How can transit agencies give riders more options while still strengthening the core network?
In this special episode of Transit Unplugged, Paul Comfort returns to St. Pete/Clearwater for extended conversations originally filmed for Transit Unplugged TV, exploring how transit leaders across Pinellas County, FL are approaching everything from Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and microtransit to ferries, paratransit, and first- and last-mile connections.
Paul talks with Brad Miller, CEO of Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), about an increasingly multimodal system and the investments shaping its future. He also meets Leon Smiley, PSTA’s most senior bus operator, who reflects on 35 years behind the wheel and the importance of helping people every day.
Darden Rice, Chief Planning and Community Affairs Officer, shares how the all-electric Spark service is connecting growing parts of St. Petersburg and discusses plans to expand waterborne transit across Tampa Bay. Paul also visits the future Clearwater Station, a new downtown hub designed to bring transit, trails, and the surrounding community together.
Then, Bonnie Sato, Director of Mobility Services, explains how services like Grouper and Snapper are filling gaps in the network—and how partnerships with Uber and Lyft have expanded first- and last-mile service and transformed the agency’s approach to paratransit.
Along the way, Whit Blanton of Forward Pinellas discusses the connection between transportation, land use, and regional planning, while Amanda Baird, Director of Communications and Marketing, explains how institutional partnerships are making transit easier to access for students, workers, and visitors.
These conversations were originally filmed for the Transit Unplugged TV St. Pete/Clearwater episode, which has become the series’ most-watched episode on YouTube with more than 1.6 million views.
Listen in for lessons on creating a more flexible, connected transit network—and meeting riders with the right mobility option for the trip they need to make.
In this episode:
- Brad Miller, CEO, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
- Leon Smiley, Bus Operator, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
- Darden Rice, Chief Planning and Community Affairs Officer, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
- Whit Blanton, Executive Director, Forward Pinellas
- Bonnie Sato, Director of Mobility Services, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
- Amanda Baird, Director of Communications and Marketing, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
00:00 Summer Specials Intro
00:26 Why Long Form Specials
00:43 Meet Brad Miller
01:45 Touring PSTA Headquarters
01:56 PSTA Overview Tour
02:31 Leon Smiley Spotlight
02:49 35 Years Behind the Wheel
03:08 Routes and Extra Board
03:34 Operator Family Culture
03:48 Favorite Buses and Builds
04:14 Driver Advice Wrap
04:37 Darden Rice Joins
04:52 Spark Electric Premium Line
05:31 How Transit Boards Lead
06:31 Next Up Tampa Bay Ferry
07:12 Podcast Network Break
07:45 Clearwater Station Construction
08:34 Designing a Multimodal Hub
09:13 MPO Role and Funding
10:35 Pinellas Trail Big Amenity
10:55 Grouper and Snapper On Demand
13:57 Uber Lyft Transit Partnership
14:59 Marketing with Amanda Baird
15:23 Spark Connections at Grand Central
15:50 UPASS Free Ride Program
16:46 Wrap Up and Credits
Credits
Host and Producer: Paul Comfort
Executive Producer: Julie Gates
Producer: Chris O’Keeffe
Production Assistant: Desmond Gates
Editor: Patrick Emile
Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin
Brand Design: Tina Olagundoye
Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world’s people.
For more information, visit: www.Transit Unplugged.com
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo Inc., its affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent (“Modaxo”). This production belongs to Modaxo, and may contain information that may be subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information, and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo specifically disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.
