Route of the Week: The TECO Line Streetcar System

Map of the TECO Line Streetcar System

With a diverse service area roughly the size of Rhode Island, Hillsborough County provides a great mix of urban, suburban and rural destinations for our riders. Think about the destinations that you can see and experience with the HART transportation network!

This week we highlight one of the nation's smallest light rail systems, the TECO Line Streetcar System. That's right, the Streetcar! The system follows all of the same standards and guidelines as all of the rest of the nation's light rail systems.

The TECO Line Streetcar is a 2.7 mile line connecting the employment, dining, and entertainment destinations in Ybor City, the Channel District (including Port of Tampa Bay and Channelside Bay Plaza,) and Downtown Tampa. The TECO Line Streetcar features 11 stations, each equipped with Ticket Vending Machines.

Streetcars actually have deep roots in Tampa's history. Tampa's first electric streetcar lines built in 1892 quickly became an essential part of everyday life as workers took the streetcar downtown and to the cigar factories of west Tampa. And families climbed aboard for a picnic or ball game in DeSoto and Macfarlane parks. Reaching the peak of its popularity in the 1920s with almost 24 million passengers in 1926, Tampa's streetcar system rolled to a stop in August 1946 following World War II.

The Tampa Streetcar was reborn via a grassroots effort and on October 19, 2002, streetcars once again rumbled down the cobblestone streets of Ybor City.

Weekday service extended until midnight for Arena events!

Today, the Streetcar serves a number of entertainment and dining options. Here is just a sampling:

• The Florida Aquarium
• Amalie Arena  (Weekday service extended until midnight for Arena events)
• Tampa Convention Center
• Centro Ybor
• The Columbia Restaurant
• Tampa Bay Brewing Company
• District Tavern
• The Tampa Riverwalk
• Tampa Bay History Center
• The Bricks Ybor
• Port Tampa Bay

Visitors will also appreciate the access to hotels along the route:

• Le Meridien
• Hilton Tampa
• Marriott Waterside
• Embassy Suites by Hilton
• Aloft Hotel
• Sheraton Riverwalk
• Hampton Inn & Suites - Ybor
• Hilton Garden Inn Tampa

In September 2016, the TECO Line Streetcar System expanded weekday service (as a pilot) to begin operating at 7 a.m. With the launch of this pilot project, the Streetcar became a viable commuting option for those living and working along the line. The Streetcar serves a variety of employment centers in Downtown Tampa and Ybor City including:

• One Tampa City Center
• University of South Florida CAMLS
• SunTrust Corporate Center
• Ashley Furniture E-Commerce Facility
• Amalie Arena
• Tampa City Hall
• Rivergate Tower
• Bank of America Plaza
• Hillsborough Community College - Ybor Campus

20-Ride Pass

Live or work along the streetcar line? Residents and workers can purchase a special 20-ride pass for only $25! That's 50% off the regular fare. Click here for a list of sales outlets.

Looking Ahead

Currently, the City of Tampa is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to study a possible extension and modernization of the streetcar line.

From Amalie Arena, to the Aloft Hotel, HART Takes You There.

Transportation Tips for Tampa Visitors

HART and the TECO Line Streetcar would like to welcome you to Tampa!

We understand the difficulties in attempting to navigate the local public transportation scene without an idea on what to see and do and how to get there. So, we created this guide that breaks down some of Tampa's best attractions and how to get there with HART and the TECO Line Streetcar!

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 and Channelside Cinemas) - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar
• Ybor City Historic District (Centro Ybor) - Routes 8, 12, the TECO Line Streetcar
• International Plaza (Shopping) - 15, 30, 59LX
• Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) - Route 6
• Tampa Bay Times Forum Forum - Route 8, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
• David A. Straz Jr. Center - In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
• Tampa Convention Center - Route 4, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
• Tampa Museum of Art - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolly
• Tampa Theatre - In-Town Trolley
• Glazer's Children Museum - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolley
• University of South Florida - Routes 5, 6, 18, 57
• Westshore Plaza (Shopping) - Routes 5, 30, 45, 89
• Raymond James Stadium - Routes 7, 32, 36, 45

Only $1.75 for a one-way ride!

Flying out? Route 30 runs between downtown and Tampa International Airport every 30 minutes on weekdays and weekends. Service begins at 4:40 a.m. through midnight during the week and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends.

A 3-day Visitor Unlimited HARTride card is your best bet at only $11.00 and valid on all HART local buses, In-Town Trolley and the TECO Line Streetcar System.

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

• In-Town Trolley: The In-Town Trolley is a rubber-wheeled vehicle, that makes stops at popular locations in downtown Tampa weekdays, 6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 6 p.m.  The line operate on a 15-minute frequency and costs only 25¢!

• TECO Line Streetcar Line: The streetcar line runs on rails that connects Ybor City, Channelside and Downtown Tampa. It operates 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Thursday, and 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 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.

There is so much to see and do! Have a great time!

Tampa Tips for FMEA Conference Attendees!

HART and the TECO Line Streetcar would like to welcome all those in town for the Florida Music Educator's Association (FMEA) Conference!

We understand the difficulties in attempting to navigate the local public transportation scene without an idea on what to see and do and how to get there. So, we created this guide that breaks down some of Tampa's best attractions and how to get there with HART and the TECO Line Streetcar!

