As families flock to Pinellas County’s beaches this Labor Day weekend, the weather forecast looks good, but the traffic forecast looks bleak. Tens of thousands of people will jam the roads and fight to find a parking spot. But this will be the last holiday weekend when beachgoers are forced to battle for a precious parking space.
Next month, the SunRunner will launch, creating an entirely new way to get to the beach, with no hunts for parking and no sandy, sunblocky mess in your car. The SunRunner is PSTA’s new Bus Rapid Transit service, the first of its kind in Tampa Bay. And since it uses its own dedicated lane, it won’t be held up by holiday beach traffic.
“The Tampa Bay area has added more than 400,000 people in just the past 10 years, and when you’re trying to find a parking space, it seems like all 400,000 of those people are heading to the beach just like you,” said Brad Miller, CEO of Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA).
“When the SunRunner opens next month, it’ll connect ‘the beach and the ‘Burg,’ so you can park anywhere along the route between Downtown St. Petersburg and the Gulf, and we’ll do the driving. Hop off at the TradeWinds Resort or at a park along the water in St. Pete Beach. Then a bus will be by every 15 minutes when it’s time to head home.”
For the first six months after the SunRunner opens on October 21, all rides will be free. After that—on Memorial Day or July 4th weekends, for example—the price is the same as PSTA’s normal fares. Currently, a one-day group pass for up to five people is just $10, plus kids 8 and younger ride free—an even bigger bargain considering beach parking can cost $20 or more, plus the cost of gas and the frustration of fighting for an elusive place to park.
About the SunRunner
The SunRunner is Tampa Bay’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project offering a modern, fast transportation service. Riding in its own lane, the SunRunner will bypass traffic to get you to your destination more efficiently than driving on your own. Customers will enjoy free Wi-Fi; charging ports at every seat; interior bike storage; and raised platforms at the stations that allow strollers and wheelchairs smoother, faster access. Learn more about the new service and find answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.