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HART report: More people are boarding the bus

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By LAURA FRAZIER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 10, 2010

A report released today by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority showed an increase in bus ridership countywide for the first time since December 2008.

Overall ridership reportedly increased 2.5 percent during the month of February.

More people also used the agency's paratransit service, which provides transportation for riders with physical, cognitive, visual and other disabilities.

Ridership through the U-Pass program, which allows University of South Florida students to ride local connector and limited express bus routes for free, was up 28 percent. The service also allows USF faculty and staff to ride the bus for 25 cents.

In April, the agency will launch a pilot program for HARTFlex service in parts of Brandon and South Shore. The community-based transportation plan will allow riders who live in some areas to call for pickup at their homes, or anywhere within two fixed zones. The vehicles are equipped to accommodate the physically disabled, but the service is available to anyone.

In Brandon, the pickup area runs roughly from Oakfield Drive south to Bloomingdale Avenue, between Providence Road/Lakewood Drive and John Moore Road. The bus will stop at 10 minutes to the hour each hour at Westfield Brandon mall. Riders who live in the zone can call ahead for pickup at home or other destinations including Brandon Regional Hospital and the Post Office on Oakfield Drive.

In South Shore, the route runs between the Hillsborough Community College SouthShore Campus in Ruskin and La Estancia Apartments in Wimauma. Designated stops include South Bay Hospital, Kings Point, Southshore Regional Service Center, Sun Coast Health Center and several neighborhoods and shopping plazas along the way.

The buses will circulate on a fixed route, with drivers deviating from the course as needed to pick up people who call ahead. The service will operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday in both areas and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in Brandon.

The service will be open to all passengers. Fares will be 85 cents for a one-way trip or $1.85 for a one-day pass. Passengers connecting to other HART routes will be able to purchase local and express day passes from the driver.

The authority plans to offer free rides on the new flex routes from April 5 through 12.

For information, call (813) 254-4278 or go to www.gohart.org.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 627-4767.

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