PSTA Unveils New 727 Service Linking Downtown St. Pete To Tampa Airport

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has unveiled the brand for 727, a new premium regional transit service that will connect downtown St. Petersburg directly to Tampa International Airport.

PSTA announced the service in Tampa on Monday morning and said the route is expected to launch this October.

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The 727 service will be the first express route of its kind in the agency's history. The route, named for the 727 area code, will use the Florida Department of Transportation's newly constructed Howard Frankland Bridge Express Lanes to travel between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, the PSTA said.

When service begins, 727 will make nine stops throughout downtown St. Petersburg before traveling directly to Tampa International Airport, according to PSTA. The agency said the service will run seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and that the vehicles will include luggage racks.

"This is more than a new route. It's a transformational investment in how our region moves," Brad Miller, CEO of PSTA, said. "For the first time, residents and visitors will have a direct, premium transit connection from the heart of downtown St. Petersburg to Tampa International Airport. Whether you're catching a flight, heading to work or visiting our community, 727 will make traveling across the bay easier, faster and more convenient than ever before."

PSTA said the use of the express lanes is intended to provide more reliable travel times by bypassing much of the congestion that has historically affected trips between the two counties. The agency also said the service continues its investment in premium transit options and builds on the SunRunner by expanding regional connections.

"We applaud PSTA for thinking regionally and creating new ways to improve connectivity in the Tampa Bay area. This new express service will offer a convenient, reliable, and sustainable link across the bridge for our 25 million annual passengers and nearly 11,000 employees, strengthening mobility and growth for both Tampa and St. Pete," Michael Stephens, CEO of Tampa International Airport, said.

Amanda Baird, director of communications and marketing for PSTA, said the agency has heard steady demand for a direct airport connection.

"The brand is more than a logo or a bus scheme. It's a promise to our riders, and to our region, for this new service. Direct, daily service between Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa International Airport has consistently been one of our most requested services from locals and visitors alike," Baird said.