State to remove part of SunRunner's dedicated lanes
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The SunRunner in its dedicated bus lane at a stop on South Pasadena Avenue. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios
The SunRunner will no longer have dedicated lanes along South Pasadena Avenue after state officials intervened.
Why it matters: Dedicated lanes are a key feature underpinning the 3-year-old rapid-transit bus service, which was billed as a high-frequency, limited-congestion way to travel from downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach.
- The change could force the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Agency (PSTA) to return $22 million in federal funding for the service, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
- It also underscores local transit projects' increased scrutiny by state lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
State of play: State Rep. Linda Chaney, R-St. Pete Beach, celebrated what she called the "reopening" of the state road along with several local elected officials and residents hoisting "traffic congestion relief" signs, per the Times.
- In a news release, Chaney pointed to a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) study that found that crashes on a section of Pasadena Avenue had increased 50%.
- The study compared crashes that occurred during the three years prior to the SunRunner's start of service in 2022 — including the peak pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 — with the two years after.
Yes, but: Other available data says the opposite.
- Transportation planning agency Forward Pinellas published an analysis that found a 40% decrease in crashes along the SunRunner route, with faster travel times for drivers and bus users during rush hours.
- A previous FDOT study also reported a "minimal difference" in car speeds and travel time before and after the addition of the bus lanes.
What they're saying: "I'm kind of embarrassed by the whole thing," Forward Pinellas executive director Whit Blanton told Axios of the dedicated lane removals.
- "The SunRunner is just a great project, and it's doing what it's supposed to do."
Catch up quick: The SunRunner, at its launch, was celebrated as a transit breakthrough for a gridlocked region. But critics complained the service interrupted traffic flow and confused drivers.
- Last year, Chaney helped pass a transportation package upping state scrutiny on local transit agencies and projects. Soon after, FDOT increased the ridership threshold for SunRunner-like projects.
- Upon signing the bill into law, DeSantis criticized local governments that he said were "anti-commuter" and trying to "force people out of their cars."
Between the lines: Without the ability to repurpose lanes, local governments will have to consider more expensive options, such as adding lanes, or abandon public transit projects altogether, Blanton said.
What's next: State workers will repaint the lanes on South Pasadena Avenue in the next couple of weeks, per the Times.
- On Sunday, PSTA will launch another high-frequency bus route along 34th Street South in the booming Skyway Marina District.
- That project was also set to have dedicated bus lanes — until the state intervened.