Welcome to the PSTA Active Vehicles page. Here, I will showcase photos of the various vehicles that PSTA currently operates in its fleet. If you’d like to make a contribution, please feel free to contact me.
To note; all of PSTA’s diesel Gillig buses are powered with either Cummins ISL or ISM engines, and Voith transmissions (which are most recognizable by the “whistling” noise they make as the bus slows down). Hybrids from 2009 through 2015 use Cummins ISB engines & Allison H 40 EP transmissions. Hybrids from 2016 through 2021 use Cummins ISB or L9N engines & BAE Systems HybriDrive Series E transmissions. As you’ll see throughout the photo galleries, each model bus has different options, such as seating arrangement, different style of wheelchair lifts, etc. None of the buses have opening side windows (except the operator’s window), a characteristic that some agencies possess.
PSTA’s BYD buses are similar to each other (no opening side windows, seating arrangement, etc), minus any technological advances adopted on the 2020 models. The numbering for the 2020 BYDs were designated so as to follow the Gillig BRT Plus Hybrid order. However, the latter was delayed by a year due in-part to Covid-19 related production issues.
2005 Gillig Low Floor Diesel
40′, 35′, & 29′
#’s 2501 through 2508 (40′), 2510 through 2517 (35′), & 2530 through 2534 (29′)
This split order of Gilligs originally comprised of all three lengths & are considered as contingency spares – meaning they will only be dispatched if other buses are not available for revenue service (including when buses break down while in service). The 29′ buses go out very rarely & can usually be found on Routes 5, 16 (weekends), 22, 58, 68 (weekends), 812, 813, & 814. These buses will be gradually replaced with newer units as they are delivered & placed into service.
As of May, 2022; #’s 2501, 2502, 2512, & 2534 are no longer in service.
# 2505 is prepped for a switchout at Pinellas Park Transit Center. It wound up replacing # 2634 on Route 74. Notice the headsign reading – yes these buses are programmed to operate on the Downtown St. Petersburg “Looper” if needed, but the use of a diesel bus on that route is a last resort if no hybrids are available to replace one of the battery electrics.
# 2501 at Gateway Mall – Route 74.# 2502 on layover at Williams Park – Route 4.Rear shot of # 2502. Note: PSTA no longer uses Williams Park as a bus hub. Instead, downtown St. Pete-bound buses use various street-side stops for layovers.And there she goes!And later, she springs up at Gateway Mall.# 2503 at Gateway Mall – Route 4. Route 9 has since taken over the 116th St N/Goodwill Industries loops, while the northern portion of the 4 now goes up MLK St N & Roosevelt Blvd – eventually ending at the PSTA Facility.And here she is at the 34th St N Transfer Center, Route 52LX.Same bus, different angle.# 2505 on the old Route 59. The 59 now only travels along Ulmerton Rd.Another shot of # 2505 on layover. This time in Williams Park.# 2505 approaches the MLK St N/94th Ave N stop in St. Pete.# 2506 pulling out of the Pinellas Park Transit Center at Shoppes at Park Place. Route 74 is another route that no longer travels to Downtown St. Pete and only traverses Park Blvd/Gandy Blvd for most of its length. Credit: Carlos A.And off she goes! Credit: Carlos A.# 2506 at night with current Route 74 eastbound signage.# 2507 on layover at Williams Park.# 2507 leaving Gateway Mall on Route 74, prior to the route being shortened.Here’s # 2507 on Route 4.And later, it winds up on Route 66L. Credit: Carlos A.# 2508 – the highest of the 2005-series 40-footers – at Gateway Mall, running the old 59. The MLK St N section is now covered by Routes 4 & 9.# 2508 on assignment to Route 34.And the next day, it goes to the 74.# 2510 on Route 32, which circulates through western portions of Downtown St. Pete.And here she is on layover.Later, she goes over to Route 5.AM commute on the old Route 98, which was replaced by the 52LX.On layover at Williams Park again. This time on Route 15.Another front angle of # 2510.Rear shot of # 2510.Filling in for one of the trolley buses on the Central Ave Trolley line (Route 35).And # 2510 traversing 16th St N – Route 16. This route took over the 16th St N portion of the 74.# 2511 at Grand Central Station – Route 5.And here she is at Pinellas Park Transit Center – Route 74.And she’s off!# 2513 at Park St Terminal. Credit: Joe C.# 2514 on Route 67, approaching the SR 580/Summerdale stop.Customers boarding # 2514 to travel to Oldsmar.Rear shot.# 2515 on Route 9.# 2516 on Route 16, what Carlos would call a “HOT POTATO” cause the route number and the last two digits of the bus fleet number match.# 2517 was a regular on the Safety Harbor Connector prior to the arrival of the 2018 cutways.Here’s # 2517 again on the connector.# 2530 (29-footer) on the Tampa-Oldsmar Connector. The 29-footers rarely go out now since the arrival of the 2018 cutaways. I’m not sure how much longer they’ll stick around.# 2531 makes a surprise appearance on Route 58.#2532 enters Westfield Countryside.#2533 leaving the SR 580/Summerdale stop.#2534 at Shoppes at Boot Ranch.
