TAMPA, Fla. — The countdown is on for riders of Hillsborough Area Regional Transit’s Route 1, as the fare-free pilot program that has covered the cost of bus trips for the past year is set to end on January 4, 2026.
While the Tampa City Council did not approve extending the fare-free system permanently, community organizers say the push wasn’t wasted — because it helped secure new funding to make the system faster and more reliable.
During the most recent budget cycle, the Tampa City Council approved about $1.3 million to improve Route 1 service, including plans for 15-minute frequency from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 20-minute service in the evenings and on weekends…