After experimenting with strategically-targeted extended hours of operation and accommodating passengers for half a dozen special events, the historic TECO Line Streetcar System seems to be breaking ridership records.
Thus far in FY2015, Weekends have averaged 2,759 passenger trips which includes the special events. Sundays have averaged 767 passenger trips and Saturdays have averaged more than 1,992 passenger trips this year. In addition, average daily ridership including Friday has averaged 712 passenger trips so far in FY2015.
"The timing of the increased special events ridership for the streetcar is perfect on so many levels and demonstrates the growing importance of the streetcar as a transportation mode in Tampa," says HART Chief Financial Officer Jeff Seward. "We are proud to see that the Tampa Bay area appreciates that we listen and respond to what our customers and partners tell us they need in order to get to work, or wherever they need to go."
As a result of the special events and extended operation hours, ridership on the TECO Line Streetcar System has dramatically surged:
- On April 11, MS AMADEA Cruise ship passengers took advantage of the TECO Line Streetcar System's two hour early start time of 9:00 a.m. Numbers complied by HART, for example, showed that ridership on the TECO Line Streetcar System surged nearly 100 percent to more than 1,010 by 11:00 a.m., before adding more passengers during the day for an all-day total of 2,199.
- All totaled, the NCAA Women's Final Four ridership was 5,141 passenger trips. During the first round of the women's championship games on April 5, ridership was 1,362, April 6 was 1,751 and during the final women's championship game on April 7, ridership was 2,028.
- On April 4, Streetcar Live ridership was 2,008, and during the Tampa Pride events on March 28, ridership rose to more than 1,900.
