PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Pinellas County’s new rapid bus service called the SunRunner will begin collecting fares on Sunday, Oct. 1.
The Pinelles Suncoast Transit Authority voted to institute full fares at its Aug. 23 board meeting.
A one-way ticket will cost $2.25, while an all-day pass will be available for $5. The SunRunner will collect regular fares on board the bus with electronic fare validators located at both doors, so riders can continue to board through either door and tap/scan their payment method as they enter.
Onboard the SunRunner, riders can use:
- Contactless payment methods including digital wallets on their smartphone or smart watch (Apple Pay/Google wallet), and tappable cards (credit, debit, or prepaid debit). If they tap using the same payment method every time, riders won't pay more than $5 per day.
- Flamingo Fares card or app. Download the app and reload your card at https://flamingofares.com/ or at any PSTA Customer Service Center. By using a Flamingo Fares card or app, riders never pay more than $5 per day, and never pay more than $70 per calendar month.
- Discounts for senior citizens, students and others are available by visiting a PSTA Customer Service Center.
Daily and monthly maximums are available for riders who use the same payment method throughout the day. Customers will need to tap with the same card or payment method every time they ride. For more information regarding how to pay, visit psta.net/sunrunnerfares.
The SunRunner is Tampa Bay’s first Bus Rapid Transit service, with a hybrid-electric fleet of buses using dedicated lanes to create fast, reliable service “from the Beach to the ‘Burg.”
“We are immensely proud of the success of the SunRunner thus far,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. “We hope residents and visitors continue to see the speed, ease and value of taking the SunRunner, as it is a much cheaper option than driving your own vehicle.”
PSTA has plans in place to add an extra stop near the St. Pete Pier in the coming months.