Tampa’sTECO Line Streetcar System

Inventing the Future. Respecting the Past.

Tampa's investment in an historic replica streetcarsystem is paying dividends in economic developmentas well as proving a functional way to move people.

The TECO Line Streetcar System is a 2.4-milesingle-track system operating sevendays a week from mid-morning untillate evening, later on weekends. Theeight car system uses air condi-tioned replicas of the Birney Safetycars that originally ran in Tampa until1946. Construction of the systemwas a joint venture between the Cityof Tampa and the Hillsborough AreaRegional Transit Authority. Total costfor the 2.4 miles of track, vehiclesand stations was approximately$32 million. Related structures andproperty purchases raised theoverall cost to $56 million.

A return of streetcars was original-ly envisioned by the Tampa and YborCity Street Railway Society as arolling history museum with restoredstreetcars, using one of the previous on-street routealignments. Ultimately, the idea of an entirely new sys-tem emerged featuring a new alignment that wouldengender greater opportunities for development, withhigher ridership potential, rather than sticking to onethat made sense 75 years ago. That decision, whichthe historic streetcar enthusiasts embraced, madeobtaining funding easier, and set a new course for acoordinated transportation and economic developmentstrategy.

Tampa had struggled to create an identity that com-bined its downtown with historic Ybor City, and the newChannelside entertainment and residential district. Inmany people's minds they seemed unrelated, despitetheir close proximity. The streetcar system made theconnection. It has become the iconic link to Tampa'surban lifestyle, creating an entirely new identity for thecity. This new identity combines entertainment, jobs,and services in the city core. Downtown, Channelside,and Ybor have become one through the streetcar line.

Of equal importance, the new streetcar systemoffers downtown employees and visitors an opportuni-ty to park their personal vehicles in one place andexperience the interesting things to do in Tampa. This"park once" environment works as well for downtownsas it does for shopping malls, and has greatly benefited

cities with streetcar systems. The streetcar, and therelated sidewalk, lighting, and esthetic improvementsto the walking environment, create increased shoppingactivity that benefits merchants and visitors alike, andit reinforces the sense of place.

Since being announced, numer-ous developers have sought to posi-tion projects near the new streetcarline. Housing, both new and con-verted, has become a hot commodi-ty along the line, with developersprominently advertising their proxim-ity to the streetcar line. In Ybor Citya 450 unit apartment complex wasrecently completed that helps to cre-ate a ridership base in the historicdistrict.

Ridership has been strong fromthe outset. The business plan calledfor an average of 950 riders per day.but, since the October 2002 openingthe system has averaged more than1,250 per day, and topped 300,000

riders before the end of June. That's 25 percent aboveprojections. Even summer ridership has been betterthan expected.

The success of Tampa's streetcar system can betraced to the cooperation between the City of Tampaand Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority toimplement the system, the hard work of Tampa HistoricStreetcar, Inc. which is the non-profit corporation cre-ated to manage the system, the Metropolitan PlanningOrganization’s support through prioritization of federalfunds used in part to fund the system, and the supportof local business community. The Florida Departmentof Transportation and Federal Transit Administrationcontributed not only funding, but knowledge and effortthat make them full partners.

Enthusiastic leadership, along with good planningand willing funding partners, took the community goalof "bringing back restored streetcars" and fashioned itinto a powerhouse plan which is helping redevelop anundervalued waterfront, creating business opportuni-ties, and providing much needed transportation in aconstrained corridor and a new identity for Tampa'surban waterfront. And now planning is underway forthe streetcar line to be extended into the downtownbusiness core to make a strong contribution to itsemerging arts district and north end housing.

Investing in Tampa’s Future

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TECO Line StreetcarCurrent Line and Future Extensions

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In their heyday-the first half of the 20th century-Tampa's streetcars whisked passengers to and fromYbor City, Ballast Point, Hyde Park, Sulphur Springs,Seminole Heights and points beyond, 53 miles oftrackway. Operated by uniformed conductors, theBirney cars were a welcome sight, and the familiarclang of the streetcar bell was music to the ears. Toride the streetcar was to feel the pulse of the community.

