Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) began service on its SunRunner bus rapid transit (BRT) route on Friday, Oct. 21. The 10.3-mile line is Tampa Bay’s first BRT and connects St. Pete Beach to St. Petersburg, Fla.
The service, which will be free for the first six months of operation, surpassed 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 CEO of PSTA Brad Miller. “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 SunRunner features semi-dedicated lanes, limited stops and safety enhancements for riders including level boarding platforms and crosswalks. The route is operated with hybrid vehicles with service every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes between 8 p.m. and midnight. The vehicles also feature Wi-Fi, charging stations at every seat and have digital displays for customer information.
“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,” added Miller.
The SunRunner project was funded with a $21.8 million federal grant through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant program, Florida Department of Transportation covered 25 percent of the project cost with PSTA and the city of St. Peterburg splitting the remaining costs. Operating costs of the BRT line will be supported by PSTA and Florida Department of Transportation.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
