Page was last updated on 12/26/2025.
Hop aboard the trolley!
PSTA operates two trolleybus services that are primarily aimed at tourists, though many residents use the routes each day as well. In addition, PSTA lends its support to two other trolleybus services; one in downtown St. Pete, and the other in northern Pinellas. This page will go through each of the services in detail; the PSTA Suncoast Beach Trolley, the PSTA Central Ave Trolley, the St. Petersburg Downtown “Looper” Trolley, and the Clearwater Jolley Trolley.
JUMP TO ROUTE/SERVICE
Mainstay Trolley Services
These trolley services are fully operated by PSTA
Route 700
Grand Central District – Downtown St. Petersburg
Going as far back as the 1990s (possibly earlier), PSTA operated Routes 3 & 35. Both of which served most of Central Ave, but would alternate roadways west of Pasadena Ave. Over time, Route 3 was eliminated & Route 35 was modified to run more frequent service. The 35 morphed into the current Central Ave Trolley (or CAT) in 2011 to serve all of the Central Ave corridor from downtown St. Pete (near the Pier) to Pasadena, taking the Corey Causeway into St. Pete Beach, & Gulf Blvd to Pass-A-Grille (taking over the Pass-A-Grille segment of the Suncoast Beach Trolley).
An earlier iteration of replica trolley shuttle service along a portion of Central Ave utilized replica trolleybuses that were manufactured by either Optima/Chance, Cable Car Concepts, Trolley Enterprises, or Supreme Corp, while Route 35 used standard buses. Between 2011 & 2022, Gillig Low Floor replica trolleys were deployed to the CAT, with Hometown Manufacturing replica trolley replacing them thereafter.
The creation of the Central Ave Trolley allows for a one-seat trip between downtown St. Pete and Pass-A-Grille, as opposed to the prior setup where customers would have to transfer between the earlier iteration Central Ave shuttle and PSTA Routes 3 or 35 in the Grand Central District or Downtown St. Pete. While the Central Ave Trolley technically replaced Route 35 service after its creation, the route number was used internally for the trolley until 2023, when it changed to using the Route 36 designation. In 2025, the designation was changed again to Route 700.
In 2021, CAT service to Pass-A-Grille ended due to an impasse between PSTA & the city of St. Pete Beach. The western terminus was shifted from Gulf Way & 9th Ave to 34th Ave & Gulf Blvd – outside of the Don Cesar Beach Resort. When the SunRunner BRT opened in October of 2022, the western terminus was changed again to the 4700 Gulf Blvd county beach access parking lot.
Due funding constraints & lower ridership along Central Ave west of Grand Central Station, PSTA eliminated CAT service west of GCS in late 2023 & ultimately rerouted Route 18 in October of 2025 to serve the segment of Central between 58th St N & GCS. Access to limited stop service would continue via the SunRunner.
Routing & Schedule
The CAT begins at the PSTA Grand Central Station & follows Central Ave until the eastern end of Downtown St. Pete. The eastern terminus is on Beach Dr by 2nd Ave NE in The Pier District. Customers can easily connect to the SunRunner, Spark, & several other routes at GCS, with a multitude of other connections available in Downtown St. Pete.
There’s a variety of shops & eateries along Central Ave between Grand Central Station & The Pier District, a few of which I’ve personally visited over the years.
Fares
The standard PSTA fare structure is followed, with cash & contactless payment methods being accepted.
Route 705
St. Pete Beach – Downtown Clearwater
Launched in 2001, the Suncoast Beach Trolley (or SBT) travels almost the entire gulfside corridor from downtown Clearwater to St. Pete Beach. This route originally used replica trolleybuses that were manufactured by either Optima/Chance, Cable Car Concepts, Trolley Enterprises, Supreme Corp, or Gillig. However, the route today uses replica trolley vehicles that were built by Hometown Manufacturing. The SBT provides easy, convenient, and reliable service to those wanting to explore the Gulf Beaches. The route’s internal number is 705.
Prior to the mid 2000s, there was a Route 80 that provided service to Downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, & Sand Key. However, the route appeared to be eliminated as the SBT became more popular. Since the implementation of the SBT, the only two major routing changes that have taken place was the extension to Clearwater in the mid 2000s (replacing Route 80 in the process), & the truncation of the southern terminus to 75th Ave & Gulf Blvd in St. Pete Beach in 2011 to accommodate the Central Ave Trolley. Like the CAT, the SBT’s internal route number had been previously 777 before being changed to 555 in 2023. In 2025, it was changed again to 705.
Routing & Schedule
The SBT begins at the Park Street Terminal in Downtown Clearwater & makes its way onto the Memorial Causeway to serve Clearwater Beach. During the morning hours (start of service until about 9:30am), the northern portion of Clearwater Beach, as well as Island Estates are served. For the rest of the day (after 9:30am), the Clearwater Jolley Trolley suite of routes take over these areas – allowing the SBT to provide mainline service to the southern portion of Clearwater Beach, as well as the other beach communities along the Pinellas gulf. SBT departures & run times are typically structured in a manner so as to allow for 15 minute combined headways with the Jolley Trolley South Beach Route.
Fares
The standard PSTA fare structure is followed, with cash & contactless payment methods being accepted.
Supported Trolley Services
These trolley services are operated by independent entities by which PSTA provides support for. The agency’s partnership with these operators go back many years.
Route 704
The St. Pete Downtown Looper (sometimes referred to as the Downtown Looper) is a circulator bus route that traverses key points and corridors throughout downtown St. Petersburg. Service is administered by the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, with operational aspects handled by The Looper Group Inc. (a private non-profit entity). Various downtown businesses, the City of St. Petersburg, PSTA, and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) all lend support to the Looper. Until early 2020, PSTA also assisted with providing a revenue service vehicle to the route in the form of either a replica trolley or electric bus (the latter of which PSTA dubbed as the “eLooper”).
Routing & Schedule
The Looper begins at the staging point located at Beach Dr & 2nd Ave NE, then circulates throughout the city, serving destinations such as the Sundial shops, The Pier District, the Dali Museum (during museum hours), the University of South Florida (USF) St. Pete campus, and The Mahaffey Theatre.
Fares
The Looper currently operates fare-free due to support from partner agencies & organizations.
Routes 701 – 703
The Clearwater Jolley Trolley is a circulator trolley that travels through various points throughout Clearwater (both downtown and Clearwater Beach), Dunedin, & Tarpon Springs. The trolley service began in 1982 as a city-run service. Then, for several years, PSTA operated the service, before a non-profit company was formed to take over day-to-day operations. However, PSTA continues to support the trolley & Flamingo Fares is accepted as payment on board.
Routing & Schedule
The Jolley Trolley operates three distinct routes – all serving Clearwater Beach to an extent.
Each route operates on its own service span & frequency. Due to higher ridership, the South Beach route is the most frequent of the three.
- South Beach Route (701): Clearwater Beach Transit Center, Various destinations along Clearwater Beach, Sand Key.
- North Beach Route (702): Publix @ Island Estates Plaza, Clearwater Beach Transit Center, 700 Island Way, Mandalay Way corridor, Various destinations along Clearwater Beach.
- Coastal Route (703): Clearwater Beach Transit Center, Publix @ Island Estates Plaza, various destinations in Downtown Clearwater, northern Clearwater, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs (including the Sponge Docks). A street-side stop is provided at the Park St Terminal.
- Note: Some destinations are only served upon request. Please visit the Jolley Trolley website for further information – including maps & schedules.
Fares
The standard PSTA fare structure is followed, with cash & contactless payment methods being accepted.
Other Links
The Global Transit Guidebook 