Tampa's first electric streetcar lines were built in1892 and quickly became an essential part of every-day life. Workers took the streetcar downtown and tothe cigar factories of west Tampa. Families climbedaboard for a picnic or ball game in DeSoto andMacFarlane parks. The system reached its peak ofpopularity in the 1920s with almost 24 million passen-gers in 1926, Tampa's streetcar system rolled to a stopon August 4, 1946, at 2:15 a.m. when the last streetcarretired to the car barn. The cars made a dramatic bonfire.

The first phase of the new streetcar systemopened October 19, 2003 with the 2.3 mile line start-ing in Ybor City at 8th Avenue and 20th Street in frontof Centennial Park. It initially continued up 8thAvenue traveling through the Channelside Districtand ending at the Forum. In January 2003 its firstextension carried it another .2 of a mile through theSouthern Transportation Plaza across from theTampa Convention Center on Ice Palace Drivebetween Florida Avenue and Franklin Street.

The system is a conventional electric transit sys-tem. Engineering firm URS designed the single-track, bi-directional system with passing tracks topermit the meeting and passing of the streetcarstraveling in opposite directions. The conductors /motormen operate by line-of-sight with one directionhaving right-of-way.

Construction was by Herzog ContractingCorporation with Mass Electric as subcontractor.Power for the system is provided by two substations.The overhead catenary system carries 600 voltsof direct current. A transformer on the streetcarsconvert the direct current into alternate current.

The station stops serve parking venues in YborCity and Tampa with parkers jumping on the street-cars to the Centro Ybor entertainment complex,restaurants in Ybor City, the Tampa Port Authorityand the cruise ship terminals, the ChannelsideShops, the Florida Aquarium, the St. Pete TimesForum, the Tampa Convention Center, and multiplehotels along the line.

The southwestern terminus of the system is at theSouthern Transportation Plaza. The track diagonallycontinues through the Plaza before ending. The end-ing point will become the starting point for the nextextension, which will have another parking garageand two hotels along it. The first extension will bringthe streetcar line to the edge of downtown office core.

The System

Short History

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The TECO Line Streetcar System has ten stationstops along its route. The stations which weredesigned by Abell Garcia Architects provide seating,trash receptacles, lighting, andinformation kiosks. Two differentarchitectural styles were used forthe stations.

In Ybor City the stations aredesigned to look like historic trainsheds. The bases are clad with thehistoric brick pavers that weretaken out of Ybor City's streets forthe installation of the rail. Wroughtiron railings are used and thewood roofs are covered with slateshingles. Pavers around the sta-tions are done in a historic octago-nal pattern that is used throughoutYbor City.

The StationsThe Channel District stops reflect the sleek indus-

trial architecture that is dominant in the area.Covered with stainless steel rounded roofs, the sof-

fits are sky-blue. Aquamarine ter-razzo provides sure footing. Therailings are stainless steel.

Public art focuses on seating. InYbor City bronze chair sculpturesduplicate the lectern chairs usedby the readers in the turn of thecentury cigar factories. Art fea-tures in the Port area include ter-razzo orange crates and replicastevedore carts. These elementsare labeled with poetry extollingthe working men of early Tampa’ssignature industries.Cadrecha Plaza Streetcar Station

in Ybor City

Southern Transportation Plaza is the current south-western terminus of the streetcar system. A modern,circular structure in the center of the Plaza is thearchitectural key feature. The Plaza is a intermodalstation providing access and connections for pedes-trians, taxis, local bus service and charter bus serviceas well as streetcars. The Plaza which opened threemonths after the initial segment has enhanced publicawareness. Ridership on the streetcar systemincreased dramatically when the Plaza opened.

The central structure is evocative of a rail round-house. Portals are located throughout allowing pas-sengers entry from any direction. The conical glassroof, supported by radial steel, is designed to providelightness and transparency while offering patrons pro-tection from the elements.

