
Starting this January, bus route 1, managed by Hillsborough Regional Area Transit (HART), is
free to all riders. This new measure is the result of a deal between HART and Tampa City Council. The
$1.6 million program is funded through city parking fees. This measure also increases route frequency so
a bus can arrive at each stop every 15-minutes during peak hours. The previous bus fare was $2 with a
daily price cap of $4. These are still the current fees for other bus routes.
Route 1 currently serves more than 3,000 people a day according to the transit authority, making
it one of Tampa’s most popular routes. It runs from the University of South Florida to the Marion Transit
Center, which is conveniently located downtown. Through the Marion Transit Center riders can take
routes that lead to Tampa International Airport (Route 10), Wesley Chapel (Route 275x), Brandon (Route
8), and Downtown St. Petersburg (Route 100x) to name a few.
Within the city, Route 1 connects residents to popular destinations like Armature Works, The
Straz Center, Tampa Theater, and the numerous amusements of downtown Tampa. Perhaps the greatest
benefit to the neighbors of South Seminole Heights will be the ability to travel to Amalie Arena without
having to pay for parking. One can simply hop on Route 1, disembark at Whiting Street, catch our free
trolley, and be dropped off directly at the arena without dealing with never-ending traffic, expensive
parking, or finding a designated driver.
Perhaps the best way to take advantage of this new measure is to download OneBusAway. This
convenient app tells you where the bus is down to the minute, allowing you to time your excursion
perfectly.
The following are a list of Route 1 bus stops in South Seminole Heights:
● Northbound To USF
○ Florida and Ida St.
○ Florida and Chelsea St.
○ Florida and Osborne Ave
○ Florida and Wilder Ave.
○ Florida and Hillsborough Ave.
● Southbound To Downtown
○ Florida and Hillsborough Ave.
○ Florida and Wilder Ave
○ Violet St. and Florida Ave.
○ Highland Ave. and Osborne Ave.
○ Highland Ave and Emma St.
○ Highland Ave. and MLK blvd.
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