Tampa’s TECO Streetcar gets USD 700 000 grant

Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit has received USD 700 000 from the Florida Department of Transportation Commuter Assistance programme to permit the TECO Streetcar to remain fare-free for an additional year. 

 

The heritage tramway has been free of charge since 2018, when it received a USD 2.7M Innovation Grant. in addition to FDOT, the TECO Streetcar is funded by the city of Tampa, the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area and the Tampa Downtown Partnership. It carries about a million passengers/year. 

 

TECO streetcar operates over a 4.35km (2.7-mile) line linking the centre of Tampa and Ybor City. It was opened in October 2002 and has 10 replica double-truck Birney trams built by GOMACO plus a restored historic tram (163 of 1923). 

 

Operation is in the hands of a non-profit agency and there are plans to extend the line further through the central area of Tampa.