Artist Elizabeth Indianos created twelve stainlesssteel sentinel light sculptures, ten directional art postsand the finial for the top of the structure. The sen-tinels line the track on each side of the roundhouseand flash when streetcars approach.

The streetcar alignment crosses the site diagonally.Allowing for the transition of the line northward in theupcoming extension up Franklin Street into the down-town office core. HART has also reserved 10,000square feet of the Plaza site for future joint develop-ment opportunities.

Southern Transportation Plaza

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BRW designed Ybor Station and constructionwas by John T. Callahan & Sons Inc. Constructionwas completed in October 2002. The building isbordered by 6th Avenue on the south and 7thAvenue on the north, and Nuccio Parkway and13th Street on its eastern and western borders at theedge of the Ybor City National Historic District.

Phase I is the maintenance facility/car barn.Build-out of the second floor will be later as fundingis available. A companion structure facing 7thAvenue is also expected to be built in the future toinclude a streetcar museum, offices, and possiblysome retail space.

The exterior of the facility is constructed of redbrick and the yard is surrounded with wrought ironfencing. The Art in Public Places feature is a publicpark facing 7th Avenue. The Rough Riders serviceclub of Tampa has adopted the park and they haveinstalled a brass plaque commemorating TeddyRoosevelt. The watering hole for the horses of theRough Riders was 1,000 feet from the Ybor Stationsite. These troops departed Tampa destined forCuba in the Spanish American War. In July 2003,construction of a hotel broke ground next to YborStation.

Ybor Station

The VehiclesDesigned to HART's specifications and manufac-

tured by the Gomaco Trolley Company in Ida Grove,Iowa, the eight streetcars of the TECO Line StreetcarSystem are replicas of the historic Birney cars that ranin Tampa until 1946. Thestreetcars are built on steel-framed, double four-wheeledPeter Witt trucks importedfrom Milan, Italy. They are thefirst streetcars built in theUnited States with factoryinstalled air-conditioning. Thefirst streetcar was delivered inearly 2000, and the full com-plement of eight was completedand delivered by the end of 2001.

The interior of the streetcarsare lined in oak, with oak andcherry flip seats. Able to seat

forty-four riders, there is room for an additional fortypassengers to stand. The streetcars are also ADAaccessible, with wheelchair seating on both ends of thecar. Bicycles can be secured in the wheelchair areas

when the areas are not beingused by wheelchairs. Thereare other modern features.The streetcars feature digitalinformation displays on eachend of the cars to providevisual next-stop announce-ments and automated audionext-stop announcements.

A ninth car was ordered inSeptember 2003 with anexpected delivery in 2004.Each car cost about$615,000.

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Driving the TECO Line Streetcar System street-cars, are the conductors/motorman. They aretrained in the rules and procedures of the systemand have received safety and specialty training.Each holds a commercial driver's license and mustmeet Department of Transportation standards eachyear the conductors are routinely briefed aboutevents, restaurants, history and facts about thearea to share with riders and therefore they areable to provide information to passengers. Theyare a key feature of the public image of the systemoften appearing in photographs taken by visitors,and receiving praise for their helpfulness.

There are four classifications of streetcar opera-tors. The highest classification is of theConductor/Motorman General. This is the leadposition among operators. They oversee otheroperators and are responsible for a greater varietyof duties including some supervisory functions.

Other operator positions are Conductor/Motorman, a full-time operator lead supervisory duties, and two part-timeoperator classifications. Full-time Conductors work a 40 hour plus work week. Part-time A Conductors workup to 30 hours, whereas part-time B Conductors must work a minimum of 8 hours per month to maintain theirsafety certifications.

Tampa & Ybor CityStreet Railway Society

The Tampa & Ybor City Street Railway Society was founded in 1984 with a mission to bring streetcar serviceback to Tampa. Five years later the Society incorporated and began raising money to sustain their long-term cam-paign to achieve a return of streetcars connecting Tampa's downtown with Ybor City, hence the name. Today theSociety continues in a vital role supporting system expansion, providing an historical perspective, and an avenuefor volunteers to become involved.

