HART riders using the Marion Transit Center (MTC) now have a new option for traveling to major cities in Florida. HART has just announced a value-adding partnership with RedCoach to expand their services in the Tampa Bay area.
The new partnership will help residents, students, business travelers, and visitors leverage the resources of HART to increase their travel options all across the state. This Downtown Tampa RedCoach stop will complement RedCoach stops that are already in existence at the University of South Florida (USF) and the Tampa International Airport (TIA) to connect Tampa passengers to Miami, Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Orlando.
The multi-year partnership agreement between HART and RedCoach, similar to the agreement with MegaBus.com will let anyone using the agency's MetroRapid, Routes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 18, 19, 30, 46, 20X, 21LX, 22X, 27LX, 28X, 47LX, 51X, 61LX, 200X, Route 96 In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar System and PSTA's Route 100X and 300X to hop off and catch a RedCoach Bus at MTC for fast, comfortable, affordable travel to major cities throughout Florida.
RedCoach will pay HART a fee per month for access to the recently expanded MTC Station. The revenue will be reinvested in MTC maintenance and upkeep and is derived solely from granting use of the facility, requiring no HART resources or personnel to support RedCoach operations.
HART Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Seward who was instrumental in bringing Megabus.com to the Marion Transit Center, also worked with RedCoach to forge another intercity transportation provider relationship. "With the addition of RedCoach, to compliment the Megabus.com partnership, MTC has now become a busy intermodal hub for Bus Rapid Transit in Tampa and a catalyst for travel throughout the state of Florida." Seward says, "Also, we very much want to look at new revenue streams to support the agency's commitment to the community, and these partnerships with private entities allow new avenues of funding that we haven't had before."
For a fraction of the cost, RedCoach offers customers travel times comparable to flying when time for checking baggage, going through security, boarding, exiting the aircraft and retrieving checked baggage are taken into account. RedCoach is almost as cheap as driving, but instead of negotiating traffic behind the wheel passengers can work, read, or relax for a stress-free journey.
This partnership is just one more example of how HART staff is focused on attracting new ridership, fueling revenues, and enhancing service through strategic innovation. The HART intermodal approach strives to connect various modes of transportation such as walking, bicycling, and using the TECO Line Streetcar System, Park-n-Ride facilities, and paratransit system.