2006 Gillig Low Floor Diesel
40′ & 35′
#’s 2601 through 2636 (40′) & 2650 through 2661 (35′)
The 2006 Gillig batch is the first for PSTA to have “frameless” windows, meaning that the exterior window frames are squared instead of curved. Many transit agencies go with this window style to add a sleek, modern look to their transit fleets.
As of September, 2015; #’s 2622 & 2626 are no longer in service.
# 2610 at the SR 580/Summerdale stop in Clearwater – Route 19.
# 2601 on layover at the Park St Terminal.Later on, she passes through the old Gandy Blvd frontage road – Route 74.Here she is on Route 52 – Largo Transit Center.And, she heads back south to Grand Central Station.It’s substitution duty on Route 74. Credit: Joe C.# 2602 on layover at the Roy Hanna Dr/25th Way layover point – Route 4.Here she is at the 34th St N Transfer Center, running the 52LX.# 2603 on layover at Pinellas Park Transit Center, also on the 52LX.# 2604 on the old 59.And here she is on Route 4.Same bus, different angle.And here she is at Pinellas Park Transit Center.# 2605 at Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A.# And here she is on standby at Park St Terminal.# 2606 at Largo Transit Center – Route 19.# 2606 on layover at Seminole City Center – Route 74.Same bus, different angle.# 2607 at the Goodwill Facility on Gandy Blvd. This was back when Route 4 did the 116th Ave N/Goodwill loops. Now those loops are serviced by Route 9.And later, # 2607 winds up at the Roy Hanna Dr/25th Way S layover point.She loves her closeup!And finally, she winds up at the old Williams Park hub.Same bus, different angle.Same bus, different angle.# 2608 departs Williams Park on Route 18.And here’s # 2608 on layover at Largo Transit Center – Route 34.And here she is at the 34th St N Transfer Center.# 2609 on layover at Williams Park.Here she is at the 34th St N Transfer Center.Same bus, different angle and day.# 2610 at Williams Park.Side view of # 2610.And here she is on Route 4.# 2611 on layover at Williams Park.And off she goes! Route 79.Here she is leaving Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A.# 2612 on layover at the Park St Terminal – Route 60.And here she is on layover at Williams Park.# 2613 at Williams Park.And she’s prepped to go for another run on Route 23!# 2614 on the old 74 at Gateway Mall.And here she is on layover at Williams Park.# 2615 at Gateway Mall. Credit: Carlos A.And here she is on Route 52, Pinellas Park Transit Center. Credit: Joe C.# 2618 at Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A.# And here she is on the weekday PM Route 78.# 2619 arriving at Pinellas Park Transit Center. Credit: Joe C.# And here she is on Route 74 as a weekday regular.# 2620 on layover at Williams Park.# 2620 not having a good day here. A sedan collided with it while doing a run on Route 4.# 2620 leaving Largo Mall on Route 18.And then again on Route 75.And then passing by on 94th Ave N. It’s now a regular on Route 74 during weekdays.Going in the other direction on the 74, different day.# 2621 approaching the Target stop at Largo Mall.# 2623 leaving Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A.# 2624 on layover at Gateway Mall – Old Route 59.And here she is on the old Route 97, which was replaced by Route 52LX.And then she winds up at Park St Terminal. Credit: Joe C.# 2625 departing Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A.# 2628 on Route 100XComing back to Britton Plaza for the return trip to St. Pete.And off she goes!# 2628 on Route 18 at Largo Mall# 2629 at Grand Central. Credit: Joe C.And here she is at Park St Terminal.Side shot of # 2629.