Free bus rides could soon be a reality for many in Tampa.
Tampa City Council recently voted 4-3 to spend $1.5 million of City money to make a HART bus route between University Area and downtown Tampa free.
Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak proposed the idea ultimately approved by council.
“The point of this is to help everyday working people. And you know, if you ride the Number One, or if you ride the bus to and from work every day, that’s $2 each way. That’s $4, $4 times 20, even if it’s only for work days, is $80 a month. For some people that is make or break,” she explained.
The people who depend on the bus agree.
Gregory Burnam says he frequently uses Route 1.
“For the basic people who just, you know, the nine to five people who going to work and everything. Bus one is a great bus to have for free,” he said.
WFTS Route 1 was chosen because within a quarter mile, there’s 32,000 residents and 56,000 jobs. If you look at the make up within a half mile that, it’s 64,000 residents and 100,000 jobs.