Tampa Bay's 1st Rapid Transit System, SunRunner, To Debut Oct. 21

ST PETE BEACH, FL — The highly anticipated SunRunner rapid transit system circulating between St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach will launch on Oct. 21, announced the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.

“I am excited to officially announce the grand opening of the SunRunner, a project that will truly transform the Tampa Bay region,” said Brad Miller, chief executive officer of PSTA. “As our area’s first rapid transit system, the SunRunner will introduce enhanced customer service and connectivity, and encourage new economic growth for the region.”

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.

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.

To prepare for the SunRunner's arrival, the PSTA poured asphalt for bus and turn lanes along the SunRunner corridor in May (see enforcement procedures).

See related stories:

• 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

In addition to finding a faster way for vacationers to travel to the beach and residents to commute to and from downtown St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach for work, the PSTA is looking to take cars off the county's already-congested roadways. About 80 percent of people working in St. Pete Beach live outside the beach town, with 40 percent living in the city of St. Petersburg.

“We’re looking to provide a connected transportation network that allows you to easily get to work, restaurants, retail and recreation,” said Whit Blanton, executive director of Forward Pinellas, the county's land use and transportation planning agency. “It’s time to invest in transit throughout our communities."

"We believe it's a solution to the ever-growing traffic congestion problem," Miller said.

The SunRunner didn't come to fruition without a few snags along the way, however.

When it was first introduced by the PSTA in 2019, the St. Pete City Commission had some misgivings. St. Pete Mayor Al Johnson said a big-city bus system is out of character for a small beach town like St. Pete Beach.

“These are city buses, but we’re not a city. We’re a beach town," Johnson said during a 2019 workshop. "They’re out of place here, the buses are.”

With a few tweaks and concessions, eventually all parties came to the table after receiving a $21.8 million Department of Transportation Buses and Bus Facilities Grant, the largest amount of money ever awarded in the public transportation history of the Tampa Bay region, along with $1.2 million in federal dollars for new bus stations and facility upgrades.

The estimated total price tag is $43.93 million.

Miller said the SunRunner isn't simply a faster bus.

Forward Pinellas, the PSTA and the cities completed a transit study around the service, looking at ways to improve economic development, connect with other modes of transportation, including pedestrian and bike routes, mixed-used developments near the transit stations and infrastructure improvements needed to access and park at the bus stations.

The PSTA even engaged the art community to design the SunRunner logo and create murals at the bus stations.

The 40-foot-long buses feature artwork by St. Petersburg artist Chad Mize that include a "Mr. Sun" image.

The first completed SunRunner station, located at the intersection of 1st Avenue North and 5th Street North, features a colorful Florida-themed glass mural by St. Petersburg artist Catherine Woods, a nationally recognized artist who works primarily in architectural glass and metal.

"My work introduces color, presence and scale to environments and often incorporates elements which resonate with the local populace," Wood said of her mural.

"Being able to incorporate public art into the design of the bus shelters I think is a win-win," Miller said. "It enhances the aesthetics and appeal of the SunRunner and it's also a great way to recognize and compliment the region's growing arts community."

Eventually, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, which coordinates transportation systems for the five-county Tampa Bay area, hopes to make the 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.

"Ultimately, we hope this will be the first piece of a larger BRT puzzle that connects all of our communities, reduces congestion and improves our lives," Miller said.

When the SunRunner opens in October, it will be free for riders for the first six months.