Gold Cards To Be Given To 1st 500 Sunrunner Passengers Friday

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority announced a special benefit to those who are the first to ride the Tampa Bay Region’s first-of-its-kind bus rapid transit system, the SunRunner.

On opening weekend, Oct. 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.”

See related stories:

• Tampa Bay's 1st Rapid Transit System, SunRunner, To Debut Oct. 21
• Sunrunner Bus Rapid Transit System Receives More Federal Funding
• First Completed SunRunner Station Unveiled In Downtown St. Pete
• Construction Begins For St. Pete's Historic Rapid Transit Line

The SunRunner Gold Card grants cardholders discounts to participating businesses along the SunRunner route for the first three months of service Oct. 21 to Jan. 31, including 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, click here.

The SunRunner will start service at 6 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 21.

The SunRunner features semi-dedicated lanes, limited stops and safety enhancements for riders including level boarding platforms and crosswalks, turning a 55-minute trip into a 35-minute trip.

The 10.3-mile line will connect St. Pete Beach and South Pasadena with downtown St. Pete. It will include 30 stations with buses running every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening.

The buses themselves will offer free Wi-Fi, on-board bike space and multi-door boarding to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters for the disabled. Riders will be able to prepay bus fares with their smartphone or other device.

For more information on the SunRunner service, click here.