# 2631 at Largo Transit Center – Route 34.Same bus, different angle.# And here she is on layover at Park St Terminal.# 2632 on Route 18.And here she is at Park St Terminal. Credit: Joe C.# 2633 at Seminole City Center, Route 18.# 2634 on Route 74.# 2635 on the old 59.And then it springs up on the 18.And here it winds up at Park St Terminal.# 2636 on Route 4.Rear shot of # 2636.# 2650 pulls out of Grand Central Station.# 2651 on Route 61.And later on, she springs up on Route 75.# 2652 leaving Tyrone Square Mall.# 2653 on Route 38.And here she is on Route 20.And later, at Tyrone Square Mall – running the 75.And finally, on Route 76, at Park St Terminal. Credit: Joe C.# 2654 at Park St Terminal.# 2655 on layover at Williams Park.And later on, she departs from the Park St Terminal – Route 73.# 2657 on layover at Williams Park.And later, she is spotted at Grand Central Station, running Route 15.And here she is on the 7, which is interlined with the 15.Here she is returning to Tyrone.# 2658 on layover at Williams Park.# 2659 on layover at Tyrone Square Mall – Route 68.# 2660 on layover at Tyrone Square Mall.And here she is – freshly repainted in silver.# 2661 on layover at Williams Park.Typical interior of a 2600-series bus. The 2500-series buses (excluding the 29’s) have had their seating cushions replaced by these.
# 2701 on Route 74. Credit: Carlos A.
2007 Gillig Low Floor Diesel
#’s 2701 – 2711 (40′) & 2712 – 2718 (35′)
The 2007 Gilligs are similar to their 2006 counterparts with only interior seating varying.
As of January, 2020, # 2706 is no longer in service.
# 2701 on the old 59.# 2702 on the old 59.# 2702 at the Park St Terminal.# 2702 is ready to roll on Route 78!# 2703 on Route 14.# 2703 on layover at the Park St Terminal.# 2704 on Route 4.# 2704 pulling into the Pinellas Park Transit Center on Route 11.# 2705 rolls down Ulmerton Rd on Route 59.# 2706 leaves Grand Central Station on Route 14. Credit: Carlos A. Note: This bus was involved in an accident in July of 2018 & has since been retired.# 2706 at Grand Central. Credit: Joe C.# 2708 on Route 4.And later, she winds up on Route 52. Credit: Joe C.# 2709 on the old 59, arriving at the 34th St N Transfer Center. Credit: Carlos A.And she pulls around to the Route 59 bay. Credit: Carlos A.# 2709 on Route 23.# 2709 on Route 74.# 2709 on Route 52.And here she is at Largo Transit Center. Credit: Joe C.# 2710 at Williams ParkSame bus, different angle.And here she is leaving Gateway Mall. Credit: Carlos A.# 2711 doing 100X duty at the HART Marion Transit Center. Credit: Carlos A.Rear shot of # 2711. Credit: Carlos A.Side shot. Credit: Carlos A.And here she is on Route 52!# 2712 at Park St Terminal.Same bus, different angle.Same bus, different angle.# 2713 on layover at Tyrone Square Mall.Rear shot of # 2713.Later, # 2713 winds up by the John’s Pass shops on Route 68. And, it comes back to Tyrone… Here’s another layover shot at Tyrone.# 2713 on layover at Williams Park.And then at Pinellas Park Transit Center. Credit: Joe C.# 2714 at Pinellas Park Transit Center. Credit: Joe C.# 2715 subbing in on the Central Ave Trolley.And later, it winds up at Williams Park.# 2715 at Tyrone, Route 22.And off she goes!# 2717 makes an appearance on Route 19.Side shot of # 2717.Rear shot of # 2717.Here she is leaving Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A.And here she is at Park St Terminal on Route 78. Credit: Carlos A.# 2718 on layover at Williams Park. Credit: Carlos A.Different angle of # 2718. Credit: Carlos A.Side shot. Credit: Carlos A.Rear shot. Credit: Carlos A.
