PSTA unveils design concepts for Art in Transit project

St. Pete is getting its first look at the concepts behind PSTA’s Art in Transit project. 

In 2019, the city provided $750,000 to fund the initiative, which will support the installation of public art as part of the Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Renderings of the art concepts will be presented at the July 9 city council meeting, and council members will be asked to share their input before work commences.

The concepts, developed by C Glass Studio, will be incorporated into the construction of 16 BRT shelters located within St. Petersburg’s city limits. Each shelter’s design will reflect the unique characteristics of the neighborhoods and businesses districts in which they’re located and will be functionally integrated into the physical design of each station. The installations will feature bold artwork with a mix of abstract and photographic images and are designed to be enjoyed by both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

A written update from city transportation and parking management director Evan Mory noted that the local financial contribution “provides a unique opportunity to incorporate artistic elements at the stations that would not be possible otherwise due to restrictions in Federal Transit Administration funding.”

The BRT project got a financial boost in May when the FTA committed $21.8 million in funding on top of the $10.5 million from the Florida Department of Transportation and the $11.6 million from the city and PSTA. When complete, the BRT will connect downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach with faster service and fewer stops than the current Central Avenue Trolley service, utilizing one-way streets First Avenue North and First Avenue South. Construction of BRT platforms is already underway.