ST. PETE BEACH — City commissioners have directed staff to seek proposals from other microtransit companies, hoping to find a cheaper alternative to Freebee before the city’s contract with the on-demand ride service expires Sept. 30.
The program costs the city $536,700 a year, and a $3 surcharge imposed on non-resident riders last fall has cut ridership sharply, according to a staff review presented to commissioners.
Mandy Edmunds, the city’s resident services director, said Freebee completed 2,300 rides a month from October through January, carrying 4,200 passengers. Gross monthly cost to the city runs about $44,000, offset partly by advertising and the non-resident fare, which brings in $9,000 to $10,000. More than 1,300 residents are registered with the Freebee app, and 30% of riders use the service more than once. Visitors account for most current ridership, Edmunds said…