HART's Route 1 Goes Fare-free for a Year!

HART is excited to announce that its most popular route, Route 1, is now fare-free for one year. The pilot, which launched Sunday, January 5, 2025, is possible thanks to Tampa City Council allocating $1.65 million in city funds to support free fares and increasing peak service frequency to every 15 minutes.

Route 1, which serves nearly 3,000 daily customers, operates between the University area and downtown Tampa, providing vital transportation services to thousands of residents.

Approximately 32,000 residents and 56,000 jobs within a quarter mile of Route 1. Notably, 18% of the population in this area does not own a car, more than a quarter live below the poverty line, 14% have a disability, and 64% are minorities.

“We are thrilled to work with the City of Tampa to provide this essential service to the community, which will not only ease the financial burden on our riders but also increase service on the route, supporting those who rely on HART to access jobs, education, and healthcare,” said HART CEO Scott Drainville. “This initiative represents a meaningful step toward making transit more equitable and accessible for all.”

The initiative also includes an additional $150,000 in paratransit services, ensuring that transportation remains accessible to those with disabilities.

"This is a major win for mass transit in our Tampa community," said HART Chair Councilman Luis Viera. "I thank the Council members who helped us move past the acute gridlock and, in particular, I salute Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak for her leadership. This proposal will make a difference in the lives of everyday working families. I am proud to work with the public servants, both Republican and Democrat, on our HART board. We work together for the families that HART serves and the workers who make HART function.”

Click here for background on the Route 1 Fare-Free Pilot.

Hop on HART this School Year!

Welcome back, students! Another semester is here. If you're planning on using HART this school year, below is a quick reference guide on connecting to HART and the special fares available from your school.

What is HART?

Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) is the public transportation service provider for Hillsborough County. HART serves Hillsborough County's employees, residents and visitors with bus, and van services. HART also operates the FREE 2.7-mile TECO Line Streetcar System, serving the restaurants, attractions and other entertainment venues of Ybor City, the Channel District and downtown Tampa.

HART Adult Student Fare program:

Schools participating in the HART Adult Student Fare program sell HART fare cards to their students for a 25% discount. Students can purchase a 31-Day Local Adult Student Fare Card for only $48.75 (normally $65) at their respective schools by showing their valid student ID. Please note, the adult student discount is not applicable if the pass is purchased at traditional HART sales outlets.

Click here for a listing of participating schools.

What's a fare card worth, if you can't connect to your school?

Luckily, HART has you covered with multiple routes connecting to over 20 colleges in Hillsborough County. Below, you'll find a listing of some of the schools that HART serves with bus, van, and streetcar services.

University of South Florida (USF)

USF Students ride HART FREE!

The following HART routes serve the USF area:

• MetroRapid (Route 400) - UATC/Fletcher Ave.
• Route 1 - Florida Ave.
• Route 5 - 40th St.
• Route 6 - 56th St.
• Route 9 - 15th St.
• Route 12 - 22nd St.
• Route 33 - Fletcher Ave.
• Route 42 - UATC
• Route 44 - UATC
• Route 45- UATC
• Route 48 - Fowler Ave./56th St./Morris Bridge
• Route 275LX - Bruce B. Downs Blvd./UATC

Students ride FREE on MetroRapid, HART Local, Limited Express and Flex routes with valid student ID. Faculty and staff ride for just 50¢.

For information on the U-Pass program, click here.

Hillsborough Community College (HCC)

We have a number of routes serving the HCC campuses throughout the county:

• Dale Mabry campus - Route(s) 7, 36
• Brandon campus - Route 37
• SouthShore campus - Route 31, HARTFlex South County
• Ybor City campus - Route(s) 5, 9, 12, the FREE TECO Line Streetcar

HCC Semester Pass: HCC students can purchase the HCC Semester Pass, providing over 4 months of unlimited rides on HART for just $110 - roughly 50% off! The Semester Pass can be purchased at all HCC Bookstores or by bringing your HCC Student ID to the Marion Transit Center or University Area Transit Center. The HCC Semester Pass is now a part of Flamingo Fares.

Students can also purchase a 31-Day Local Adult Student Fare Card for $48.75 at the bookstores of HCC's Dale Mabry, Brandon and Ybor City campuses.

 

UT students receive a 25% discount on 31-day passes

University of Tampa (UT)

HART serves UT via the following routes:

• Route 7 - West Tampa/Citrus Park
• Route 10 - Cypress St.
• Route 30 - Town 'N Country/Airport

Plan your school commute with HART

Your best bet is the HART Trip Planner. Simply type in your starting and endpoints, arrival time/date, hit "get directions," and let the planner do the rest.

Real-time HART arrival information and trip planning are also available with the OneBusAway Tampa app!

HART Travel Training 

The first Travel Training ride is FREE!

Need some assistance in getting started? HART Travel Training is a GREAT way to learn the ropes of riding public transportation. The service is FREE with trainers providing step-by-step instructions on how to understand the HART system (reading a map, signage, etc.) and figure out the best route that will take you to your destination.

You can call the HARTinfo line at 813-254-4278 to get started!

Have a GREAT semester!

HART to Hold Design Workshop for TOD Pilot Project

HART is hosting the second of two public design charrettes for the HART Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Pilot Project on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The charrette is being held from 10 AM - 2:30 PM at the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association - 2005 N Lamar Ave., Tampa, FL, 33602.

The purpose of the charrettes is to share information about the HART TOD Pilot Project, explore strategies to guide land use and development, and share ideas for the community's future.

HART TOD Design Charrette Schedule:

• Morning Design Session - 10:30 AM - 12 PM
• Afternoon Design Session - 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

The community will have the opportunity to hear a project update on the HART TOD Study and provide input via interactive map exercises.

