New SPARK Route Expands Transit Access for SPC Students

Students at St. Petersburg College and Eckerd College now have a faster, greener way to get around town. Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) launched a new SPARK service — a premium, direct route from Eckerd College to Grand Central Station with a key stop at SPC’s Allstate Center.

The route serves Pinellas County, connecting to other routes including the SunRunner to Downtown St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach.

This longstanding partnership aims to improve transportation access for students and staff. PSTA CEO Brad Miller thanked PSTA staff involved in the project, acknowledging how the route improves mobility not only for students and employees, but the whole Pinellas region.

“This network is about connecting people to opportunity,” said Miller. “We listened to what our riders wanted and built a system that delivers more reliability and convenience without raising fares.”

The all-electric buses will run every 15 minutes during peak daytime hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and, every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. until midnight. SPC students and staff ride for free with their school IDs.

With cash and cashless fare options and easy front or rear boarding, PSTA makes commuting simple. The all-electric buses offer an eco-friendly, reliable way for students and staff to get to class — or to explore Pinellas County without spending money on gas.