Teslas have rolled into Tampa, offering a cost-effective DASH ride-share service in the city center

The Tampa Downtown Partnership has introduced DASH, a novel service featuring Tesla SUVs designed to transport individuals to 20 different locations in Tampa. Each ride is priced at a mere $2, and these vehicles are capable of accommodating up to four passengers. Passengers have the convenience of booking a ride via a dedicated app, available for use Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. These extensive hours are structured to cater to the diverse populace living, working, and enjoying their time in Downtown Tampa.

To access DASH, simply download the app on your Apple or Android device. You can also view the comprehensive route map here.

DASH is heralded as an innovative and efficient means of navigating the rapidly expanding landscape of Downtown Tampa. This service promises swift, cost-effective shared rides that connect over 20 hubs strategically dispersed throughout the city.

Distinguished by their striking yellow Tesla SUVs and skilled driver-ambassadors, DASH, short for Downtown Area Shared Hubs, introduces a fresh transportation option that is not only more user-friendly but also lighter on the pocket. This service is specifically tailored to facilitate journeys within Downtown Tampa’s seven distinct neighborhoods.

Beginning October 12, DASH will be operational, empowering passengers to conveniently secure rides via a mobile app. These rides will connect them to a network of more than 20 hub locations thoughtfully situated across Downtown. A uniformed, rigorously screened, and well-trained driver-ambassador will take the wheel, while the app efficiently pairs up to four passengers to partake in the shared hub-to-hub experience.

DASH brings Tesla SUVs to downtown Tampa

“Whether you live, work, play or learn here, DASH will help everyone who comes to Tampa’s Downtown by giving them a new mobility option. A ride in a DASH Tesla will be low-cost, protected from the weather, and ideal for medium-length trips within Downtown,” said Tampa Downtown Partnership Interim President Shaun Drinkard.

Each DASH vehicle will have a designated “driver-ambassador” at the helm. These individuals undergo not only rigorous safety and driving training but also immersive education as neighborhood ambassadors for Downtown Tampa’s seven distinctive districts. They will possess an in-depth understanding of the area, offering insights on where to explore and what to discover in Downtown Tampa.

Beyond their role as drivers and neighborhood experts, these driver-ambassadors serve as an additional pair of vigilant eyes and attentive ears within the city. They are capable of promptly reporting any issues to maintenance personnel or law enforcement as required.

For those interested in becoming driver-ambassadors, applications can be submitted starting tomorrow, August 1, at tampasdowntown.com. Training for the selected candidates will commence in the coming weeks, and DASH anticipates providing its inaugural rides come October.

New mobility options hit the city

DASH travelers will partake in shared rides aboard brand-new, zero-emission, all-electric Tesla Model Y vehicles. However, individuals in need of wheelchair-accessible transportation have the option to request an ADA-compliant van through the app.

“DASH is designed to add to the growing number of mobility options in Downtown Tampa—not replace any of them,” said Karen Kress, Senior Director of Transportation & Planning for the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

“From scooters and e-bikes to the TECO Line Streetcar and Pirate Water Taxi to HART bus service and bicycle lanes, we know that a growing urban center needs a wide range of ways to get around. That’s how we avoid congestion, reduce pollution, and help people enjoy everything their city has to offer.”