Software company owes $600K to Pinellas transit authority

A software company Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority utilizes for its on-demand paratransit service by dispatching Uber and Lyft drivers owes the agency $600,000. 

During a PSTA Wednesday board meeting, PSTA members said they are considering taking legal action against the software company GOIN’. 

Washington-based GOIN’ collects payments from riders via a virtual wallet. PSTA CFO Debbie Leous said the finance committee was notified several weeks ago. 

GOIN’ asserts that PSTA owes it for additional licenses, due to program growth; PSTA acknowledges it has used more than the 10 licenses included in the contract. 

PSTA offered to settle the dispute for a net payment by GOIN’ of $280,000 on Oct. 31, but GOIN’ has not agreed to the payment. 

Additionally, a demand letter was sent to recover all passenger fares. GOIN’ claims it submitted $106,000 to PSTA in September. PSTA said it never received that payment and thus, has notified law enforcement. 

As a result of the unpaid payments collected through the virtual wallet from GOIN’, PSTA is creating a new virtual wallet system separate from the GOIN’ software, so passenger fare payments will go directly to PSTA’s account.

“I feel confident we will ultimately get the outstanding fares returned to us and we are taking the right steps to change this so we are not continually having passengers’ money at risk,” Miller said. 

Another software company, Spare, will be taking over the service in spring 2023. 

PSTA has a 10-year contract with Spare.