After a year of record-breaking ridership and improved mobility, the City of Tampa-funded Route 1 Fare-Free Pilot is coming to an end. Beginning January 5, 2026, fares will return on Route 1 — but the service improvements riders love will stick around (and expand to evenings and weekends).
A Pilot That Delivered Real Results
The Route 1 Fare-Free Pilot has been a massive success. As of December 2025, year-to-date ridership on Route 1 increased 45%, reaching 1,459,366 trips — over 445,000 more rides than the previous year. Average weekday ridership now exceeds 5,000 riders, and faster boarding helped improve on-time performance by 7%.
On an average weekday, Route 1 now carries more than 5,300 riders, far surpassing ridership seen on comparable previously fare-free services in the region. Faster boarding without fares also helped improve on-time performance by 6.2%, keeping buses moving efficiently through one of Tampa’s most active corridors.
Perhaps most importantly, Route 1 riders depend on the service:
Nearly 70% ride three or more days per week
Most trips support work, shopping, and healthcare
81% of riders say they will continue riding once fares return
63% connect to other routes, where they benefit from Flamingo Fares fare capping
Service Improvements Are Here to Stay
While the fare-free portion of the pilot is coming to an end, enhanced service will remain — and expand. Based on rider feedback and stakeholder input, City of Tampa funding was prioritized to maintain and grow service frequency rather than extend free fares.
What riders can expect starting January 5, 2026:
Every 15 minutes on weekdays
Expanded evening service
Every 20 minutes on weekends
That means quicker trips, better reliability, and easier connections — every day of the week.
How to Pay When Fares Return
HART encourages riders to sign up for Flamingo Fares, the easiest and most affordable way to pay.
With fare capping, Flamingo Fares ensures you always pay the lowest possible price, whether you ride once a day or multiple times a week.
Ways to pay on Route 1:
Flamingo Fares app or Flamingo smart card
Contactless credit or debit card
Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other digital wallets
Cash (exact change only) for a one-way fare
Simply tap your phone, card, or payment method when boarding.
More Than a Bus Route
The Route 1 Fare-Free Pilot did more than boost ridership — it expanded access and introduced transit to new riders. With seamless connections to the also fare-free TECO Line Streetcar, riders enjoyed a frequent, no-cost link from USF to Ybor City.
The pilot also sparked community activity, with new riders organizing group trips to restaurants, retail, entertainment, and even walking tours — proof that reliable transit fuels economic activity and neighborhood connection.
HART is grateful to the City of Tampa for initiating and funding this pilot. What began as a one-year experiment has grown into a continuing partnership focused on delivering the greatest benefit to the most riders.
Have Questions?
HART Customer Service is here to help:
Call 813-254-4278 or visit us in person at the Marion Transit Center or University Area Transit Center
HART announces that Councilman Alan Clendenin has been appointed to the HART Board of Directors, representing the City of Tampa. His appointment follows the unexpected passing of Councilwoman Gwen Henderson, who previously represented the City of Tampa on the Board.
Councilman Clendenin brings decades of public service and operational experience to the HART Board. He served 32 years with the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic control specialist, gaining extensive labor-management experience in a safety-critical environment.
He is Chairman of the Tampa City Council representing District 1 (citywide) and serves on the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Tampa Sports Authority, and the Tampa Bay Committee on Foreign Relations, with prior service on the City of Tampa Civil Service Board.
A Tampa resident since 1985, he and his partner raised two children in the city’s public schools.
HART welcomes Councilman Clendenin to the Board of Directors and looks forward to his stewardship!
HART is inviting customers to participate in a new survey to help gather feedback on the City of Tampa-funded Route 1 Fare-free Pilot. The customer survey is open through Sunday, June 15, 2025.
The survey will gather critical community input on the fare-free Route 1 pilot and overall transit needs.
The Route 1 Fare-free pilot was launched in January 2025 to explore the benefits of fare-free service on one of Tampa’s key transit corridors. The pilot removed the fare on Route 1 and increased frequency on Route 1 from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes during peak hours. The Pilot is scheduled to end in January 2026.
Community members who ride Route 1 are encouraged to participate and help inform long-term planning, including service expansion and evaluating the success and future of fare-free options like the Route 1 Pilot.
The survey is quick to complete and available in English and Spanish.
With the funding grant for fare-free service coming to an end, HART - as operator of the TECO Line Streetcar - may need to reinstate fares by January 5, 2025. This discussion comes after the expiration of several Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grants and partnerships, like the City of Tampa, Tampa Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs), and the Tampa Downtown Partnership, that previously covered customer fares.