From its humble beginnings, "the littlestreetcar society that could" has movedpolitical mountains to help make the newsystem a reality. Along the way they haveacquired three streetcars through dona-tions, restored an original Tampa Birneycar #163, and are working on a second,double-truck Birney. After working in bor-rowed space for 10 years, the Society isnow in their own shop and museum facili-ty adjacent to Ybor Station.

The Conductors/Motormen

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The funds for the construction of the streetcar sys-tem were prioritized by the Hillsborough CountyMetropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). State andfederal grant funds along with local gas tax funds wereused to build the line and stations, and to buy streetcarvehicles The larger problem was how tofund operations.

The Business Plan called for creation ofan assessment district with an assess-ment to cover about 1/3 the budget. Faresand advertising revenue were expected tocover another 1/3 the budget and anendowment fund was created with a goalof raising a base of $8 million so thatinvestment income from the principalcould fund the balance of the operatingbudget.

The owners of Harbour Island wantedthe People Mover demolished (a monorailsystem used to transport riders fromHarbour Island to downtown and viceversa) and were willing to pay $5 millionto discontinue the service. The funds were used todemolish the system leaving $4 million to deposit in theendowment fund for the Streetcar Systems operation.

Endowment ProgramCity of Tampa and Hillsborough Area Regional TransitAuthority, owners of the system formed a third entity,Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc., to over-see the operations of the system, toinvest the endowment funds, and to sellnaming rights to build up the endowmentfund.

Revenue from Naming RightsNaming rights of the system, the ten sta-tions and the eight vehicles have beenmarketed to raise revenue for theendowment fund. TECO Energy paid $1million to purchase the naming rights forthe system. A more suitable buyer couldnot have been found since TECO hadowned the historic streetcar system thatran in Tampa many years ago.

Two of the streetcars have been sold.SunTrust Bank and Time Warner, Inc. (now BrightHouse Networks) each paid $250,000 for namingrights to the cars. Eight of the station stops have been

Funding for Operationspurchased for $100,000. Naming rights are for tenyears. Station naming rights owners have ten-yearrenewal options for $150,000 per renewal period.Purchasers are allowed two years to pay for theendowments with one third of price due at the time of

signing, one third due at the first anniver-sary of the signing, and the last one thirddue at the second anniversary.

Endowment BenefitsThe purchasers receive several benefitsfor this investment, the most importantbeing a tax credit of up to 50 percent ofthe value of their donation. UnderFlorida's Community Contribution TaxCredit Program, the credit applies againstState of Florida corporate income tax lia-bility, and since an amendment to the lawin 2001, to sales and use tax liability aswell. In the case of the sales and tax lia-bility, the credit is handled as a refund oftaxes actually paid.

Sponsors also have their names on thestreetcars or on the station stop signage. Links on theTECO Line website are provided to the sponsors. Allsponsors' names appear on collateral material distrib-uted by the system (maps, brochures, schedules, etc.at stations, on streetcars), and by marketing partnerssuch as area hotels, the Tampa Bay Convention andVisitor's Bureau, and the Florida Aquarium.

Sponsors of cars are entitled tohold two special events annuallyon their streetcars. Station spon-sors are allowed one specialevent.

Benchmarkers' ClubThis special club was formed bythe Tampa Historic Streetcar,Inc. Marketing Committee to sellseats on the streetcars. Thisgives individuals the chance toembrace the system andbecome a part of the history thatis now being made. At a cost of$250, a brass plaque is installedon the seat backs. The plaque

can contain up to two lines of text and up to 20 char-acters per line. The brass plaques identify theBenchmarkers as supporters of the system. All moneyraised is deposited in the endowment fund.

