The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in St. Petersburg, FL, recently initiated its new Central Area Trolley service, which connects the St. Petersburg Pier with Pass-a-Grille Beach.

The service operates on a combined route previously served by the Pier Trolley, the Looper Group’s Central Avenue Shuttle, PSTA Route 35, and the Suncoast Beach TrolleySM.

PSTA Chief Executive Officer Brad Miller explained that, in the past, riders had to make three transfers to travel from the pier to the beach. “On the new Central Avenue Trolley they’ll have the luxury of an easy, no-transfer ride between the two popular destinations,” he said.

The Central Avenue Trolley features a new multi-zone fare system that offers free transport between the St. Petersburg Pier and the BayWalk shopping and entertainment complex. The fare between BayWalk and PSTA’s Grand Central Station is just 50 cents, while regular PSTA fares apply to the segment between Grand Central Station and Pass-a-Grille Beach.