Tampa Bay’s first-ever bus rapid transit service won the nationwide Excellence in Inclusive Collaboration Award.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The American Public Transportation Association recognized Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority for its collaborative efforts regarding the SunRunner.
The transit authority partnered with Jones Worley, an African American woman-owned disadvantaged business enterprise and H.W. Locher, the prime engineer, according to a news release. The award honors the transit service’s design, branding and marketing strategy.
“Key to the strategy were brightly colored vehicles with friendly designs, along with an outreach campaign that touched neighborhoods, businesses, and community groups to connect the new service with potential users,” the PSTA release said.
The SunRunner is the first bus rapid transit service in the Tampa Bay area which travels from St. Pete Beach to downtown St. Petersburg with limited stops. The service started in October 2022 and costs $2.25, which is the same as PSTA’s regular …