SunRunner Attracts More Than 10,000 Riders During 1st Weekend

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — If the ridership numbers for the first weekend the SunRunner was in operation are any indication, Pinellas County residents are prepared to leave their cars at home and take the bus to the beaches, to work and to events.

A first-its-kind bus rapid transit system in the Tampa Bay Region, the SunRunner attracted more than 10,000 riders in its first four days of operation.

“I am thrilled to know that the community has welcomed the SunRunner with open arms,” said Brad Miller, chief executive officer of PSTA. “Seeing the SunRunner packed at 6 a.m. until the evening in both directions truly shows that this community needs more alternative transit solutions to get people to and from their destinations.”

The PSTA celebrated the official ribbon-cutting of the bus service on Thursday, Oct. 20, and then opened the service to its first riders on Friday morning.

A federal grant is paying for half of the $44 million in capital costs. The state is paying for 25 percent and the PSTA and the city of St. Petersburg are paying the remaining 25 percent.

With the goal of taking vehicles off of congested roadways, the PSTA is offering free rides on the SunRunner for the first six months.

"The SunRunner is unlike any other transit system in the area,” said Florida Department of Transportation District 7 Secretary David Gwynn. “One of the unique features is transit signal priority, which means as soon as the bus leaves the platform, it will trigger the traffic lights to turn green. Between that technology, having a dedicated lane and limited stops, the SunRunneris about 30 faster than current bus service.”

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

According to a study published by the Florida Department of Transportation Research Center, new transportation services are given as little as 90 days on the low end and a 36‐month period on the high end to become productive based on agency standards. During that time, agencies typically monitor the route’s performance and may make schedule and route adjustments and employ various marketing programs to boost performance.

See related stories:

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

Miller said it doesn't look as if PSTA will have to wait for ridership results.

“We are seeing an unprecedented amount of riders showing their support for this service. Many are using the SunRunner to get to work, to get to the beach and just to get around,” said Miller.

The first rapid transit system of its kind serving Tampa Bay, 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. There are 30 Sunrunner stations with buses running every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening.

The 10.3-mile line connects St. Pete Beach and South Pasadena with downtown St. Pete, the region's most densely populated corridor.

The PSTA is banking on residents using the high-frequency service to get to their jobs on time.

“There are currently 50,000 jobs and 40,000 residents within a half mile of the SunRunner route, and those numbers are growing,” said St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch. “The SunRunner will help meet the travel needs of our residents and the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit our beautiful area every year.”

The SunRunner fleet consists of nine environmentally friendly hybrid electric buses, with seven buses operating daily.

PSTA safety, security and training supervisor, AJ Ortiz, began training bus drivers to operate the new electric buses on the raised platforms of the dedicated lanes in January. The system also requires drivers to pull up next to the curb against a yellow rubber material situated between the platform and the bus to prevent passengers from tripping.

Eventually, all 400 of the PSTA's drivers will learn to operate the SunRunner buses.

The new hybrid electric buses are quieter, produce fewer emissions than diesel-powered buses, and have more amenities.

Customers will enjoy free Wi-Fi; charging ports at every seat; interior bike storage; and raised platforms at the stations that will allow strollers and wheelchairs smoother, faster access.

Riders are also able to prepay bus fares with their smartphone or other devices.

In the future, the Tampa Bay Regional Transit Authority, which coordinates transportation systems for the five-county Tampa Bay area, plans to make the PSTA's Bus Rapid Transit system part of a 41-mile route connecting downtown St. Petersburg to downtown Tampa, Tampa International Airport, the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida and Wesley Chapel.

“The SunRunner has been a long time coming,” said Miller. “The concept was first introduced 15 years ago and it has taken a collaborative effort with elected leaders and all levels of government to secure the necessary approvals and funding. The SunRunner should be a catalyst for additional service connecting with North Pinellas, Tampa and the entire region. We can’t wait for our residents, workers, and tourists to try the SunRunner.”

Those who have ridden the SunRunner are asked to take a quick survey here.