PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. - There's a new way to get from St. Petersburg to the beach: The SunRunner.

The new bus line run by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) launched Friday at 6 a.m.

What You Need To Know

  • The new SunRunner in Pinellas County launched Friday at 6 a.m.

  • The SunRunner is the first bus rapid system in the area

  • The route is a 10 mile loop between St. Pete Beach and downtown with 30 stations along 1st Ave N & 1st Ave S.

  • Its first six months will be free to give folks a chance to try it out

The SunRunner’s first six months will be free to give folks a chance to try it out.

No one is more excited than PSTA employees like AJ Ortiz, who has been training bus drivers for this long-awaited moment.

“I’ve seen what it takes to go from point A to one of the most beautiful beaches in the country,” Ortiz said. “Here’s PSTA taking a stand. Making a new system. A system a lot more advanced, easier to use and a quick connect for all the residents of the county.”

The SunRunner is the first bus rapid system in the area. PSTA describes it as more like a light rail than a bus.

 

It will have dedicated bus lanes to bypass traffic. It also has signal transmitters that will alert intersections when a bus is coming to clear the way.

 

The stations have raised platforms for easier access for strollers and wheelchairs.

The new buses also include a lot of perks on board, including air conditioning, wi-fi, cell phone chargers, cashless pay and bike racks inside.

Buses will run every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight.

End to end it’s an estimated 35-minute travel time. After the free trial, it will cost $2.25 each way. Riders will pay using the Flamingo Fares app.

The route is a 10 mile loop between the beach and downtown with 30 stations along 1st Ave N & 1st Ave S.

“I feel like this is the next phase. A new chapter to improving the transit system in Pinellas County,” Ortiz said.

GOLD CARD FOR FIRST 500 RIDERS

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority announced a special benefit to those who are the first to ride the SunRunner. On opening weekend, October 21 – 23, the first 500 riders will receive a SunRunner Gold Card.

“One of the benefits of the SunRunner is the foot traffic it will bring to local businesses along the route as well as the discovery of new and interesting places that people might overlook when driving by in their car,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PSTA. “This Gold Card program highlights some of those unique businesses and how easy it is to get to them while riding the SunRunner instead of driving.”

The SunRunner Gold Card grants cardholders discounts to participating businesses along the SunRunner route for the first three months of service (October 21 – January 31). A few examples of participating businesses are Green Bench Brewing, Caddy’s Waterfront, Pete’s Bagels, The Dali Museum, Tombolo Books and Wild Roots.

To see a full list of participating businesses, their offers and a map of where they are located on the SunRunner route, click here. For videos and photos of the SunRunner, Gold Card and participating businesses, click here.