Public Transportation During NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four

The most exciting time in college basketball is here! Tampa plays host to the NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four at Amalie Arena. HART would like to offer a big welcome to all the athletes, students and fans that are in town to see a champion crowned! Tampa has a number of attractions and things to do while in town.

Use HART to get to the following Tampa attractions and avoid the parking hassles:

• Busch Gardens - Routes 5, 18, 39
• Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
• Florida Aquarium - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar
• Channelside Bay Plaza (Dining, retail, Splitsville) - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar
• Ybor City Historic District (Centro Ybor) - Routes 8, 5, 9, 12, 18, 46 the TECO Line Streetcar
• International Plaza (Shopping) - 15, 30, 61LX
• Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) - Route 6, 21LX
• Amalie Arena - Route 8, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
• David A. Straz Jr. Center - 7, 10, 14, In-Town Trolley
• Tampa Convention Center - Route 4, 19, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
• Tampa Museum of Art - Routes 7, 10, 14, In-Town Trolley
• Tampa Theatre - Route 4, 8, 19, 30, 46, In-Town Trolley
• Glazer's Children Museum - Routes 7, 10, 14, In-Town Trolley
• University of South Florida - Routes 5, 6, 18, 21LX, MetroRapid
• Westshore Plaza (Shopping) - Routes 15, 30, 45, HARTFlex South Tampa
• Raymond James Stadium (Home of the Outback Bowl) - Routes 7, 32, 36, 41, 45

Flying out? HART also has improved service to Tampa International Airport by providing more frequency, seven days a week. Route 30 runs between downtown and the airport every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on weekends.

A 3-day Visitor Unlimited HARTride card is your best bet at only $11.75 and valid on all HART local buses, In-Town Trolley and the TECO Line Streetcar System.

OneBusAway Tampa provides real-time arrival for HART bus service. The free app is available in Android/Apple stores, as well as, on mobile browsers and via text message and touch tone phone.

Things to know about the In-Town Trolley and TECO Line Streetcar System:

• 
  In-Town Trolley:  The In-Town Trolley is a rubber-wheel trolley that operates on a 15-minute frequency, serving popular locations in downtown Tampa and costs only 25¢! Service operates 6:30 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.; weekdays only.

• TECO Line Streetcar System: The streetcar line runs on rails that connects Ybor City, Channelside and Downtown Tampa.
  Streetcar hours during NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four:
  
  Sunday - Noon - 11:30 p.m. (or 30 minutes following the end of the 2nd Semifinal game).
  Monday/Tuesday -  9:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. (or 30 minutes following the end of the NCAA Women's Semifinal and Championship game
  Wednesday - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
  
  Streetcar Operators do not provide change. 

It's easy to plan your own trip! Visit www.goHART.org to use the Google Trip Planner feature or call 813-254-HART (4278).

Click here for a map of downtown Tampa's network of public transportation service, including streetcar stops, In-Town Trolley service and HART bus routes.

Have a great time taking in the madness of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four and enjoy all that Tampa has to offer while you're here!

International Transit Driver Appreciation Day

HART Operators help thousands of riders get to work, school or elsewhere safely and on time every day. We make life happen for many residents of Hillsborough County. Celebrate their contributions on Transit Driver Appreciation Day, Wednesday, March 18, with HART and other transit providers across the country!

Driving may seem easy to some, but try doing it for eight hours or more in an extra-large vehicle while you pick up passengers, answer questions, keep on schedule, give directions and more. Then add unpredictable traffic, bad weather conditions and some tight spaces. HART operators handle all this and more every day while helping Hillsborough County residents get where they need to go.

"Our operators do a lot more than just drive buses, vans, and streetcar" said HART Chief Executive Officer Katharine Eagan. "Often they are expected to be all things at all times, trip planner, paramedic and more... all while safely driving a 40-foot bus."

It is a day to acknowledge how difficult driving a bus can be as HART and others salute the operators who have the skills and temperament to do it. This group of men and women are the agency's public ambassadors, representing HART day-in and day-out as they serve their routes.

Come join us at Marion Transit Center on March 18 at 9 a.m. as we hand out goodies and show our appreciation to our operators!

Background

International Transit Driver Appreciation Day began in 2009 when a group of transit riders in Seattle decided it would be a great way to honor the hard-working men and women who safely get us to job
s, stores, schools, etc.