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HART Proposes Ending 2 Routes, Changing 16 Others

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By RICH SHOPES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2008

Updated: 01/06/2008 11:34 pm

TAMPA - Come April, the "Carrollwood Express" could fade into history, but an expanded route in South Tampa might turn out to be a favorite of nurses, waiters and other late-night workers.

As part of a twice yearly examination of bus service, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit is proposing to change service on 16 routes and scrap two others. One is Route 44 in Central Tampa; the other is Route 26X, also known as the Carrollwood Express.

Most of the changes amount to tweaks on individual routes, such as an additional stop or reduced or extended hours. Several bus routes - the 16, 30, 39, 88 and 59LX - will stop at a new transfer center at Waters Avenue and Sheldon Road.

The changes, which have been talked about by HART since November, would go into effect in late March or early April, when the transfer center opens. The board could approve the service changes at its regular monthly meeting today.

Among the additions: Route 19, which serves Tampa General Hospital and parts of South Tampa, will extend its hours, making its last run at midnight instead of 8 p.m., and Route 9 in North Tampa will run on Sundays in addition to weekdays.
Sandra Gilbert of North Tampa called the changes "a godsend" because they would allow her to go the supermarket and laundry on Sundays.

"I'll be able to do things I can't get to during the week," said Gilbert, who would take the Route 9 bus.

Route 44 and Route 26X will be canceled altogether.

"I can probably find another bus, but it won't be as close to my house," said Paul Broughton, who administers Tampa's employee pension plan. "The 26X is only three or four minutes away. It will be a little more frustrating getting to work."

Broughton, who's been riding the 26X for a few years, said he saves $6 a day in parking and gas by taking the bus.

Jock McGlathery takes the 26X, as well; he'll have to switch to another bus to get to his job in Tampa in Hillsborough County's procurement services department.

"It will probably take another 10 minutes in the morning," he said.

Low ridership prompted HART to recommend canceling the 26X, which runs two buses each in the morning and afternoon for a total of 13 riders. That's the fleet's lowest ridership total.

"It's been underperforming for a while," spokeswoman Kathy Karalekas said.

A year ago the agency added a second morning and afternoon bus in an effort to boost ridership, but the strategy backfired.

"We actually lost 3 percent. That tells you right there that you don't have a great market," Planning Manager Steve Feigenbaum said.

In most cases, the agency added service. Feigenbaum estimated the changes will cost about $460,000. About half of that will be absorbed by service cuts. Layoffs enacted last fall will make up the difference.

HART riders can learn more about the changes at www.hartline.org.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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