Some of the most valuable transit ideas don’t happen during presentations. They happen in the conversations between sessions, over coffee with other agency leaders, or through exchanging ideas about how to solve similar operational challenges.

Spare Connect Live is designed to create exactly those moments.

Bringing together transit agencies, operators, and industry experts, the conference focuses on practical learning, open discussion, and the real-world challenges shaping modern transit operations. Over the course of three days, attendees will explore new ideas, share lessons from their own systems, and gain practical strategies they can take back to their teams.

This year, the event will take place at TradeWinds Resort on St. Pete Beach, Florida from May 31 – June 3, 2026. The beachfront setting offers the perfect balance between focused learning and the kind of informal conversations that often spark the most valuable insights.
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A program built around real operational challenges

The sessions at Spare Connect Live are built around the practical questions transit teams face every day. Rather than focusing on theory, the program emphasizes hands-on learning, real agency experiences, and tools that help teams improve operations.

Across two learning tracks, attendees will explore topics such as

• Building and using analytics to support operational and leadership decisions
• Automating repetitive operational tasks to reduce manual workload
• Improving rider experience through clearer communication and service design
• Managing day-of-service operations and responding to real-time challenges
• Coordinating on-demand and fixed-route services to strengthen overall networks

Sessions will feature both Spare product leaders and transit agency speakers who will share how they approach these challenges in their own systems.
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Learning from agencies leading the way

A key part of Connect Live is the opportunity to hear directly from transit leaders who are experimenting with new operational approaches.

One agency helping to push the boundaries of what demand-responsive transit can achieve is the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA).

Serving the fast-growing Tampa Bay region, PSTA has built one of the most integrated mobility ecosystems in the United States. Working with Spare, the agency brought its ADA paratransit, Transportation Disadvantaged (TD), Mobility-on-Demand (MOD), and microtransit services together on a single dynamic platform.

The result is a system that gives the agency full visibility across multiple fleets while delivering a smoother and more dignified experience for riders.

Today, PSTA operates at a significant scale. The agency delivers more than 1.2 million trips annually, averaging around 1,900 trips per day, and coordinates up to 120 vehicles during peak service. Approximately 60 percent of trips are served through Open Fleets, allowing the agency to integrate both dedicated and non-dedicated providers into a single operational environment.

The impact is reflected in the results. PSTA maintains 95.9% on-time performance and 96% rider satisfaction, alongside growing adoption of digital tools that make services easier for riders to access.

At Connect Live, sessions like this will give attendees the opportunity to hear directly from agencies leading the way. Participants will learn not only what these agencies built but also how they approached the operational, policy, and community considerations that shaped those decisions.
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Practical skills for transit teams

In addition to strategic discussions, the conference will offer hands-on sessions designed to help teams make the most of the tools they use every day.

Workshops will explore topics such as building reports and dashboards using Analytics, automating operational workflows, and using data more effectively to support decision-making.

Other sessions will focus on the day-to-day realities of running service. These discussions will include balancing supply and demand during scheduling, managing disruptions in real time, and maintaining reliable service for riders.

The goal is simple. Attendees should leave not only inspired but also equipped with practical techniques they can apply immediately.
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A setting designed for connection

While the sessions provide structure, some of the most valuable moments at Spare Connect Live happen outside the conference room.

At TradeWinds Resort, everything from sessions to meals and evening receptions will take place in one location. This makes it easy for conversations to continue throughout the day. Between shared meals, informal discussions with peers, and time spent together at the resort, attendees will have plenty of opportunities to connect with others facing similar operational challenges.
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Join us at Spare Connect Live

Transit agencies everywhere are navigating new challenges, from evolving service models to increasing operational complexity. Events like Spare Connect Live create space for the community to step back from day-to-day operations, share what they are learning, and explore new ways to improve service for riders.

We’re looking forward to welcoming transit leaders from across the industry to St. Pete Beach, Florida for three days of learning, collaboration, and connection. Make sure to sign up for this can’t miss event!

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