Fare-free ridership on the TECO Streetcar Line is quietly coming to an end. The Florida Department of Transportation’s final grant to maintain fare-free service will last until January 5, 2025. This development arrives as ridership hits peak levels. A report from July revealed that ridership reached 112,999, totaling about 1.43 million trips in 2024 so far. The Streetcar Line first implemented fare-free ridership in 2018 with a $2.7 million FDOT grant, supporting the service until 2021. Following that, an additional grant of $1.4 million was awarded to extend coverage from 2021 to 2023.

Concerns about the end of fare-free ridership resurfaced in 2024. FDOT has committed to a $700,000 grant for this year, but no promises have been made for the future. The team behind Tampa’s TECO Streetcar is working to change that. A Public Hearing on potential fare adjustments is scheduled for November 7, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, providing opportunities for public comments and survey feedback. The leaders are eager to hear from community members and potentially gather insight into reinstating fare-free ridership. Additionally, seven stations will host Q&A sessions for residents to voice their concerns directly.

Fare-Free ridership has been vital for Tampa’s economy. Dense neighborhoods like Tampa’s Water Street District, Channelside, or Ybor, have relied on the streetcar both for tourists and local passenger travel. If fare-free ridership ends, community investment is feared to dwindle.

If you’re concerned about fares ending and can’t attend in-person sessions, there’s also an available online survey: TECO Streetcar Survey.