Tampa — Ridership Notes

Rail Transit Online, March 2007

The 2.5-mi. (4 km) TECO Line Streetcar in Tampa saw a 10 percent drop in ridership during fiscal year 2006 compared with the previous year.  The number of boardings were at the lowest level since the system opened in October 2002.  Officials of Tampa Historic Streetcar Inc. said they don’t know why patronage fell off so drastically, although a fare increase in October 2005 possibly contributed.  In addition, the type of conventions hosted by the city changed.  “Last year we had a lot more business-type conventioneers and their time is somewhat limited,” convention center administrator John Moors told The Tampa Tribune.  “In '04 and '05 we had more social-type conventions (where attendees) have more leisure time and are more likely to ride the streetcar.”  Meanwhile, ridership has jumped during the first four months of fiscal 2007.