Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority is hosting two community meetings and a public hearing about changes the organization expects to make to a popular bus route that links Pasco County to downtown Tampa.
HART has three options that it’s considering for its Route 51X. The first would be to continue morning and afternoon express service between Pasco and downtown Tampa, providing hourly midday service between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., between HART’s University Area Transit Center and southern Pasco via Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
The second option would be to discontinue direct express service between Pasco and downtown Tampa in favor of continual hourly midday service between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. along a similar route. Those riders wishing to go downtown can use other routes that would take them from the University transit center.
The final option would be to still discontinue direct express service in favor of continual hourly midday service between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., with additional stops at the University of South Florida. Once again, riders who want to go downtown could take another bus from one of those stops.
The changes are being made based on ridership trends, and to help improve cost-efficiency of the system, according to a release from HART.
The first open house is planned for June 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at New Tampa Library, 1001 Cross Creek Blvd. the second open house is set for June 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at New Tampa Community Center, 17302 Commerce Park Blvd.
A public hearing is scheduled for July 8 beginning at 5 p.m. at New Tampa Library.
Riders also can email comments to .
Recommendations will be made to the HART board of directors in September, with implementation set for November.
Maps for the proposed changes to Route 51X can be found by clicking here.
For more information, call (813) 254-4278.
