Florida’s Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) launched Spark. This all-electric express bus service connects Eckerd College and the Skyway Marina District with Downtown St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. 

Designed to deliver faster, cleaner, and more reliable travel, Spark expands access to jobs, schools, and essential services while advancing the city’s vision for a sustainable, connected future.

PSTA’s New Spark Service

Spark operates from 5 a.m. to midnight, with buses arriving every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes during early mornings and late nights. The service features 18 upgraded stations with modern shelters, lighting, and digital screens displaying real-time bus information. 

Every vehicle in the Spark fleet is fully electric, offering a quieter, zero-emission ride that aligns with PSTA’s commitment to clean energy and innovation.

“Spark is more than a bus line. It’s another step toward a cleaner, more connected future for St. Petersburg,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. “This service reflects years of community input, planning, and partnership at every level. By connecting the Skyway Marina District, Eckerd College, and Downtown, Spark strengthens opportunity and access for everyone in our community.”

Bringing Reliable Transportation to St. Petes

Spark is part of PSTA’s long-term strategy to expand efficient, reliable public transportation across Pinellas County. It builds on the success of the SunRunner, Tampa Bay’s first Bus Rapid Transit line, which continues to exceed ridership expectations and reduce congestion along the city’s busiest corridors. Unlike the SunRunner, Spark will not use dedicated bus-and-turn lanes, according to the authority. 

The new service links neighborhoods long separated by distance and accessibility barriers, bringing South St. Petersburg closer to the heart of the city’s economic and cultural growth.

“Spark connects our neighborhoods from Eckerd College through the Skyway Marina District to Downtown and beyond,” said Mayor Ken Welch. “It links directly with the SunRunner, strengthening a network that helps residents, workers, and visitors move efficiently across our city without needing a car. The future of mobility in St. Pete isn’t just coming, it’s already here, and it’s electric.”

Eckerd College is one of the major anchors of the new route, providing students, staff, and visitors with greater mobility options while advancing shared mobility goals.

The project also delivers on the Skyway Marina District Master Plan, which calls for stronger bus connections, improved shelters, and better pedestrian access along 34th Street South.