With the school year about to begin (we miss you already, summer break), a new program is making it easier than ever to get to school – and anywhere else in Pinellas County. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) announced that all students, teachers and staff at any Pinellas County school can now ride for free on PSTA bus routes.

While the initiative is aimed at those going to school every day, it’s aimed at doing far more than just getting students to class and back. The goal, PSTA CEO Brad Miller said, is to help with the entire educational and schooling experience, creating a convenient way to get to and from after-school programs, to after-school jobs, and anywhere else they want to go in the county.

Taking advantage of the deal is simple: just show your school ID to the bus operator, and grab a seat until you reach your stop. The full map of routes and bus schedules can be found at PSTA.net. And as a reminder, the SunRunner remains free to all riders through October, offering rapid transit from downtown to the beaches and everywhere in between.

“PSTA has several public transit routes and bus stops convenient to schools throughout the county,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PSTA. “All Pinellas County students and staff will be able to ride for free, any time, on all routes so they can access jobs, after-school activities, or even the beach.”

This is the second year in a row PSTA has offered free rides for school students, teachers and staff, in partnership with county schools. There is no limit on when or how often qualifying riders take advantage of the program. Learn more here.

What to read next:

• Contactless payment now available on area transit services PSTA, HART, The Bus
• PSTA receives $20 million for massive new Clearwater transit center
• SunRunner extends free rides for another six months after successful launch
• Sunrunner will expand with new station in downtown St. Pete, and two new buses