Spark, the SunRunner’s little sister, launched in October 2025—let’s see how the service has done since then!

It’s been nine months since the launch of Spark, a premium, high-frequency bus service along 34th Street South that connects southern Pinellas County to downtown St. Petersburg. Spark was launched as the marquee service of our system redesign, the Connected Community Bus Network (CCBN), back in October 2025.

So, that begs the question: how has Spark been doing since launch? What have we learned since implementing the service? What improvements are planned for its future? We’ll answer these questions and more in this installment of Deep Drive!

Spark’s Award-Winning Launch

Spark launched on October 27th, 2025, at Eckerd College, with a launch reception at SPC AllState Center. In true PSTA fashion, we pulled out all the stops for this ribbon-cutting. The launch campaign focused on electrical themes, with countdown teaser social posts leading up to launch. The event itself featured biodegradable decor options like bubbles and flower petals, rather than confetti.

We provided some amazing promo items, including an energy-drink-themed water bottle, locally made candles with branded matchboxes, temporary tattoos, wireless chargers, light-up frisbees, keychains, sunglasses, koozies, hats, and a poster designed by a local artist. To boost the route’s connection to local businesses, we launched the Lightning Card, a physical card distributed to riders that unlocked discounts at participating Spark businesses near or along the route.

Spark’s launch event was so successful, in fact, that it caught the attention of the Florida Public Transit Association (FPTA). PSTA was just recently awarded FPTA’s 2026 Best Ridership or Sales Marketing for the launch of Spark.

Spark Amenities

As a premium service, Spark got all the fixings—brand-new all-electric buses with rear-door boarding, upgraded stops with lighted totems, and real-time bus information through e-reader screens. 

These e-reader screens are no different than a Kindle, displaying arrival times for your next bus and allowing PSTA to push out instant service alerts as needed.

Spark is the very first PSTA service to utilize e-readers for real-time information, and they’ve been a hit!

Spark Performance

The portion of Route 34 in the Skyway Marina District that Spark replaced was one of PSTA’s higher ridership routes. By launching Spark, we improved service and increased frequency in the corridor, resulting in a significant ridership increase. Route 34 only ran every 30 minutes most of the day, with 20-minute peak service on weekdays, compared to Spark’s 15-minute all day. The weekend ridership increase is even more drastic: Route 34 ran every 30 minutes on Saturdays (with no peak service) and hourly on Sundays. Spark introduced 15-minute service in this corridor for the first time ever! 

Comparing Spark vs Route 34 ridership in this corridor:

• Weekday Ridership: +10.9% increase, from 863/day to 957
• Saturday Ridership: +31.4% increase, from 557/day to 732
• Sunday Ridership: +54.9% increase, from 370/day to 573

In the past eight months, Spark has surpassed 150,000 riders total. But Spark has even more to boast about! Spark has our 5th-lowest cost per ride, with a net subsidy of $4.48 per ride when all revenue sources are taken into account. That’s just under Route 60 ($4.02 per ride in May 2027) and Route 19 ($4.37 per ride in May 2027), and beating out heavy hitters like Route 52 ($5.87 per ride in May 2027) and Route 4 ($6.68 per ride in May 2027). Compare that to the average ride-share cost from Grand Central Station to downtown at $15–$30 per ride, versus a $2.25 fare, and that’s a huge savings!

To date, we have provided nearly 10,000 rides to and from Eckerd College, with 9,409 boardings and 9,935 alightings (fun fact: “alightings” refers to people exiting the bus at their stop). In fact, Spark carries about 15.3 passengers per revenue hour, which is higher than our system average of 13.6!

It’s safe to say that Spark has not only met but exceeded our performance expectations.

Vital Connections to Education

Spark has helped connect SPC and Eckerd College students throughout the corridor, providing easy connections to downtown St. Petersburg and the beach via SunRunner. By giving stress-free mobility to growing minds, PSTA helps students balance the challenges of school with the relaxation and exploration of free time.

Even better, PSTA’s UPASS program allows college students to ride PSTA buses for free by showing their valid ID to the bus operator.

“Every day, Eckerd College staffers disembark the SPARK bus confident that a reliable and convenient way home will arrive every 15 minutes,” says Robbyn Mitchell Hopewell, an assistant vice president for communications at Eckerd. “The UPASS program has strengthened the campus community’s connection to St. Petersburg, as well. Residential students use the bus system to get to downtown internships, special events where parking is a challenge, and weekly routines such as the Saturday Morning Market.”

Liav Vadel, an Eckerd College junior environmental studies major from Stamford, Connecticut, used his UPASS to ride Spark free from campus to St. Pete Run Fest with a friend in November 2025. The convenience and cost-effectiveness convinced him to forgo a ride-share for the trip. 

“Before the SPARK bus, we would have to get a ride-share or ask a friend with a car to drive us,” Vadel explained. “The bus allowed us to save time and money and not worry about parking, finding a ride, paying for gas, or driving after a tiring race.” Since using Spark for Run Fest, it’s his go-to for trips to downtown St. Pete!

Spark has also been a huge advantage for students at St. Petersburg College: “We ride the Spark to church, AA, grocery shopping, medical, everything. I own a car, but if time isn’t a factor and it’s less than two transfers, the bus makes sense. It’s always cheaper than parking rates at St. Pete Beach, too!” an SPC student said.

New Stops On the Way

PSTA certainly isn’t done improving the service since its launch. We’re adding two new stops to the route along 38th Ave N, on either side of 34th St (US 19), to increase connections along this frequent route. It will take some time to prepare the stop locations and install passenger amenities, but we anticipate these new stops going live in early February 2027.