The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (gohart.org), also referred to as HART, provides bus service throughout Tampa Bay, Temple Terrace and unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County. As of April 2011, the transit operator manages 197 buses and 36 vans for transit users with disabilities, and provides 32 local routes and 13 express routes. Express routes to downtown and MacDill Air Force Base are provided from 23 park-and-ride commuter locations, where free parking is available for commuters. A daily bus service also connects downtown with Tampa International Airport.
Nine rubber-tired trolleys operate along two routes managed by HART. The In-Town Trolley service connects many downtown hotels, including Howard Johnson Plaza, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel and Westin Tampa Harbour Island Hotel. The trolleys also serve the Tampa Convention Center and link with the TECO Line Streetcar System. The Purple Line operates weekdays and serves downtown and Harbour Island, while the Green Line runs overnight on Fridays and Saturdays in downtown Tampa and the Channel District.
Since the first line was constructed in 1892, electric streetcars have transported passengers to and from Ybor City, Ballast Point, Hyde Park, Sulphur Springs and other points in Tampa Bay. Eight vintage streetcars provide downtown transportation as part of HART's TECO Line Streetcar System (tecolinestreetcar.org). Many of Tampa's tourist attractions can be reached using the system, including the historic Ybor City neighborhood, the city's cruise terminals, the Arts District, the Tampa Aquarium and the St. Pete Times Forum. Streetcars are air-conditioned and accessible to passengers with disabilities.
The Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA; tampabayrideshare.org) offers commuter transportation services in and around Tampa. One of its initiatives is providing vans for groups of commuters sharing rides to and from work. Participants pay a monthly fee based on the distance traveled. The authority also organizes bike buddy rides where commuters can travel in groups by bicycle. Cycling commuters can also use bike racks on HART buses. TBARTA also provides lists of carpools and emergency rides for those who register for the authority's rideshare service.