For more information about the HART TOD Pilot Project and announcements on upcoming events, visit goHARTTOD.org.

For more information about HART service, visit www.goHART.org.

HART Requests Public Input on Bus Rapid Transit Study!

HART needs public input on the HART Tampa Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study, evaluating rapid bus service along Florida, Nebraska and/or Fowler avenues, between USF and downtown Tampa. HART has released a short survey to understand how respondents travel in the study area and the types of improvements they would like to see.

The study's objectives are: 

1. to improve safety on these routes
2. to improve connectivity for east-west routes within this corridor
3. to improve local transit access on these roads, including bike/pedestrian access

The public survey is available online in both English and Spanish.

For more information on the HART Tampa Arterial BRT Study, click here.

HART FY2018 System Redesign: Carrollwood and University Area

We move northward to the Carrollwood and University Area this week, as we continue to breakdown the HART system redesign.

If you are not aware, HART is undergoing a major system redesign, in which EVERY route will be affected in some way.

Map of Carrollwood and University Area after proposed system redesign in October 2017.

Summary of Changes:

• Service Additions: 

• Route 275LX: Proposed all-day service would provide hourly service between University Area Transit Center, Downtown Tampa, and Tampa International Airport.

• Route 1:
  
  • Route would increase frequency to every 15 minutes weekdays south of Hillsborough Ave.; every 30 minutes north of Hillsborough Ave., with new stops.
  • Downtown: Route would travel on Florida Ave. and Tampa St. to Whiting St., with new stops.
  • University Area: Route would run along Fletcher Ave., with the area north of Fletcher served by HyperLINK.
  • Yukon Transfer Center: Stop at the center would be moved to Florida Ave.

• Route 2:
  
  • Route would be removed and replaced by MetroRapid, which would increase frequency to every 12 minutes weekdays; addition of weekend service.
  • Some current Route 2 stops would be added to MetroRapid. 

• Route 5:
  
  • University area: Route would run along Fowler Ave., with new stops
  • North of Fowler: Connections would be available through HyperLINK
  • University area: Stops on USF campus would be served by the USF Bull Runner and HyperLINK

• Route 6: University area/Temple Terrace: Route would run on 56th St. from Netp@rk Transfer Center to Fletcher Ave., with new stops. USF campus stops would be served by USF Bull Runner and HyperLINK (50th St. would be served by Route 39).

• Route 9:
  
  • East Tampa: Route would serve 30th St., starting at Hillsborough Ave., with new stops.
  • Route 16 would serve Waters Ave. stops, Route 1 would serve Florida Ave. stops,and Route 45 would serve Linebaugh/15th St.
  • All stops:  Weekend service would begin an hour earlier – at 6 a.m.
• Route 12: Route would increase frequency to every 15 minutes weekdays 5 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Route 14:
  
  • Route would increase frequency to every 30 minutes on weekdays 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Hyde Park: Route would run down Howard/Armenia to Swann (North Blvd. stops would be served by Route 7. Route 30/Kennedy Blvd. would provide access to the Marion Transit Center.)
  • Weekday and Saturday service would start at 6 a.m.
  • Sunday service would be added.

• Route 16:
  
  • Route would operate every 30 minutes on weekdays.
  • Sulphur Springs: Route would extend east to Rowlett Park.
  • Sunday service would be added.
  • Saturday service would shift to hourly.
  • Yukon Transfer Center: Route would no longer enter Transfer Center.

• Route 36: South Tampa: Route would provide service to Britton Plaza Transfer Center and the new all-day express route (360LX) would serve Britton Plaza to MacDill AFB every hour.
  
• Route 39:
  • Temple Terrace: Route would be expanded to Harney Road, with new stops • Temple Terrace: Route would split into alternating trips, east of 56th Street:
  1. 50th St./Puritan Rd./Sligh Ave.  2. Davis/Bullard Pkwy.
  • Lowry Park Central: Route would no longer serve Yukon Transfer Center.
  • East Tampa: Service to Netp@rk Transfer Center would be provided by Route 6.
  • David/Bullard Pkwy. portion would run hourly on weekdays and Saturdays.
• Route 45:
  
  • East Tampa/University Area: Route would serve Yukon Transfer center, and run on 15th St. between Linebaugh Ave. and University Area Transit Center.
  • North Tampa: Route would run on Florida Ave. between Waters and Linebaugh.
  • Carrollwood: Route would shift from Himes Ave. to Dale Mabry Hwy.University Area: HyperLINK service available within the zone.
    
• MetroRapid:
  • Route would increase frequency to every 12 minutes on weekdays; route would combine with Route 2.
  • MetroRapid would now serve some Route 2 stops and operate on the weekend.
    
• Route 20X: No changes.

Overall, Carrollwood and the University Area will see service improvements on Route(s) 1,9,12,14,16,39, and MetroRapid, with the addition of an all-day connection to Tampa International Airport, and Northwest Transfer Center in the 275LX.

For those concerned about the lack of service north of Fletcher Ave. We have heard you and are currently reviewing coverage alternatives for this area.

We have tried our best to minimize any coverage loss and to provide alternatives for eliminated service. Should you find yourself in such a situation, a vanpool may make a great option. Visit TBARTA's website for more information.

Take an online survey regarding the HART system redesign!

Please also note, these are proposed changes, that must be approved by the HART Board. A Public Hearing will be held at the HART Administrative Office (1201. E. 7th Ave., Tampa, FL, 33605) on July 26th, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Public comment will be available at that time.

In the meantime, visit goHART.org/TDP to see upcoming meetings, take a survey, share comments and learn more about the HART system redesign process!