Tampa — State Grant Means Free Fares

June 2018

A Florida state grant will mean free rides on the Tampa heritage streetcar line which uses Gomaco-built double truck Birney replicas for base service, Fox 13 News reports. The $2.6 million grant will keep rides free for the coming three years.

"The Tampa Bay area is consistently one of the fastest growing areas of our state, adding more than 33,000 new private-sector jobs in the last year,” Gov. Rick Scott said in a release announcing the funds. “By providing this grant, we are giving Tampa residents another option as they travel around downtown."

State officials say streetcar headways will be reduced from 20 minutes to 15 minutes and service hours will be expanded. They expect quicker boarding thanks to the elimination of fares.