The Hottest New Way to Get Around St. Pete

The SunRunner is the first of its kind for Tampa Bay, offering reliable and simple travel options for locals and tourists alike. While this exciting launch may feel new and shiny to the public, the SunRunner has been a dream for over a decade in the making. Frequent, savvy bus riders may be familiar with the routes and times for their commute, but for individuals new to the area or new to public transit in general, the learning curb can be intimidating. That’s what makes the SunRunner so accessible—it runs every 15 minutes and has its own dedicated lane to ensure easy, punctual service from St. Pete Beach to downtown St. Petersburg. This 10-mile, 30-stop route connects customers to some of Pinellas County’s most-visited destinations hassle-free.

 

But this transformative service isn’t just for folks on summer vacation; the SunRunner provides more opportunities for essential workers to commute through this busy corridor stress-free. With their hybrid electric design and mission to take more cars off the road, SunRunner buses decrease emissions and fuel consumption. Each bus features convenient space for cyclists onboard and connects to other PSTA routes, making travel far easier regardless of how you choose to get around town. And you can’t beat the free public Wi-Fi and charging stations at every seat.

With all that being said, why is the 10,000th rider milestone so special? Well, according to a study published by the Florida Department of Transportation Research Center, new services like the SunRunner take 90 days to 36‐month period to become productive based on agency standards. During that time, agencies typically monitor the route’s performance and may make schedule/route adjustments and employ various marketing programs to boost performance. With the SunRunner already toppling expectations in its opening weekend, it proves that residents and visitors alike see the value of public transportation and PSTA’s mission to lower vehicle emissions.

 

Between opening weekend and in the following weeks, we’ve asked riders what they think about the SunRunner and what having such a reliable mode of transportation means to them.

 

“Taking the bus was always the last resort for me. Keeping track of routes and arrival times was a headache, especially as a more casual rider,” said a St. Pete native. “The fact that the SunRunner is here every 15 minutes creates such a stress-free, easy-to-use process for me. It reminds me of reliable transportation in bigger cities—who knew St. Pete would launch something up to par!”

 

A young rider, Elaine Graham, said, “This is actually my first time riding the bus. I was nervous at first, worrying I would accidentally get off on the wrong stop or look like a total newbie in general. But the route is so clear, and I realized that even if I accidentally get off at the wrong stop, another bus will be coming in 15 minutes to rescue me!”

 

“My buddy Layne and I were the first two people to step foot on the SunRunner this morning at the 6th Avenue S station, and this is what St Pete has needed for years!” said Jim Dietrich in a post on Facebook. “We went to 66th St and Central, got coffee, and then got back on at 66th and 1st Ave S. It was super convenient, and I can't wait to ride it for real to the beaches!”

 

“Parking at the beach is a nightmare, so I usually only go a few times a year. But with the SunRunner and its easy connections to other routes, I can literally hop on a bus from my house, connect to the SunRunner, and get to St. Pete Beach in no time at all,” Ana Williams of Largo told us. “I also love the charging stations; those are an absolute must after a long day at the beach playing music and taking pictures.”

 

Do you have thoughts about the SunRunner, too? Have your voice to be heard! Click here to take our survey!

Riding the SunRunner is Easy

The SunRunner was designed to be a hassle-free, fast way to get around town, but if you’re new to riding the bus, here are some tips for making your ride easy as pie!

Know Your Way

The Transit App and PSTA Trip Planner are easy to use and free. These tools are especially handy for newer riders that may be nervous about their first time or even bus-savvy riders that may be unsure what routes connect to the SunRunner. All you have to do is enter your starting location and destination and let the magic happen! 

 

Where to Wait

 

Make sure you’re waiting by one of our marquee, beautifully-design SunRunner stops—this ensures your driver knows to stop for you. Each station features a SunRunner totem sign that displays real-time arrival information, so you always know when the next ride will appear to whisk you away.

 

Where to Stop

When we say “beach to ‘Burg,” we literally mean from St. Pete Beach to downtown St. Pete. It’s the perfect commute option for resort employees to avoid traffic, USF students, or families looking to enjoy a fun-filled day experiencing all the picturesque beach sights, tasty food, and amazing locally-owned, independent businesses St. Petersburg has to offer. Notable stops include:

 

• Downtown St. Petersburg
• USF/St. Pete
• Tropicana Field
• TradeWinds Island Resort
• Grand Central Business District
• Edge Business District
• Central Ave.
• Grand Central Station
• Bayfront and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
• South Pasadena
• St. Pete Beach

When to Ride

Just because the sun goes down doesn’t mean the SunRunner does too! With St. Petersburg’s unique and exciting nightlife, we don’t want you to miss any of the action. The SunRunner operates seven days a week, from 6 am to midnight. Buses arrive every 15 minutes until 8 pm, and every 30 minutes from 8 pm to midnight. This means no matter where the evening takes you, a SunRunner will be ready to aid you on your journey. Want to hit the beach early before the crowds? We’ll pick you up at 6 am!