TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board has approved funding to continue free fares for TECO Line Streetcar riders through Fiscal Year 2025. The decision, passed with a 6-1 vote, ensures that residents and visitors can continue to ride the streetcar without cost.
Since 2018, streetcar rides have been free, primarily due to an annual $700,000 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation. However, this state grant was not renewed for FY25, prompting the CRA to step in.
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The funding for the free fares will be allocated from the CRA’s Community Advisory Committees (CACs), with $234,000 coming from the Ybor City CRA, $233,000 from the Channel District CRA, and $233,000 from the Downtown CRA.
“The Streetcar has been a very successful program,” said CRA Board Member Alan Clendenin, who proposed the motion. “People spend way too much money on transportation. If we can eliminate the need to have a car payment, car maintenance and a car insurance payment, they can start affording housing; they can afford to live. This is the future of Tampa.”
Mayor Jane Castor also emphasized the importance of the streetcar as a transportation option for residents. “Our streetcar isn’t just for tourists to explore our great city, it is a viable form of transportation for our residents,” she stated. “Keeping it fare-free can enhance the accessibility and mobility of our community.”
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The TECO Line Streetcar has seen record ridership, with 1,330,932 trips taken in FY24, despite service interruptions due to hurricanes. This success underscores the streetcar’s popularity and importance as a transportation asset in Tampa.
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