# 2801 departing Pinellas Park Transit Center on Route 52LX.
2008 Gillig Low Floor Diesel
40′
#’s 2801 – 2815
The 2008-series Gilligs are nearly identical to their older siblings with one key difference – the exhaust system. These buses were the first of the clean diesels with a newer EPA approved exhaust system that features a particulate tailpipe. All Gillig buses from 2008 & onwards posses this type of tailpipe and related components – regardless of the fuel type.
Note: The 35′ 2008 Gilligs, #’s 2830 – 2835, have been retired as of 07/19/2019 & are now housed in the Retired Transit Vehicles Page. #’s 2802 & 2808 are also no longer in service.
# 2801 leaving Grand Central on Route 90. Credit: Carlos A.And here she is on Route 74 at Seminole City Center just prior to sunrise.# 2802 on the old 59, leaving Gateway Mall.Here she is basking in the sunrise before her run.# 2803 at Grand Central.# 2804 on layover in Indian Rocks.# 2806 at Williams Park.And here she is at Pinellas Park Transit Center.# 2807 at Williams Park.# 2808 leaving Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A. This bus has since been retired due to an accident it was involved in back in 2018.# 2809 on Route 4, approaching Williams Park.# 2809 at the PSTA Facility. Credit: Carlos A. # 2810 at the PSTA Facility. Credit: Carlos A. # 2811 leaving Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A. # 2811 at the PSTA Facility. Credit: Carlos A. # 2812 on layover at Grand Central Station.# 2813 leaving Tyrone Square Mall.# 2814 at Williams Park.Another shot of # 2814.# 2814 on its Saturday morning run on Route 34.And here she is again on the 34.# 2815 at Williams Park.And here she is again, this time on Route 4.PSTA donated # 2802 to local non-profit St. Pete Reach, which has turned the bus into a mobile food pantry. Here’s PSTA staff members ceremonially “handing the keys over” to the organization. Photo credit: PSTA.
# 12101 at the PSTA 34th St N Transfer Center.
2009 through 2015 Gillig BRTs
2009 35′ Hybrid – #’s 2901 through 2903 2009 35′ Diesel – #’s 2910 & 2911 2010 35′ Hybrid – #’s 10101 through 10114 2012 40′ Hybrid – #’s 12101 through 12108 2013 40′ Hybrid – #’s 13101 through 13108 2014 40′ Hybrid – #’s 14101 through 14108 2015 40′ Hybrid – #’s 15101 through 15113
PSTA began ordering diesel/electric hybrid buses in 2008, with its initial fleet rolling out in 2009. The 2009 order comprised of three 35′ BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) style hybrids, two 35′ BRT style diesels, & seven 35′ replica trolley hybrids (the latter line of the three is now retired). The agency went with this split order for several reasons – but primarily to test how hybrid buses would perform before committing to a longer-term, larger order.
Originally dubbing these new line of buses as the Smartbus, PSTA was very satisfied with the initial 2009 order of hybrids. The agency therefore went on to order fourteen more 35′ hybrids that year (which were produced & entered service in 2010). In 2011, the agency placed an order for twenty four 40′ hybrids (eight to be produced each year between 2012 & 2014), followed by a thirteen 40′ bus order in 2014 (to be produced & enter service in 2015). By the end of 2015, the diesel/electric hybrids accounted for nearly 40% of PSTA’s roughly 210 bus fleet.
