The PSTA Board of Directors has agreed to uphold a motion previously approved as part of a joint meeting with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) on December 10, 2012. At that meeting, the PSTA Board unanimously approved a motion to continue working with the HART Board of Directors to find new ways to consolidate transit resources and to follow the recommendations of a Collaboration Study for a more extensive and in-depth desk audit. The motion also included asking the state legislature to fund the additional study. The initial Collaboration Study was part of legislation sponsored by State Senator Jack Latvala and approved by lawmakers last year.

“PSTA always has and will continue to support any measure that improves regional transit,” said PSTA Board Chair and St. Petersburg City Council Member Jeff Danner. “We look forward to continuing the collaborative efforts forged with our various transportation partners throughout the bay area. We have already identified ways to improve efficiencies and service and look forward to putting those into place along with finding new ones as we move forward.”

“Whether you’re a business or government, it’s always important to be flexible, open minded and cost effective,” adds PSTA CEO Brad Miller. “We have to be ready to take advantage of new opportunities and, if needed, make the hard choices required to improve service.”