HART Ridership stays above 1 million since March, 2010 (Tampa,Florida)

[DNJ]

Hillsborough County's transit agency carried more than 1 million bus passengers since March, 2010, the latest in which ridership has topped that milestone. The 2010 fiscal year which ended Sept 30, marked HART's highest passenger counts in its 30 year history. The growth has coincided with rising gas prices and with more business from students, faculty and staff at the University of South Florida. The number of USF-related riders grew nearly 22 percent in 2010 and is up about 18 percent in the first three months of the 2011 fiscal year. USF students with a valid ID ride for free, faculty and staff pay 25 cents with a valid ID. Also rumor that this summer there will be a major routes change. Here is the list.

 

South County – Attachment I

• Discontinue Routes 87 (Southshore Connector) and 35LX (Brandon/Southshore Limited

Express)

• Continue South County Flex and evaluate service boundaries for expansion

• Begin new Route 53LX (South County/Brandon via US 301) as replacement to 35LX,

providing expanded service between South County and the Westfield Brandon Mall via

US 301 and new stops

• Discontinue Route 31 (South Hillsborough) service between the Westfield Brandon Mall

and downtown Tampa, but improve frequency from 2 hours to 1 hour for the remaining

segment between South County and the Westfield Brandon Mall

 

Brandon Area – Attachment II

• Reduce Route 46 (West Brandon/Davis Islands) to peak hour service only

• Reduce Routes 24X (FishHawk/Riverview/MacDill AFB Express) and 25LX (South

Brandon/MacDill AFB Limited Express) by one trip each in the AM and PM.

• Begin new Route 26X (North Brandon/MacDill AFB Express) to provide express service

between North Brandon and MacDill AFB

 

Northwest County – Attachment III

• Split Route 30 (Town ‘N Country) into two routes Route 29 (Downtown to TIA via

Kennedy Boulevard) and 30 (Town ‘N Country to TIA)

• Discontinue Route 59LX (Westchase/Town ‘N Country Limited Express)

• Begin new Route 60X (Town ‘N County/Westshore/Downtown Tampa) as a replacement

for 59LX

• Discontinue direct service to Town ‘N Country Hospital on Route 16 (Waters Avenue)

and straighten Route 16 to run on Waters Avenue between Hanley Road and Northwest

Transit Center

• Discontinue Route 88 (Town ‘N Country Connector)

• Begin new Town ‘N Country Flex as a replacement for Route 88.

Hillsborough Transit Authority

Major Projects and Legislative Committee Meeting

January 24, 2011

 

Carrollwood Area – Attachment IV

• Extend Route 20X to Land-O-Lakes Target/Walmart in Pasco County

• Split Route 36 (Dale Mabry Highway/Himes Avenue) into two routes Route 36 (N. Dale

Mabry Highway/Himes Avenue) and Route 38 (S. Dale Mabry Highway/MacDill AFB),

route to be split at West Tampa Transit Center

• Begin new Northdale Flex to serve St. Joseph Hospital North

• Mission Bell to be north terminus for Route 36 (meeting Route 33 (Fletcher Avenue) and

Northdale Flex)

 

Temple Terrace – Attachment V

• Discontinue Route 23X (Temple Terrace Express)

• Reinvest 23X resources into limited stop trips on Route 6 (56th Street)

South Tampa – Attachment VI

• Discontinue Route 89 (South Tampa Connector)

• Begin new South Tampa Flex as a replacement for Route 89

 

FDOT grants beginning in FY2012 will provide funding for 20X (100%), 60X (50%), Town ‘N

Country Flex (50%), and Northdale Flex (50%). Acceptance of the FDOT grants will be

contingent upon results of public outreach and subsequent Board of Directors approval.

Staff will undertake focused public outreach in February and March, and report back to the

Board with the results of the public outreach and final recommendations on the service revisions

in April.

 

NEXT STEPS

Recommendation by the members of the Major Projects and Legislative Committee to the full

Board authorizing staff to engage in public outreach for proposed July 10, 2011 service revision.

 

 

David

HART B /O

Tampa,Florida

[EE Broadway Local]

Thanks for the update.