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The Source for Public Transportation News and Analysis June 14, 2013
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HART Introduces New MetroRapid Route

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) in Tampa Bay officially opened its new bus service, MetroRapid North-South, on June 10. Agency officials say the service is the first of its kind in Florida.

The new service features transit signal priority, which extends green lights, shortens red lights, and improves travel times by up to 15 percent. It also offers ticket vending machines at many stations to speed boarding, bicycle racks at each station, enhanced passenger stations, low floor buses, and increased frequency. MetroRapid buses are estimated to travel the 17.5-mile route in less than an hour.

Attending the official ribbon-cutting were Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL); HART Board Chairperson Fran Davin; Ken Hagan, chair, Hillsborough County Commission; Frank Chillura, mayor, Temple Terrace; the Rev. Wallace Bowers, HART Board of Directors; Mike Suarez, councilman, Tampa City Council; and Essie Sims Jr., chairman, Citizens Advisory Board to the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area.

HART offered free MetroRapid rides for two weeks prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony to encourage riders to experience the new service. Teams of employees visited popular MetroRapid stops to answer questions and help riders transition to the new system.
Hillsborough County funded the $26.5 million project. HART reimbursed the county $8.8 million through cost-cutting initiatives, estimated at roughly 20 percent of the original projected cost.

 

A decorated HART MetroRapid bus at opening ceremonies. 


 

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