HART Board Member Manny Alverez and wife Cityof Tampa Councilwoman Mary Alverez have

endowed two seats through the Benchmarkers’ Club

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Assessment District

UPTOWN DOWNTOWNCONNECTOR/ROUTE 96(6am - 6pm Mon - Fri)

TECO LINE STREETCAR ROUTE

SPECIAL ASSESSMENTFUNDING DISTRICT

The Tampa City Council has created a special assessment district to raise funds to help operate the streetcarsystem. Properties are assessed $.33 per $1,000 assessed value. Owner occupied residential properties are notassessed. Each year the assessment increases due to the economic growth seen in the district. Hearings and meet-ings are held annually in subareas of the district.

The district was established using natural boundaries such as I-4, the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, the HillsboroughRiver, and the Garrison and Ybor Channels. Areas of the district not yet served by the streetcar receive trolley busservice with vehicles painted with the same paint scheme as the streetcars.

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Public Relations & Community OutreachThe marketing and public relations activities are directed by the Marketing Committee of Tampa Historic Streetcar,

Inc. using staff of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority. There is also a Marketing Partners Group madeup of staffs of the Ybor and Greater Tampa Chambers of Commerce, the Tampa Bay Convention and VisitorsBureau, Downtown Attractions Association, Tampa Downtown Partnership and many businesses and organiza-tions along the corridor who work together to promote events and the streetcar.

Streetcar Guided Tours and Group TravelHART's public relations department promotes and coordinates guided tours and group travel for the TECO LineStreetcar System. HART places calls and works in advance to get on the agendas of civic, professional, and com-munity groups. Thousands of rides each month are taken on the streetcar system as a result of the coordinatedeffort. Examples of group tours have included the International Association for Exhibition Management,KinderKare, First Baptist Primetimers Group, the Florida Aquarium (day camp) and Kiwanis. Many of the groupsalso take a guided tour of Ybor Station.

Have A Streetcar PartyLooking for a new place to have a birthday party, club meeting or wedding? Look no further than the TECO LineStreetcar System. Tampa's historic replica streetcars offer a unique setting with room for 80 passengers (40 ofthem seated). The rate for using a special streetcar is $150 per hour, per vehicle with a one-hour minimum duringregular service hours. After the first two vehicle hours, the cost per hour is reduced to $125 per hour, per vehicle.

TECO Line Streetcar Report Dozens of locations now serve as distribution points for the bi-weekly streetcar newsletter. Thousands of individ-uals and organizations receive the TECO Line Streetcar Report via e-mail. Examples of report topics include theTampa & Ybor City Street Railway Society museum fundraiser, a profile of International Bazaar at Centro Ybor asour newest fare card sales outlet, information about scheduling parties on the streetcar and promotional informa-tion about the Florida Aquarium's 8th Birthday Celebration, the 4th of July Freedom Fest and all kinds of timelyevents and activities along the line.

In-Town Tampa Guide & MapThe In-Town Guide & Map, published by CJ Publishing, was developed in conjunction with the grand opening ofthe streetcar system. This publication encompasses the areas of downtown Tampa, the Channel District, and YborCity with information about shopping, dining, museums, galleries, attractions and special events. It is a collabo-rative effort between CJ Publishers, Inc., HART and the Tampa Downtown Partnership. In it are up-to-date, easy-to-use maps featuring HART's downtown connector services and thestreetcar system. There are highlights about parking, HART bus routesand stops, fares, and a quarterly overview of major events.

Media RelationsMedia interest in the grand opening, 1st Birthday Bash, Streetcar JazzHop and ongoing operations of the streetcar system has been vast. TheTECO Line Streetcar System has been featured in such venues asSouthern Living magazine, CNN Television News, AAA Going Placesmagazine, the New York Times, the St. Petersburg Times Year in Reviewspecial publication, cable TV's Sunshine Network, ESPN sports cable tel-evision, Governing Magazine, Tampa's PBS outlet WEDU television pro-gram entitled New Florida, and Tampa Bay Metro magazine, among others.

