Ever wanted to jump on one of Tampa's novel TECO Line streetcars to get from downtown to Ybor City or vice versa, only to find you didn't have the funds? Florida's Department of Transportation announced a $2,670,000 grant to Hillsborough Area Regional Transit that will eliminate fares for the service for the next three years.
HART is also looking forward to upgrading the streetcar schedule from 20 minutes to 15 minutes, as they expect that eliminating fares will speed up the boarding process for riders.
What won't be eliminated? Wonks complaining that the service is basically a novelty that doesn't bring the county any income and that only services a handful of tourists and kitschmongers, probably, though extending both the length of the route and the service's hours of operation — both of which are under consideration — could go a long way toward legitimizing the streetcar experience by attracting commuters and nightlifers alike.
This article appears in Jun 7-14, 2018.