Tampa — No Change

Rail Transit Online, March 2006

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) will continue to operate the TECO Line Streetcar on behalf of non-profit Tampa Historic Streetcar Inc. after HART’s board of directors abandoned an effort to hire a private company to do the job.  The decision came after a sometimes contentious three-hour meeting.  The privatization effort was triggered by Hillsborough County Commissioner Ronda Storms, a streetcar opponent who wants the transit authority to sever its ties with the three-year-old line and have the city of Tampa to cover more of the operating subsidy.  The shortfall is currently financed by Tampa Historic Streetcar’s endowment, an account that is rapidly being depleted.  Two members of the authority said they decided to support the status quo because the transit agency would still have financial responsibilities even if someone else would run the operation.  No decision was made at the meeting on where additional funding might be found or whether the 2.3-mi. (3.7 km) route will be extended farther into downtown, which supporters believe will boost ridership.