ST. PETERSBURG — Starting Sunday, Oct. 4, riders will be able to take a direct express bus from downtown St. Petersburg and the St. Pete Pier to Tampa International Airport without driving across the bay.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s 727 Airport Express — a partnership with the City of St. Petersburg and TPA — launches that morning as a practical alternative to parking, rideshares or the longer local bus trip that used to send riders toward downtown Tampa.
Here is how to ride it.
Where it goes
The 727 is a limited-stop express between downtown St. Pete, the Pier and TPA. Buses use Interstate 275 and the Howard Frankland Bridge express lanes after picking up downtown, then run nonstop across the bay.
PSTA plans about nine downtown stops, including connections to the SunRunner. At the airport, the bus drops at the Rental Car Center. From there, riders take SkyConnect to the main terminal.
The new route replaces Route 100, the previous St. Pete–downtown Tampa service via the Gandy Bridge, for travelers whose destination is the airport rather than downtown Tampa.
Hours, frequency and trip time
Service runs daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., about every 75 minutes. PSTA and partner coverage put the one-way trip at roughly 30 minutes depending on traffic — one reason the express lanes matter for reliability.
Because runs are every hour and a quarter, travelers should leave cushion for luggage, SkyConnect and airport security. Check the live schedule in the PSTA app or on the official 727 Airport Express page before you go.
Fares and how to pay
A one-way ride is $2.25. Flamingo Fares and tap-to-pay credit or debit cards work on board, and UPASS discounts apply. With connections, PSTA’s day-cap style pricing can keep a full day of linked rides near about $5, depending on transfers and fare type.
That price point is the practical pitch for airport employees and travelers who do not want a $40-plus rideshare each way.
What the buses are like
PSTA is assigning hybrid buses with spacious luggage racks for carry-ons. Some coverage has also noted Wi-Fi on the premium coaches. Treat that as a nice-to-have and confirm on your first ride rather than counting on it for work.
Why officials say it matters
PSTA CEO Brad Miller has called the route more than a new line on the map.
“This is more than a new route. It’s a transformational investment in how our region moves,” Miller said when the brand launched. “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.”
Christopher M. Yanes, TPA’s senior project director, framed the Oct. 4 launch as the kind of cross-bay partnership the region needs as congestion grows.
“(It’s) a great example of a public-private partnership where you’re going to give people access to get to the airport all the way across the bay for a very affordable price,” Yanes said in a WUSF report. “And that’s something that I think we can continue to see those sorts of solutions.”
Quick rider checklist
Leave early enough for a 75-minute headway and SkyConnect. Bring a Flamingo card, the Flamingo Fares app or a tap-ready bank card. Pack luggage you can manage on a bus and the airport train. If you need downtown Tampa instead of TPA, plan a different route — the 727 is built for the airport trip.
Full stop lists, maps and updates stay on PSTA’s 727 service page.