The five-year FDOT streetcar service agreement of $2.3 million annually expired in 2023. FDOT had agreed to provide an additional 12 months of funding through 2024, totaling $700,000, with a matching contribution from the City of Tampa. This funding is critical to maintaining and improving the streetcar service, a vital component of our public transportation network.
Prospective businesses network with local government agencies
Networking
HART DBE/SBE staff hosted the first Pathways to Business Expo on August 17, 2023, at the C. Blythe Andrews Library. This event was held in an effort to connect small and disadvantaged businesses within the Tampa Bay Area with the information and resources needed to do business with government agencies.
Staff was on hand to help small businesses register to do business with HART. Small businesses were able to network with other local government agencies that can help with DBE & SBE certifications, help find small business loans, offer training on completing bid proposals and help with finding contract opportunities with local and federal government entities.
Comm. Gwen Myers
Forty-three prospective businesses attended the
expo, along with special guest Hillsborough
County Commissioner Gwen Myers and community leader Marvin Knight. Prospective businesses met with 16 representatives as they networked and learned about current opportunities. Participants could get
their passport card stamped at each table for a chance at a drawing for a gift card.
Brocato’s Sandwich Shop, which is a small minority-owned business, provided bagged lunches for all participants and vendors and donated (20) $15.00 gift cards for the raffle.
HART’s ICEO Mr. Scott Drainville was in attendance and
gave a warm welcome to the participants and vendors in attendance.
HART is joining in on the Boom by the Bay festivities with a FREE shuttle service from the Marion Transit Center to the event!
Boom by the Bay will feature fireworks, live music, and more in six different locations along downtown Tampa's waterfront:
Armature Works - Routes 1, 5, 6
Bayshore Blvd. - Route 14
Curtis Hixon Park - TECO Line Streetcar, Routes 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 30, 360LX
Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park - Routes 7, 10
Sparkman Wharf - TECO Line Streetcar, Route 9
Tampa Convention Center - TECO Line Streetcar, Route 19
Event-goers will be able to pick up the free shuttles from the HART Marion Transit Center (MTC) in downtown. The event shuttles will operate every 15 minutes from 3 PM - 11 PM.
HART and the City of Tampa are encouraging event-goers to hop on the fare-free TECO Line Streetcar or one of the FREE HART shuttles at MTC. Thirteen HART routes will also serve MTC on Independence Day.
Please note: HART will be operating on a Sunday service level, which means a number of routes operating to/from MTC will cease operating around 10 PM. Check www.goHART.org for specific route information.
Use this convenient trip planner to plan your route to Boom by the Bay!
Public Transportation to Boom by the Bay
HART Bus Shuttle
Cost: FREE
Hours: 3 PM - 11 PM; service every 15 minutes
Routes:
North Shuttle - MTC to the Straz Center and Curtis Hixon Park with access to Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park via Tyler St. and Doyle Carlton.
South Shuttle - MTC to Whiting Street Station to connect with the TECO Line Streetcar for service to Sparkman Wharf
TECO Line Streetcar
Cost: FREE
Hours: 8:30 AM - 12 AM; service every 10 minutes
Route:
Streetcar service will operate between historic Ybor City, the Channel District (Sparkman Wharf), and downtown Tampa (Curtis Hixon Park).
NOTE: Coolers and alcohol are NOT permitted on HART and the TECO Line Streetcar System.
With FARE-FREE TECO Line Streetcar service and a FREE HART event shuttle on Independence Day, it's hard to find a better BOOM for the buck! Event-goers can enjoy a stress-free trip to downtown, take in the festivities and get home
safely.
Local transit advocate Tyler Hudson has been appointed to the HART Board of Directors by City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. Mr. Hudson will replace the previous City of Tampa Appointee Kathleen Shanahan who resigned earlier this summer.
"We welcome Tyler Hudson to the HART Board of Directors and I look forward to working with him," said HART Interim CEO Carolyn House Stewart. "With his background as Chairman of All for Transportation which voters overwhelmingly supported, I’m certain Hudson will be a strong transportation advocate and a voice for the City of Tampa’s interests.
“We could not be more thrilled to have Tyler Hudson join the HART board. His unwavering commitment to transform Tampa’s transportation future will serve both the board and our community well,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
Tyler is a partner with the Tampa law firm Gardner Brewer Martinez-Monfort, P.A. and practices in the areas of real estate, land use and zoning, and general business counseling.
