ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Lanes started closing on 1st Avenue North in St. Petersburg and it quickly got the attention of anyone using it. 

Both of the main arteries in St. Pete are under construction. 66th Street to 20th Street went from three lanes to two lanes. Islands are being put in place of the lanes taken out. And drivers want to know why?

St. Petersburg is the first community in the Tampa Bay area to incorporate Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) into its transit plan. 

"An express bus service that will take you from downtown St. Petersburg to the City of South Pasadena to our beautiful beaches in St Pete Beach. It'll take you there in less than thirty-five minutes," PSTA Public Relations Coordinator Stephanie Rank said. 

The BRT, named Sunrunner, has stations like a train rather than a traditional bus stop. Those are the islands under construction. 

Once operational, passengers pre-pay the one-way fair of $2.25. 

Changes being made to the road will put the "rapid" in rapid transit. 

A lane of both 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South will convert to a bus and turn lane. Meaning, only the Sunrunner or a vehicle turning at the signal can be in it. 

"Now, once they get to a signal, as we all know on First Avenue South and First Avenue North, they will have Priority Signaling. So once they reach that light, they'll get a green light!" Rank explained. 

The Sunrunner is expected to be ready for passengers a year from now and ultimately connect to the larger regional bus rapid transit system in the works between St. Pete and Wesley Chapel.