St. Petersburg city council members recently discussed establishing a pilot program that would subsidize various transportation options and collect transit data to help inform policy decisions.
Evan Mory, transportation and parking director, highlighted the benefits of a Universal Basic Mobility (UBM) program at a July 11 Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting. The initiative would help ensure residents, regardless of income level or geographic location, have access to transit options.
Several cities nationwide have adopted UBM programs that typically provide a monthly transit stipend. Councilmember Gina Driscoll requested the discussion and said the financial assistance would cover “pretty much anything except for owning and maintaining a car.”
“I found this very interesting,” Driscoll said. “And with St. Pete being a city that’s known for being innovative and forward-thinking with transportation, I thought this might be a good fit for us.”
Her colleagues on the committee agreed. Mory said eligibility requirements are generally income-based and compared UBM initiatives to the state-run Transportation Disadvantaged Program, which city officials have expanded.
The Transportation Disadvantaged Program provides low-income residents with a bus pass to support employment and education opportunities. A UBM pilot would allow participants to utilize rideshare services and land local micromobility options, like electric scooters.
The city’s transportation department studied UBM initiatives in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Portland. Mory stressed that there is no “one size fits all” approach, and local governments must tailor the program to community needs.
“The pilots were all deemed successful,” Mory said. “One of the things we like that we saw in other cities was a ‘Mobility Wallet.’ That could be an app or an actual card that people have the flexibility to spend.”
He said participants typically receive $100 to $150 monthly to use “where they see fit” within program guidelines. Mory explained that data collection from the prepaid debit cards highlights frequently traveled routes and popular transportation services.
That information would help discern gaps in the local transit network. Driscoll said transportation officials could use UBM data to add or move bus stops and strategically place electric bike and scooter corrals.
“There are so many ways that we can tweak the system that we already have to create that connectivity,” she added. “And how do we learn that best? From the people who actually use it.”
Mory said St. Petersburg would partner with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) on a UBM pilot. He also noted that the Center for Urban Transportation Research operates from Tampa and could help conduct surveys and data analysis.
Mory said Driscoll discussed the initiative with the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. Its car-free committee could help administer the program.
Councilmember Richie Floyd said he was “very intrigued by this idea.” He also suggested eventually expanding a UBM program to include all residents. “Maybe you could buy into it or something,” he said.
Rideshare companies, PSTA and the city’s e-bike and scooter providers require users to download and use a different app. Floyd expressed the benefit of creating a streamlined, all-in-one platform.
“Down the line, it would be cool if you could be like, ‘Alright, I have this pass that lets me use all these things – I pay for it monthly,’” he said. “But I’m glad that we’re even starting this conversation. I’m happy with the way we’ve laid it out right now, and I look forward to what comes back in the future.”
Cheryl Stacks, transportation manager, noted that Portland provides separate UBM programs for low-income and new residents – regardless of their annual earnings. She said the latter helps people acclimate to the area and discover car-free transportation options.
While Driscoll wants the pilot to focus on low-income residents, she also envisions a program dedicated to college students. Councilmember Copley Gerdes asked when transportation officials offer electric bikes and scooters outside the downtown core.
Mory said the program is gradually expanding in all directions. However, Stacks said roadways in north St. Petersburg are less conducive to those transportation modes.
She added that city officials could allow UBM participants to use the provided debit card at local bicycle shops. “I think it really does allow us to have an understanding of different transportation modes that are easily accessible, even in different parts of St. Petersburg,” Stacks said.
“I love this,” Gerdes said. “I just want to make sure that all of the districts have multiple ways to use this.”
The potential pilot program received unanimous support from the committee. Transportation officials will continue formulating a framework and provide an additional presentation at a later date.