Prior to joining Gardner Brewer Martinez-Monfort Law, Tyler was an associate at Holland & Knight LLP from 2013 to 2018, where he practiced in both the corporate and real estate transactional groups of the firm’s Tampa office.
For three years prior to starting law school, Tyler was a principal with Hilltop Public Solutions, a public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. At Hilltop, he managed integrated government relations campaigns for multinational corporations and trade associations in the aviation, pharmaceutical and reinsurance industries. Additionally, Tyler advised and on worked on several political campaigns in the areas of speechwriting, message development, debate preparation and field organizing.
“I am pleased to welcome Tyler Hudson to the HART Board of Directors. Mayor Castor and Tampa City Council have made a strong choice," said Mariella Smith, Chair of the HART Board. "Mr. Hudson is an advocate for better transit in Hillsborough County. His work with the All for Transportation effort brings a perspective on the transportation needs of our citizens throughout the county. He also brings his experience in land use and business to the Board. I know this experience and advocacy will make him a strong asset to HART."
In 2018, Mr. Hudson co-founded All for Transportation, the historic citizen-led campaign to fund county transportation improvements. The successful campaign collected over 77,000 citizen petitions, raised over $4 million, and passed with 57% of the vote.
Mr. Hudson obtained his B.A. in Philosophy from the George Washington University and his law degree from the University of Florida.
Outside the office, Mr. Hudson devotes time to a range of civic and philanthropic activities. Mr. Hudson and his wife Grace live in historic Tampa Heights with their two children and one yellow lab.
Mr. Hudson will attend the next scheduled HART Board of Directors meeting on September 14, 2020.
With 2019 fast approaching, many are looking towards the New Year as a fresh start. However, we at HART are looking to continue building on the successes of the past year.
Year in Review
February Service Changes
In 2017, HART "reset" the system network with Mission MAX, establishing a stable foundation for expansion. February 2018 marked a significant step toward HART's five-year goal of ten routes with 15-minute service or better.
Flamingo Fares testing is underway
Flamingo Fares Testing
Our regional transit fare app and smart card payment system took a giant leap in 2018 with the start of public testing! While HART and PSTA have been testing the first generation of the Flamingo Fares app since 2016, this is the first test involving the Flamingo Fares smart card and web-based accounts.
Since the launch of testing in March, thousands of taps have been recorded and the second generation of the Flamingo Fares app is now in the testing phase. Flamingo Fares will fully launch to the public in 2019.
Route 275LX
Summertime typically means a slower pace with vacation-filled offices and schools out. However, summer 2018 saw the launch of HART's FIRST seven-day-a-week inter-county service, the Route 275LX. The new all-day, limited-stop service launched on July 1st, operating between Wesley Chapel and Tampa International Airport, with stops in New Tampa, the University area, and downtown Tampa. The Route 275LX has seen an 83% increase in monthly ridership (10,910 rides in October) since launching in July.
MVP Express
After years of requests for express/shuttle service to local sporting events, HART launched the MVP Express in November! This premium service allows Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans to park at four convenient park-and-ride locations and hop on the MVP Express to Raymond James Stadium. All for only $10 round-trip, per person! The MVP Express is currently a pilot and will be evaluated and possibly expanded to other local sports after the NFL season has ended.
New Era of Transit
Free fares launched on Oct. 7, 2018
Streetcar Fare-Free and Enhanced Service
It's possible no other individual route or transit mode in Tampa Bay has seen as drastic a change as the TECO Line Streetcar System in 2018.
In June, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced a game-changing $2.7 million grant to make the TECO Line Streetcar FARE-FREE with enhanced morning/late night service and increased frequencies for three years. The new service kicked off on October 7 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a fresh new marketing strategy that represents HART's vision for the Streetcar - Free. Fun. Frequent. Totally Tampa!
It has been well received, with ridership up over 120% from last year!
InVision: Tampa Streetcar - Streetcar Extension and Modernization Study
The future looks even brighter as HART is currently partnering with the City of Tampa and FDOT on a study evaluating possible extension alignments and the feasibility of modernizing the current
heritage streetcar system. The City completed the first phase in Spring 2018 by identifying two north/south extension alignment options - a combination of Tampa St./Franklin St. and Florida Ave. The line would stretch through the core of downtown, near HART's main transit hub in Marion Transit Center, and north to Tampa Heights.