Going Places MagazineA TECO Line Streetcar was featured on the cover of the March/April2003 issue of AAA Auto Club South's magazine. The streetcar also wasincluded in the president's column and the cover story about the City ofTampa. Going Places magazine reaches 2.3 million AAAAuto Club Southmembers in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The Tampa BayConvention and Visitors Bureau worked with AAA Auto Club South toachieve this fantastic publicity.

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Ridership

Serving Special Events Like most cities, Tampa has anumber of annual special eventsin the downtown area, Ybor City,and Channelside. The streetcarsystem is perfectly situated toserve and benefit from thoseevents.

Tampa's biggest annual event isGasparilla, a festival looselybased on a 19th century piratewho supposedly operated out ofTampa Bay. Whether JoseGaspar was real or not, theimpact of the festival is very real.The two parades generate mil-lions of dollars for Tampa eachyear and boosted first year street-car ridership in the process. Forthe day parade the streetcar sys-tem carried 5,760 riders using alleight cars. The night parade inYbor City produced a one-day rid-ership record of 8,512 riders ononly five streetcars.

Other events have produced rid-ership in the 4,000 to 6,000range. Promoters are figuring outhow to use the Streetcar Systemfor access to their events, andthey are capitalizing on the fun ofevent goers using this new/oldform of urban transportation.

Also giving a big boost to street-car ridership are the numerousconferences that are hosted bylocal hotels and the TampaConvention Center. SouthernTransportation Plaza, the street-car's southern terminus, nowserves as a hub of downtowntransportation, pedestrian move-ments, and as a meeting andgathering place for visitors andlocal alike. Many hotels now mar-ket and sell streetcar passes andfeature streetcars in their advertis-ing and promotions materials.

Monthly Ridership

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Nu

mb

er

of

Rid

ers

FY 2003 Oct 02 - Sep 03

FY 2004 Oct 03 - Present

*Par

tial M

onth

FY 2003Streetcar Ridership by Day of Week

Tuesday8.9%

Monday9.5%

Thursday10.4%

Wednesday8.9%

Saturday31.3%

Friday19.0%

Sunday12.1%

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Hours of OperationMonday – Wednesday . . . . . . .11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 a.m. to 11 p.m.Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 a.m. to 2 a.m.Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 a.m. to 2 a.m.Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Noon to 8 p.m.

• A streetcar arrives at a station stop every 15 to 20 minutes.

• It takes 25 to 30 minutes to ride the full length of the line.

• The last trip of the day begins at each end of the line (at the times shown as the last hour of operation). Boarding the streetcar by the final departure time will insure access to each station along the route.

Fare StructureOne-Way Cash Fare: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.50

A value if boarding only once in either direction of travel.

Discount Cash Fare: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75¢For seniors age 65 or older, youths age 17 or younger, those on Medicare or with disabilities.

1-Day Unlimited Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00A value if you get on and off a streetcar more than twice throughout the day.

1-Day Discount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.50For seniors age 65 or older, youths age 17 or younger, those on Medicare or with disabilities.

Annual Unlimited Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00

Exact fare required. Operators do not carry change.

The TECO Line Streetcar System is operated by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) undercontract to Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc.

4/04

Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc.Board of Directors

City of Tampa Appointees Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority Appointees

Mr. Michael English Mr. David MechanikPresident Vice President

Councilwoman Mary Alvarez Mr. Ken HoytSecretary/Treasurer

Ms. Joan Jennewein Ms. Jan Smith

Mr. Regan Haines Mr. Edward HampAlternate

Ms. Bonnie Wise Mr. Chris PratherAlternate

Mr. Jack Morriss Mr. Enrique WoodroffeAlternate

Mr. Ron IbarraAlternate

Mr. Dave ParkinsonAlternate

The Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. was created by an interlocal agreement between the City of Tampa andthe Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority. The purpose of the group is to manage the endowmentfund and the operations of the streetcar system.

Mission StatementTampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. (THS) will offer a dynamic new component to Tampa's transportation systemby providing attractive, reliable, comfortable, convenient and safe streetcar service to local residents andvisitors alike.