As 2024 wraps up, Tampa’s popular streetcar service may soon require passengers to pay a fare once again. For six years, rides on the downtown Tampa streetcar line have been free, but the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) has announced that the end of a crucial funding grant might lead to a return of fares for riders.
The 2.7-mile streetcar line, connecting downtown Tampa to Ybor City, first faced funding uncertainty in 2023. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) supported a $2.3 million grant that enabled five years of free service. When the grant was about to expire, FDOT extended the service with an additional $700,000 in funding, matched by the City of Tampa. This extension allowed HART to maintain the no-cost service throughout 2023.
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