Changes coming to HART bus routes in June

HART service changes// Credit: HART

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According to a graphic provided by HART, 13 routes will see schedule changes, one route will see a schedule improvement, and 2 routes in Ybor City will be changed. 

Routes 24lx, 25LX, and HartFlex south county will no longer be in service. 

According to a message from HART, Route 24LX and Route 25LX riders can use Route 360LX (JC Handley Park-and-Ride) as an alternative.

Additionally, 24LX/25LX and HARTFlex South County riders may also be able to use Enterprise Vanpool or the County’s Sunshine Line.

Christina Carter has lived in Hillsborough County for almost 61 years. She says she relies on HartFlex. 

“If I need to go to the grocery store, if I need to go to Walmart to get something to fix my house, or Home Depot, I’m going to have to take the big bus, which is route number 31. Which will go up 41, and I have to do my shopping in Brandon, 25 miles away,” Carter told WMNF.

Mariella Smith is a former county commissioner and former chair of HART’s board. 

“What they’re doing is eliminating services that serve the unincorporated area and beefing up a couple of routes in the city of Tampa, and that’s unfair,” Smith said.

In a message to WMNF, a representative from HART says the proposed changes come from a Comprehensive Operational analysis, which weighed input from “customers, employees, and stakeholders.”