By JON WILSON, Consulting Editor, TB Reporter

A six-month pilot program aims to make parking easier on Friday and Saturday nights.

ST. PETERSBURG– Beginning Friday (Nov. 6), weekend visitors to downtown St. Petersburg will have a chance to leave parking worries behind with the launch of the Park Once shuttle, a new six-month pilot program designed to make locating parking easier downtown and in the Central Arts District on Friday and Saturday nights.

Two Escot motor coaches featuring Park Once signage will travel to some of the city’s trendiest destinations, including the downtown waterfront, Beach Drive and the Central Arts District Friday and Saturday nights between 5 p.m. and midnight. For those wanting a wider range, the Park Once shuttle also intersects with the St. Petersburg Trolley and Downtown Looper routes.

After parking in either the Sundial at 117 Second St. N or South Core, 101 First Ave. S, at the garages’ regular rates, visitors may board the free Park Once shuttle from five conveniently located stops:

*outside the Sundial garage on First Avenue N;
*outside the South Core garage on Central Avenue;
*Central Avenue at Fourth Street;
*Bayshore Drive at Fifth Avenue N near North Straub Park;
*Bayshore Drive at Second Avenue N.

Both air-conditioned, 30-passenger shuttles will run on a continuous route, with approximately seven to 10 minutes between stops. Both shuttles are equipped with bicycle racks and a wheelchair lift.

The Park Once shuttle builds on St. Petersburg’s popular existing shuttle program, which operates during larger events, such as the Grand Prix, Rays baseball games and large waterfront park events, including next weekend’s Ribfest, Nov. 13-15. The shuttle is aimed at helping downtown visitors feel comfortable about parking a little further away and reducing the required walking distance from the city’s larger parking garages to their destination.

The free shuttle is one of several components of the Park Once program which city officials plan to unveil in the coming months, including a bike-share program, increased walkability options, bus route re-alignments and other transportation improvements in the downtown corridor.

For more information on the Park Once shuttle, visit www.stpete.org/transportation.

St. Petersburg | Downtown | Parking | Transportation | TB Reporter

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