As mentioned at the beginning of this page, these particular hybrids are equipped with the Allison H 40 EP hybrid system. Up until the 2015 order, all of the hybrid buses (as well as the 2005 through 2009 diesels) were equipped with the TwinVision Amber LED headsigns. The 2015 order meanwhile, is equipped with the TwinVision Smart Series III (amber) signage. # 15101 was retrofitted with white signage in 2016 as a test unit for what would later be adopted in the 2018 through 2020 bus orders. Also, unlike some agencies, PSTA opted not to adopt the sleek BRT style rearview mirrors on any of its BRT style Gilligs – opting instead for the standard style rearviews.
#2901 at the PSTA Facility. This was PSTA’s first hybrid bus. Credit: PSTA.#2901 subbing in on the Central Ave Trolley (Route 35).Another view of #2901.#2901 at Williams Park.#2902 at Gateway Mall.And here she is at Park St Terminal. Credit: Carlos A.Other side now! Credit: Carlos A.# 2903 at the HART Marion Transit Center. doing express duty.#2910 is actually a straight diesel bus, along with #2911. However, the two are also branded as “Smartbuses”.#2910 is virtually identical to the rest of the hybrid fleet, but of course, there is no hybrid tank and components. The rear faring is identical to HART’s Gillig Low Floor BRT buses.The front of #2910.The rear of #2910.Another rear shot…“Smartbus” wording.# 2910 leaving Park St Terminal – Route 61.#2911 Straight Diesel.Same bus, different angle.# 2911 at the PSTA Facility. Credit: Carlos A.Front shot of # 2911. Credit: Carlos A.Here she is in Downtown St. Pete.Here she is at Shoppes at Boot Ranch, running the 62.#10101.Here she is at Pinellas Park Transit Center.#10102#10103 passes by on Route 74.And here she is leaving Pinellas Park Transit Center. Credit: Carlos A.#10104 along Gandy Blvd N (Frontage Road).#10104 at Gateway Mall.#10104 on layover.#10104 at Williams Park.Same bus, different angle…Same bus, different angle…#10105 at Williams Park.Another angle of #10105.Another angle of #10105.Another angle of #10105.Another angle of #10105.#10105 on display.# 10105 at Gateway Mall.#10106 prepares to turn onto 28th St N from Roosevelt Blvd near Carillon.Here she is at Park St Terminal.#10107 on layover.# 10108 at Williams Park. Credit: Carlos A.Another angle of # 10108. Credit: Carlos A.# 10109 at Grand Central, subbing in on the CAT. Credit: Carlos A.Side shot of # 10109. Credit: Carlos A.#10110 waits at the Park St Terminal for its next run on the 61.#10111 on Route 74.Here she is at Gateway Mall.#10112 at Gateway Mall.And she’s off!The front of #10112.And here’s #10112 going in the opposite direction. This bus is mostly on Routes 76 and 78 nowadays.# 10113 departing Park St Terminal.# 10114 on SBT duty. Credit: Carlos A.And off she goes! Credit: Carlos A.#12101 at Williams Park.Another angle of #12101.Another angle of #12101.Another angle of #12101.Another angle of #12101.Another angle of #12101.# 12102 at Park St Terminal.# 12102 pulls out of Pinellas Park Transit Center. Credit: Carlos A.#12103 at the 34th St N/PSTA Facility Transfer Platform.Another angle of #12103.#12103 at Williams Park.#12104 at Largo Mall.#12104 on layover.Here she is on 100X duty along the Marion Transitway in Tampa. Credit: Joe C.#12105 on layover.#12105 at Countryside Mall.Rear of #12105.# 12106 on layover at Gateway Mall, running the old 59. Sadly, she was involved in a major accident while running on Route 34 & has since been retired. Credit: Carlos A.#12107 at Williams Park.Here she is in Downtown St. Pete.#12108 at Gateway Mall.#13101.# 13102 on Route 4, approaching Gateway Mall. Credit: Carlos A.