Benefits · Transportation

How to apply for Sunshine Bus + COA Paratransit — St. Johns County Public Transit

St. Johns County Council on Aging, Inc. (COASJC) — 501(c)(3) nonprofit; contracted by the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners as the public transit operator; operates the Sunshine Bus Company fixed-route system and COA Paratransit door-to-door service

Who it's for

St. Johns County's public transportation is operated by the St. Johns County Council on Aging (COASJC) under contract with the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners. The Sunshine Bus Company runs the fixed-route bus system across the county — connecting St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach, Hastings, World Golf Village, and the I-95 corridor between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach. Regular fixed-route fare is $2.00 one-way, $4.00 daily pass, $30.00 monthly pass. COA Paratransit is the demand-response door-to-door service for residents who are over age 60 OR have documented disability OR are transportation-disadvantaged due to low income. Paratransit accommodates ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher-needs (door-through-door) non-emergency medical transportation. Paratransit fares are dependent on sponsorship and funding source (private pay, Medicaid, OAA Title III-B, or other federal funding). The COASJC-as-transit-operator model is structurally distinctive in the FL cluster: a single nonprofit AAA operates BOTH fixed-route public transit AND paratransit AND senior centers AND Meals on Wheels — tight integration enables coordinated trips to congregate dining, medical appointments, and senior centers. Apply by calling the COA Transportation department or 1-877-4SJCGOV for general St. Johns County information.

St. Johns County Paratransit eligibility uses the Florida statewide TD framework — age 60+ OR documented disability OR low-income status (any one of three pathways qualifies). The Sunshine Bus fixed-route system runs $2/one-way with daily/monthly pass options; paratransit fares depend on which OAA/Medicaid/private sponsorship covers the trip. The COASJC-as-operator model means trips can be coordinated tightly with congregate dining and medical appointments — a structural advantage that produces materially better senior-mobility outcomes than peer counties where transit and senior services are siloed. For seniors at very low income, paratransit may be available at no charge via OAA Title III-B sponsorship; verify eligibility at intake.

What you'll need

Proof of age 60+ OR documented disability OR low-income TD eligibility (Medicare card, Florida ID, physician note, income documentation)
Proof of St. Johns County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
Completed COA Paratransit eligibility application
Advance reservation (typically required for paratransit; phone the COA Transportation department)

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 904-209-3700

Renewals

periodic re-registration; rides scheduled per trip with advance booking

Official source →Last verified · June 2, 2026

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.