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 and Channelside Cinemas) - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar
• Ybor City Historic District (Centro Ybor) - Routes 8, 12, the TECO Line Streetcar
• International Plaza (Shopping) - 15, 30, 59LX
• Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) - Route 6
• St. Pete Times Forum - Route 8, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
• David A. Straz Jr. Center - In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
• Tampa Convention Center - Route 4, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
• Tampa Museum of Art - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolly
• Tampa Theatre - In-Town Trolley
• Glazer's Children Museum - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolley
• University of South Florida - Routes 5, 6, 18, 57
• Westshore Plaza (Shopping) - Routes 5, 30, 45, 89
• Raymond James Stadium - Routes 7, 32, 36, 45

Only $1.75 for a one-way ride!

Flying out? Route 30 runs between downtown and Tampa International Airport every 30 minutes on weekdays and weekends. Service begins at 4:40 a.m. through midnight during the week and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends.

A 3-day Visitor Unlimited HARTride card is your best bet at only $11.00 and valid on all HART local buses, In-Town Trolley and the TECO Line Streetcar System.

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

• In-Town Trolley: The In-Town Trolley is a rubber-wheeled vehicle, that makes stops at popular locations in downtown Tampa weekdays, 6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 6 p.m.  The line operate on a 15-minute frequency and costs only 25¢!

• TECO Line Streetcar Line: The streetcar line runs on rails that connects Ybor City, Channelside and Downtown Tampa. It operates 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Thursday, and 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. 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.

Welcome to Tampa and have a great time!

Streetcar vs. Trolley: Know before you go to Flugtag

Streetcar, trolley, interchangeable terms right? Not necessarily... there is a difference! Find out which is which before you arrive.

With 100,000+ expected to pile into downtown for the Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay, you'll most likely find yourself on HART and the TECO Line Streetcar System. We operate both streetcars and trolleys, which can get kind of confusing. Know before you go - trolleys and streetcars are not the same.

Streetcars run on tracks...

The TECO Line Streetcar System is a 2.7-mile electric streetcar system that runs on tracks between the entertainment, restaurants and other destinations of Ybor City, the Channel District and Downtown Tampa. The system consists of eleven stations, five in the Channel District, four in Ybor and two in downtown.

... and trolleys have wheels!

The In-Town Trolley routes are "trolley-buses" or rubber-wheel trolleys that operate throughout Downtown Tampa, Harbour Island and the Channel District. There are two In-Town Trolley routes - the Purple Line, which operates during work commute hours on weekday mornings and afternoons, and the Green Line, serving various restaurants and entertainment hotspots in downtown and the Channel District on Friday and Saturday nights.

(Note, the In-Town Trolley Purple Line will operate special service on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Purple Line will not serve Harbour Island between those hours. The Green Line will operate normal service from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m. click here for a printable PDF map)

Now that you're set on the differences between the two, it's time to put this knowledge to the test! Map out your attack plan with our guide to getting to Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay. 

Take off to Flugtag with HART: Extra service during event!



110,000 packed the Convention area in 2008
*Photo courtesy of Red Bull

 Enjoy the Red Bull Flugtag event at the Tampa Convention Center, and also have fun at Channelside and Ybor City safely and easily by riding HART!

Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay is Saturday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. With 100,000+ specators expected near the Convention Center, HART will operate extra streetcar, bus and trolley service during the following times:

• Continuous Streetcar Service: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Regular Streetcar Service:  5 p.m. - 2 a.m.
• Continuous HART Bus Service from Ybor City to Tampa Convention Center: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m
• Extra In-Town Trolley Service: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (will not travel to Harbor Island)
• Regular In-Town Trolley Service:  6 p.m. - 2 a.m.
• Continuous service is 10 - 15 minute frequency. The streetcar system will resume regular service (20-minute frequency) 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Heading to the event by Streetcar?

Take off to Flugtag with the TECO Line Streetcar. Flugtag-goers may park at any City of Tampa public parking garage in Ybor City and then hop on the TECO Line Streetcar into Downtown Tampa. The Streetcar line begins at Eighth Avenue and 20th Street (Centennial Park Streetcar Station), runs through Channelside and ends in downtown Tampa. Streetcars will stop at each station unless a streetcar is at maximum capacity. View map 

Bussing it?

Buses will handle streetcar overflow and mirror the streetcar line. Again, Flugtag-goers may park at any City of Tampa parking garage in Ybor City to access this bus service. Buses will run from the Streetcar Society Station (Eighth Avenue and 15th Street) and/or Cadrecha Streetcar Station (Seventh Avenue and 13th Street), into downtown Tampa. In the afternoon, buses will leave from Dick Greco Streetcar Plaza (across the street from the Tampa Convention Center) back to Ybor City.

In-Town Trolley Service

The rubber wheel trolley will operate extra hours on a modified route (will not travel to Harbor Island), from north downtown Tampa, to Tampa Convention Center area and then the Channel District. The In-Town Trolley will resume its regular route during its regular hours of operation, 6 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Click here for a map of your downtown transportation options for Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay.

1-Day Unlimited Ride Fare Card

You're best bet for event day is the 1-Day Unlimited Fare Card.  The fare card may be purchased for $5 at Ticket Vending Machines, located at each streetcar station, and used for riding the streetcar, buses and/or trolleys. Ticket Vending Machines accept credit/debit cards or cash. Farecards do not include City of Tampa Parking Garage fees.

Need help with trip planning? Below are a few sites for reference and on event day, the HART Street Team will be on hand near streetcar stations and at bus staging areas to assist customers.

References:

• TECO Line Streetcar System:  http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/ 
• HART:  http://www.gohart.org/ - Going completely car-less to the Red Bull Flugtag? View schedules and maps of several routes that travel into downtown Tampa on Saturdays!
• City of Tampa Public Parking:  www.tampagov.net/dept_parking/