Organization: Employer’s Choice Program
Name: The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
Contact: John W. Berglowe Marketing and Sales Coordinator Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
Phone: (727) 533-4374
Modeled after the federal Commuter Benefits Program, Employer’s Choice provides tax incentives to employers who provide a transit benefit to their employees. This program works any one of three ways:
1) Employers may fully subsidize the cost of an employee’s transit pass and deduct the cost from their business income tax.
2) Employers may allow employees to purchase transit passes using pre-tax dollars. This saves on payroll expenses, FICA, and Social Security contributions for both employer and employee.
3) The third version is a hybrid of the previous two where both employee and employer cover some part of the cost. This benefit has proven to increase retention in highly competitive industries like call centers and hospitality because the benefit extends beyond the commute to work. Employees can use the passes to go to school, shopping, visit a friend, etc.
Organization: Guaranteed Ride Home Program (GRH)
Name: The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
Contact: John W. Berglowe Marketing and Sales Coordinator Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
Phone: (727) 533-4374
The GRH program is supervised by Bay Area Commuter Services and provides up to 8 free taxi rides per year for individuals who use commute options (like riding the bus) to get to work more than twice a week. These taxi trips are for use in case of illness, family emergency, or unexpected overtime so a passengers need not be beholden to the bus schedule in these circumstances. To participate in GRH one need only call Bay Area Commuter Services at 1-800-998-RIDE and register. Vouchers will be sent in the mail.
Organization: PSTA’s GO Cards
Name: The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
Contact: John W. Berglowe Marketing and Sales Coordinator Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)
Phone: (727) 533-4374
GO Cards are transit passes in Pinellas County. There are Single Day Unlimited ($3.00), 7-Day Unlimited ($12.00), or 31-Day Unlimited ($40.00) GO Cards available. Each pass provides unlimited transportation for the life of the pass, and passes don’t begin counting down their “life expectancy” until the first time they are inserted into a farebox. This way an individual can stockpile a supply of GO Cards and use them when necessary. Single Day GO Cards are available onboard all PSTA vehicles. 7-Day and 31-Day passes are available at customer service centers and ACE (American Cash Express) outlets around the county.
Organization: PINELLAS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED PROGRAM
Address:
7740 66TH ST. NORTH
Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Phone: 727-545-2100
Through the TD program,you can travel within Pinellas County for $8.00 each way, regardless of distance.
Pinellas County
The Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) program may be able to help qualified persons in receiving transportation to necessary destinations. A 31 day unlimited bus pass is also available for the cost of $4.20 per pass for qualified individuals. Wheelchair transportation is available, if necessary.
To qualify for the program, you must show that you have no other means of transportation, including family, friends or the bus system, and also have income of less that 200% of the Federal Poverty level. Currently this limit is $1,431 per month for one person, and $1,935 per month for two people. It is higher for those families with more than two persons in the household.
