. 

“FTA is proud to join Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in Florida to improve public transportation in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “The Central Avenue BRT project will provide fast and efficient service, improving mobility and travel times in this busy corridor.”

Williams added, “This federal investment is an economic boost for Pinellas County as the project will create jobs and help communities recover from the COVID-19 public health emergency.”

Funding for the Central Avenue BRT project is provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program, which provides funding for major transit infrastructure projects nationwide. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds. 

FTA has advanced funding for 35 new CIG projects throughout the nation under this administration since January 20, 2017, totaling approximately $8.5 billion in funding commitments. With today’s funding agreement, this Administration has executed 24 CIG funding agreements totaling $5.8 billion in CIG funding.

Secretary Chao’s remarks can be viewed HERE.

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