Spark

Service Highlights

• Operates 5am to midnight, with 15-minute frequency from 6am–8pm and 30-minute frequency from 5am–6am and 8pm–midnight
• Includes 18 upgraded stations with real-time bus information, shelters, and lighted totems
• Buses stop at all designated stations automatically, ensuring a predictable and efficient experience
• Powered by a dedicated sub-fleet of all-electric buses
• Features both cash and cashless fare options for convenient front- or rear-door boarding (cash accepted at front door ONLY)

Benefits for Students & Faculty

• Safer and more cost-efficient transit options for non-driving students and faculty
• Comfortable, smooth rides on our clean all-electric fleet
• Enhanced access to the free Central Avenue Trolley and the SunRunner, which provides rapid transit between St. Pete Beach and downtown St. Petersburg
• Abundant route connections at Grand Central Station, including routes 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 18, 34, 52/52LX, and 79

Stop Changes

With the launch of Spark, certain stops will be removed to make way for improved service. These stop removals include:

• STOP # 7785 | 34th St S & 42nd Ave S
• STOP # 7786 | 34th St S + 42nd Ave S
• STOP # 7789 | 34th St S + 38th Ave S
• STOP # 7790 | 34th St S + 38th Ave S
• STOP # 7793 | 34th St S + 32nd Ave S
• STOP # 7794 | 34th St S + 30th Ave S
• STOP # 7797 | 34th St S + 26th Ave S
• STOP # 7798 | 34th St S + 26th Ave S
• STOP # 7809 | 34th St S + Oakley Ave S
• STOP # 7810 | 34th St S + 16th Ave S
• STOP # 7816 | 34th St S + 8th Ave S
• STOP # 7817 | 34th St S + Fairfield Ave S

Spark FAQ

What is Spark? 

• Spark is a premium express transit experience that connects folks from Eckerd College to Grand Central Station along the 34th Street South corridor.  

• The service will improve connections to the SunRunner for students, teachers, and faculty members at Eckerd College, which can take folks into the heart of Downtown St. Pete or to the sunny beaches of St. Pete Beach.  

• With this service stopping in Grand Central Station, riders can connect from the southernmost part of Pinellas to anywhere else in the county by transferring to other routes that layover in Grand Central Station. 

When will the Spark service start? 

• Spark is planned to launch service on October 26th, 2025. 

Why is the Spark service needed? 

• Spark is needed to improve the existing Route 34 service and more quickly connect riders and business owners from Pinellas’ southernmost point up 34th Street, providing vital connections to the Skyway Marina District and downtown St. Petersburg, as well as to other high ridership routes through Grand Central Station, including the SunRunner.  

• The service will also provide more transit options to schools and colleges along the corridor, including Eckerd College, Pinellas Technical College, Gibbs High School, and St. Petersburg College. 

What features make the Spark a premium service? 

• Spark will offer 15-minute frequency express service at each of its 18 stops along 34th Street.  

• The route will feature dedicated shelters at each stop, uniquely branded totems and screens displaying real-time arrival information, and be operated with PSTA’s clean and efficient all-electric buses with dual-door boarding. 

How will the Spark service improve traffic congestion? 

• Spark makes it possible to move more people more efficiently along busy 34th Street—an important factor for fast-growing Pinellas County. 

• Each Spark bus can take as many as 50 cars off the road. 

• All-electric vehicles with more efficient stops and scheduling help increase energy efficiency. 

How does Spark compare to the SunRunner? 

• The Spark and SunRunner operate in a similar fashion, however, the Spark will not have bus-and-turn lanes (BAT lanes) and will not have specially branded buses. 

• Both services operate at 15-minute frequencies and serve each stop along their routes. 

• Whereas SunRunner cannot accept cash, Spark accepts both card and cash. Cash fares will only be accepted at the front door entrance on board Spark buses. 

• Unlike the SunRunner, the Spark will not have level boarding.