New Bay Runner Trolley Will Connect Downtown Sarasota With St. Armands, Lido Beach

SARASOTA, FL — A new open-air trolley connecting downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle and Lido Beach launches Wednesday at 8 a.m.

The free Bay Runner trolley will operate between downtown and the barrier islands with 12 pre-determined stops approximately two to three blocks apart in pedestrian areas along Main Street, St. Armands Circle and Lido Pavilion, according to a news release from the city.

The trolley endpoints will be Main Street at School Avenue and Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach. The trolley route map is available here. An additional stop will be added near Golden Gate Point when the U.S 41-Gulfstream Avenue roundabout is completed.

The trolley was approved by the Sarasota City Commission to help alleviate traffic congestion between downtown Sarasota and the barrier islands by offering an easy, hassle-free alternative to an automobile, the city said.

Beach totes, shopping bags and other carry-ons can easily fit within a passenger seating area to encourage people to take the Bay Runner to come and go from the beach, shopping and dining.

“If you can leave the car behind and let someone else do the driving at no cost, why wouldn’t you?” Mayor Erik Arroyo said. “Siesta Key has had success with a trolley, and we expect Sarasota will too. The Bay Runner will become a convenient, safe and fun way to get from downtown to St. Armands and Lido Beach for visitors and residents alike while naturally reducing the number of vehicles on the road.”

The Bay Runner will operate daily, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to midnight, carries 28 passengers and is equipped with a wheelchair boarding lift.

The city commission partnered with the Downtown Improvement District (DID), St. Armands Business Improvement District (BID), Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and city staff to bring the trolley to reality. In addition to city economic development funds and a $1.5 million FDOT grant, the DID and BID each allocated $50,000 toward the initial three-year program.

“I’m very enthusiastic about the Bay Runner,” said Commissioner Hagen Brody, who presented the trolley concept to the city commission for consideration last year. “This is a critical component of our broader micro and multimodal transportation additions to the City of Sarasota and will hopefully make it easier and quicker to get around downtown and out to the island.”

The Sarasota Bay Runner app will track real-time information including approximate arrival times and will be available via the Apple App Store, Google Play and at www.SarasotaBayRunner.com A QR code on Bay Runner stop signs directs users to the app, as well.

The service will be operated by CPR Medical Transport, the same company that runs the Siesta Key Breeze trolley.

Complimentary paratransit service also will be available through advanced registration and scheduling. Call 866-212-7771 for more information and to register for paratransit service.