Page was last updated on 09/23/2026.
How did we get here?
While planning for what is today known as the SunRunner began in 2015, preliminary plans for some form of premium transit option go as far back as 2009. Launching a premium transit option in the Tampa Bay region has always been elusive due to funding constraints, mixed public support, & numerous failed attempts to pass voter initiatives for a dedicated sales tax.
Greenlight Pinellas
The most recent attempt for a dedicated sales tax was the Greenlight Pinellas plan. Had the voter initiative passed in the fall of 2014, it would have allowed PSTA & Pinellas County to enact transformational improvements & expansion to the entire bus network, as well as utilize CSX freight right-of-way for a north-south light rail line. Several rapid bus routes were proposed under the plan – which would allow for eventual transitioning to a Gold Standard Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service on select corridors. These corridors include:
- 1st Avenues from Downtown St. Petersburg to South Pasadena, then across the Corey Causeway into St. Pete Beach – the very corridor that the SunRunner follows today.
- 4th St from Pinellas Point to the Gateway region.
- 49th St from Central Ave to Roosevelt Blvd.
- The East Bay Dr corridor in Largo.
- The Ulmerton Rd corridor in Largo & Gateway.
- The US Hwy 19 Corridor.
- A line that would utilize 58th St N near Pasadena between Central Ave & 5th Ave N, then trek along 5th Ave N to Tyrone Blvd before travelling up Tyrone Blvd to the interchange with Seminole Blvd in Seminole. From there, service would utilize Seminole Blvd until it turns into Missouri Ave in Clearwater.
Evaluating BRT options
Following the failure of the Greenlight Pinellas initiative, county leaders have been hesitant to bring up another attempt – especially following several failed attempts in neighboring Hillsborough County. Therefore, the focus has since largely shifted towards implementing at least Bronze level BRT corridors throughout the county, focusing on the previously identified corridors mentioned above.
By 2017, it was increasingly becoming clear that the 1st Avenues/St. Pete Beach corridor would ultimately be selected as the first BRT project to initiate, as 1st Ave N & S have generally been wide 3 to 4-lane one-way streets that only saw modest traffic counts. Both streets would be able to be modified to handle dedicated or at least semi-dedicated bus lanes & island station platforms. Improvements to sidewalks & bike lane infrastructure could be integrated into the larger project. Additionally, the corridor provided the most ridership potential being that it would be able to seamlessly link Downtown St. Pete to St. Pete Beach.
Construction begins on the SunRunner
While construction of the SunRunner was originally envisioned to get underway in 2018, several delays in the planning process caused a pushback into 2020 – during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. During that year however, federal funding commitments were secured, the SunRunner name was formally unveiled to the public, & the project was able to gain tremendous support from residents, business owners, government officials, & other key partners.
Despite both Covid & non-Covid-related delays in the overall project, construction of the SunRunner stations, modification of existing roadways, & other elements were able to be carried out without any substantial increases in budget. In fact, the SunRunner was able to be completed with some allowance left in the federal funding allocation – which allowed PSTA to secure three additional buses for the route & begin planning for an additional station.
The SunRunner Launches
The SunRunner opened to immense fanfare on October 21, 2022 & carried over 60,000 riders during its first several months in service. The line has been able to introduce those to the PSTA system who otherwise would not have considered using public transit at all – including those who seek an alternative to dealing with parking & traffic woes while going to the beach. The overall popularity with the SunRunner, even as fare collection began nearly a year after its launch, will no doubt spark the desires to further expand the network to other busy corridors – such as Seminole Blvd.
Additional SunRunner Station & Buses
Because the initial project was completed below budget, the extra federal funds were used to construct a new station on 1st Ave N, next to the Ascent St. Petersburg apartment tower & the Sundial parking garage. Construction of the station began in August, 2024 & is slated to become operational in time for the February, 2025 service changes. The remaining additional funds were also used to purchase three 2024 model 40′ Gillig BRT Plus Hybrid buses – equipped with near-identical specifications to the initial nine buses – to help maintain a healthy spare bus ratio & to prepare for service to the additional station. These buses were delivered to PSTA during the spring of 2024 & were in revenue service beginning in May of that year.
Re-Evaluating US Hwy 19
By the time the SunRunner opened, PSTA was already setting its sights on its next premium transit service – focusing on the southern end of the US Highway 19 corridor in Pinellas County, known as 34th Street South.
- The entire 34th St corridor (north & south) was seeing disproportionate transit ridership trends.
- 34th St S was seeing more riders due in part to redevelopment in the Skyway Marina District (the area of the corridor towards 54th Ave S & the Pinellas Bayway) as well as a growing number of students using transit to get to & from Eckerd College (located along 54th Ave S just before it becomes the Pinellas Bayway going west).
- 34th St N however was seeing more of a stagnation in transit riders due to adverse effects from Covid-19. However, room was needed for future growth through new riders & other efforts.
- The Florida Department of Transportation was in the planning stages to enhance the 34th St S corridor & had been engaged in discussions with both PSTA & the county transportation planning body – Forward Pinellas.
- Funding constraints would ultimately prevent enhanced service from being incorporated to the entirety of the 34th St corridor from the Skyway Marina District to Pinellas Park. The focus was ultimately positioned on 34th St S.
- The original plans for transit enhancements to 34th St S was for SunRunner style BRT with semi-dedicated lanes. By 2024, PSTA had chosen the name of Spark (which is sometimes stylized as SPARK in all caps) for the new service. However, due to changes in state law, the plan to implement semi-dedicated lanes on 34th St S was abandoned. Construction began on the Spark stations in the spring of 2025, with work wrapping up by the fall.
Getting SPARKed!
The launch of Spark on October 26, 2025 coincided with the broader Connected Community Bus Plan system redesign – which allows for greater systemwide connectivity, streamlined service hours, as well as route frequency & bus stop balances. A formal grand opening ceremony was held the following day on October 27, 2025.