In June, the City received approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to enter Project Development phase to select a preferred alternative and refine improvement plans and strategies. The City will submit a Small Starts request for federal funding in September 2019.
Transit Referendum
Yes, we definitely saved the best for last! It's no secret that transportation has been on the minds of most in Hillsborough County for quite some time. The Tampa Bay region as a whole being seen more to put plans on shelves, than pen to paper.
However, that changed on Election Day as voters (overwhelmingly) approved a 1-cent sales taxincrease to support transportation, including a mix of roads, public transportation, pedestrian, cycling, etc.
All of us at HART are incredibly humbled by this level of support and have already released our proposed short-term service improvement plan, which features speeding up the implementation of the first three years of the FY2019-2023 Transit Development Plan to 2019.
HART as an agency in 2017, revisited our infrastructure and established a blueprint for an improved transportation network in Hillsborough County. This strategic plan allowed HART to overhaul its route system and build up that foundation in 2018, as we aligned for the future.
The agency turns 40 in 2019, with the year poised to be HART's most celebrated yet, as we enter a new era of excellence.
We look forward to seeing you on board one of our buses, vans, or streetcars in the New Year!
Streetcar morning service will cease March 25th, following the end of a six-month pilot exploring potential demand for "commuter" streetcar service. HART funded the six-month pilot that was scheduled for September 27-March 24.
Here is what we learned:
Daily AM Streetcar Ridership Per Hour During Pilot
Ridership during "rush hour" averaged roughly from 2.9 - 5.9 riders per hour
As you can see from the graph, early morning commuters didn't take to the service as we had hoped, but the service fared well beginning around 9 a.m. This could be related to Ybor City and Downtown Tampa's retail, restaurant, and hotel sectors. We will do a deeper dive into the data from the pilot.
For those now hooked on the car-free commute, the route 8 roughly parallels the TECO Line Streetcar System and may make a great option! Service to Downtown Tampa begins at 5:10 a.m. and operates every 30 minutes. A one-day pass is only $4.00. Visit www.goHART.org for more information.
Stay involved in the process!
A study is underway to look at modernizing and extending the Streetcar
The City of Tampa, the Florida Department of Transportation, and HART are looking at ways to make the TECO Line Streetcar System a viable commuting option in Ybor City, Downtown Tampa, and beyond. A feasibility study is currently underway to look at the possible extension and modernization of the TECO Line Streetcar System.
Here is where you come in! The next brainstorming session will be held April 4th at the Tampa Bay History Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Share your thoughts and be a part of the process.
Please also take this online survey regarding the Streetcar.
The momentum is there. As downtown grows by leaps and bounds, so will the need for expanded transit options and alternative commutes.
Arrgh
you ready?! Have your sights set on Gasparilla? Well, set sail with
HART and the TECO Line Streetcar. We're rolling out extra streetcar, bus
and trolley service to ensure a safe and easy way to get around during
Gasparilla on Saturday, Jan. 26.
$5 for an all-day pass, which
may be purchased with cash at ticket vending machines (change provided)
located at each streetcar station. This fare does not cover the City of Tampa parking fees.
Stations 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11 will
be closed 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Stations 5, 6, 7, 9 will be open for bus service
only. See Map for Gasparilla 2013.
For those parking in Ybor City,
bus service will be available during peak times in the morning and
afternoon between Ybor City (Streetcar Society Station) and Downtown Tampa
(Dick Greco Plaza) View Map for Gasparilla 2013 -- Streetcar and Bus Service
$4 for an all-day pass, which
may be purchased in advance at HART retail outlets or on board buses on
Gasparilla Day with cash only (no change provided). Monthly bus passes may
also be used. This fare does not cover City of Tampa parking fees.
Provides a connection from the
north end of Downtown Tampa (Marion Transit Center) to the south end of
Downtown Tampa (Dick Greco Plaza). View Map for Gasparilla 2013
Click here to view the HART system map. Click herefor a list of HART service detours during the Gasparilla Pirate Fest.
Leave the gray hairs to Jack Sparrow!
Have specific questions about HART service during this special event, call 813-254-4278 or visit www.goHART.org. Never attended Gasparilla before? Learn how to party like a (responsible) pirate!
Just remember, gray hairs may give Captain Jack Sparrow a "distinguished look." However, with over 500,000 swashbucklers expected to attend Gasparilla, don't test your luck - save yourself some gray hairs - and ride with us.
