St. Pete Beach commissioners chose Tuesday to stop a city-funded microtransit program. The service gives about 4,000 trips each month. Officials are hunting for ways to slash spending. Freebee runs the service, which allows riders to request door-to-door trips within the beach area rather than depending on fixed bus routes and stops.
Around 1,200 registered users exist in the current program. City officials admitted they lack data on how many use it often or whether residents or visitors make most trips. Staff calculated the cost at roughly $17 per trip after subtracting what riders pay.
Staff arrived at the Aug. 25 commission meeting seeking direction. Should they continue the program and set a spending cap, or should they axe it? Commissioners settled on stopping the service. No vote was taken…