New 727 Airport Express route will make travel across Tampa Bay easier than ever

This fall, getting to TPA from downtown St. Petersburg will become easier than ever with the launch of PSTA's new 727 Airport Express bus service.

The announcement was made on July 27, also known as 727 Day in celebration of the Pinellas County area code.

The premium bus service will provide a direct connection between downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa International Airport, giving passengers, airport employees and residents a faster, more convenient and more affordable way to travel across the bay. The route will operate seven days a week, include luggage racks, and will be the first public transit route to use the new Howard Frankland Bridge express lanes to help improve reliability and reduce stress for riders.

"This is more than a new route. It's a transformational investment in how our region moves," said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. "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, the 727 Airport Express will make traveling across the bay easier, faster and more convenient than ever before."

The new service will include nine stops in downtown St. Petersburg, including connections to SunRunner stops and the Pinellas County Beaches, and will run every 75 minutes. For airport travelers, that means a simple, dependable option with room for luggage and fewer concerns about driving, parking or navigating unfamiliar roads. One-way fares will be $2.25.

"We applaud PSTA for thinking regionally and creating new ways to improve connectivity in the Tampa Bay area," said Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stephens. "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."

"This is a very significant occasion, because this is the beginning of real transit across Tampa Bay," said Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen, who is also a member of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board. "Michael said it best - we connect everywhere in the world, but we haven't connected enough in our own backyard," said Cohen. "Now we are putting our region together."

The 727 Airport Express is expected to launch in October.