#13102 on Route 100X duty.Here’s # 13102 leaving Grand Central.And #13102 on Route 4 again, this time at Williams Park.And going in the opposite direction on Route 4, #13103.#13103.Same bus, different angle.Here she is at Gateway Mall.#13104 at Gateway Mall.The front of #13104.That lone side seat on #13104.# 13104 on the old Route 19. Credit: Carlos A.And there she goes! Credit: Carlos A.# 13105 on Route 4. Credit: Carlos A.#13106 on Route 4.#13107 at Williams Park.The front of #13107.#13108 at Williams Park – Route 4.# 14101 at Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A.Closeup of #14101 at Grand Central.#14102 at Williams Park.Here she is leaving Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A. And later, she winds up on Route 4.# 14103 at Clearwater Mall. Credit: Carlos A.And here she is on Route 4, where she is a regular on weekdays. Credit: Carlos A.Rear shot of # 14103. Credit: Carlos A.# 14104 leaving Pinellas Park Transit Center. Credit: Carlos A.# 14105 at Gateway Mall – Route 4. Credit: Carlos A.The front of #14106 at Clearwater’s Park St Terminal.The rear of #14106.# 14106 at the PSTA Facility. Credit: Carlos A.Side shot of # 14106. Credit: Carlos A.# 14107 at Largo Transit Center.# 14107 deadheading somewhere…And here she is doing Saturday duty on the 34.# 14108 at the PSTA Facility. Credit: Carlos A.Side shot of # 14108. Credit: Carlos A.# 14108 on the 34.Later, she winds up at Largo Transit Center.And here she is leaving Pinellas Park Transit Center.#15101 at Gateway Mall.The front of #15101.The back of #15101 at Gateway Mall.#15101 at Williams Park.Another angle of #15101.Another angle of #15101.Here’s # 15101 at the Pinellas Park Transit Center.#15102 at Gateway Mall.#15102 at Gateway Mall.#15102 on Route 74. Due to construction on Gandy Blvd, the 74 was detoured for a time and now follows a different route along Gandy.Panorama shot of # 15102.#15103 at Williams Park.Side shot of #15103.#15103 at Gateway Mall.Different shot of #15103 at Gateway Mall.#15103 at Tyrone Square Mall – Route 23.Same bus, different angle.#15103 at Pinellas Park Transit Center.Rear shot of # 15103 at Grand Central. Credit: Carlos A.# 15104 at Williams Park. Credit: Carlos A.#15104 on Route 60 at Clearwater Mall.#15105 pulls into Grand Central Station.#15105 on layover at Grand Central Station, Route 14.And she pulls out…#15105 ends its morning peak run at Williams Park.Front shot of # 15105 at Indian Rocks Beach. Credit: Carlos A.# 15105 at Pinellas Park Transit Center.And here she is at the 34th St N Transfer Center.#15106 at Gateway Mall.The front of #15106.#15106 winds up again at Gateway Mall.And later at Largo Transit Center.#15107 on Route 300X.#15108 at Tyrone Square Mall.#15108.#15108 on layover.#15109 at Williams Park.Same bus, different angle…Same bus, different angle…Same bus, different angle…#15109 also winds up at Clearwater Mall.#15110 at Williams Park.Another angle of #15110.The rear of #15110.Another angle of #15110.#15111 at the Pinellas Park Transfer Center.#15111 leaving Williams Park.#15112 at Park St.#15112 at the Park St Terminal.Side shot of # 15112. Credit: Carlos A.#15112 on Route 74. # 15112 at the PSTA Facility. Credit: Carlos A.Different angle of # 15112. Credit: Carlos A.Interior of # 15112. Credit: Carlos A.#15113 at Gateway Mall. This is the last of the 2015 batch!The rear of #15113.# 15113 at Park St Terminal donning the 2017 Pride wrap.And here she is at the Pinellas Park Transit Center.And here she is at Park St Terminal on Route 60. #’s 15112 & 15113 are no longer assigned to this route on Saturdays & have been re-branded as spare buses for Routes 100X & 300X during weekdays.#’s 15102 and 12101 at Williams Park.And #12101 takes off!3 Hybrids on lineup.
The Global Transit Guidebook 