Tampa has the most efficient streetcar in America, according to new study

The Tampa Streetcar is one of the dreamiest ways to explore the city. It offers fast and free connections from the heart of downtown Tampa to Historic Ybor City. For the past few years, it has easily broken its previous passenger records and has earned major accolades for being one of the best streetcar systems in the nation. A new study from The CATO Institute shows that Tampa’s Streetcar System is also the most efficient in the country by at least $1 per trip.

This information comes from a new study released by the CATO Institute, which evaluated the most and least efficient systems in the country.

The TECO Line Streetcar smashed the all-time annual ridership record in FY2023 (October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023) with 1,315,103 passenger trips. It was the highest annual ridership in over 20 years of TECO Line Streetcar service, according to a release from Hillsborough Area Regional Transit.

The TECO Line Streetcar has broken several monthly ridership records over the past year including the best month in the Streetcar’s modern history with 127,863 passenger trips reported in March 2023. Our super energized streetcars also host live concerts on board, and they’re totally free to ride.

The record ridership is attributed to an increase in frequency to every 12 minutes during peak hours, population growth along the streetcar line, and near-record tourism to Tampa.

Visit the streetcar’s website for a live streetcar map, schedules, and more information.

What to read next:

• New rooftop bar opening in Tampa
• Food hall with an upscale restaurant opening in Ybor City
• Gasparilla Festival of the Arts brings 250 artists to Tampa
• The 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival Guide