TECO Line Streetcar System
Encyclopedia
The TECO Line Streetcar System is a streetcar line in Tampa
, Florida
, run by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation Authority
and managed by Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc.. It connects Downtown
and Channelside to the historic Ybor City district. There is also an "In-Town" trolley-replica bus
system that connects Downtown, Channelside, and Harbour Island
. http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/about/maps/system_map_6-9-08.pdf
The line opened on October 19, 2002. The line is 2.7 mi (4.35 km) long with 11 stations. The track is single with several passing sidings. The track mostly follows a reserved right-of-way.
Safety Car and, probably, other streetcar types.
Streetcars returned to Tampa in 2002, when the initial 2.4 mi (3.86 km) long heritage line
was opened. Its operating costs are financed through a streetcar endowment stemming from settlement money received by the city for the demolition of the Harbour Island People Mover
. In its first year of operation, the streetcar carried 420,000, 20% more than projected. In 2005, 434,498 passengers used the streetcar.
A new 0.333 mi (0.53591022 km) extension opened for revenue service on December 19, 2010. It connects Franklin Street and the Fort Brooke parking garage in the down town core to the Convention Center as well as the rest of the TECO Line.
cars, one restored original Birney car, and one replica open-bench "Breezer". All except the original Birney were built by the Gomaco Trolley Company
.
The replica Birney cars have a welded steel body with cosmetic rivets added to make them look older. The cars are wheelchair-accessible, air-conditioned and have automated stop announcements. The seats are made of wood and are reversible for when the car changes direction. The cars are also equipped with on-board ticket dispensers; however, they do not provide change.
The one original Birney was found in Sulphur Springs, a neighborhood in Tampa. When the car was found it was being used as an apartment. After extensive restoration the car is back to its former condition and is used for special events.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, run by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation Authority
Hartline
Hartline can refer to:* An anglicized surname of German origin.* Haldan Keffer Hartline, American Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine winner* Hartline, Washington* HARTline, the brand name for Hillsborough Area Regional Transit...
and managed by Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc.. It connects Downtown
Downtown Tampa
Image:Tampa_Skyline.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Downtown Tampa looking from the Hillsborough Riverpoly 2403 537 2441 500 2488 483 2516 455 2566 439 2597 410 2649 390 2682 358 2803 315 2949 342 2956 362 3068 383 3074 406 3202 431 3204 447 3332 473 3350 484 3485 1616 2446 1587 Wachovia Centerpoly 1745 1216...
and Channelside to the historic Ybor City district. There is also an "In-Town" trolley-replica bus
Tourist trolley
A tourist trolley, also called a road trolley, is a rubber-tired bus , which is made to resemble an old-style streetcar or tram....
system that connects Downtown, Channelside, and Harbour Island
Harbour Island (Tampa), Florida
Harbour Island is an island neighborhood within the city limits of Tampa, Florida and the sub-district within Downtown Tampa. The ZIP Code serving the area is 33602.-Geography:...
. http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/about/maps/system_map_6-9-08.pdf
The line opened on October 19, 2002. The line is 2.7 mi (4.35 km) long with 11 stations. The track is single with several passing sidings. The track mostly follows a reserved right-of-way.
History
Tampa's first electric streetcars were introduced in 1892. The streetcar reached its peak of popularity in the 1920s. In 1926, almost 24 million passengers were carried. The first line shut down on August 4, 1946. The first streetcar system used the BirneyBirney
A Birney or Birney Safety Car is a type of streetcar that was manufactured in the United States in the 1910s and 1920s. The design was small and light and was intended to be an economical means of providing frequent service at a lower infrastructure and labor cost than conventional streetcars...
Safety Car and, probably, other streetcar types.
Streetcars returned to Tampa in 2002, when the initial 2.4 mi (3.86 km) long heritage line
Heritage streetcar
Heritage streetcars or heritage trams are a development of the heritage railways that are becoming popular across the world. As with modern streetcar systems, the vehicles are referred to as trams or tramcars in the United Kingdom, Australasia and certain other places , but as streetcars or...
was opened. Its operating costs are financed through a streetcar endowment stemming from settlement money received by the city for the demolition of the Harbour Island People Mover
Harbour Island People Mover
The Harbour Island People Mover was an automated guideway transit people mover service used to carry visitors between Downtown Tampa and Harbour Island across the Garrison Channel in Tampa, Florida, United States. Privately owned but operated by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority ,...
. In its first year of operation, the streetcar carried 420,000, 20% more than projected. In 2005, 434,498 passengers used the streetcar.
A new 0.333 mi (0.53591022 km) extension opened for revenue service on December 19, 2010. It connects Franklin Street and the Fort Brooke parking garage in the down town core to the Convention Center as well as the rest of the TECO Line.
Station list
- Whiting
- Dick Greco Plaza (connection to In-Town Trolley Purple Line (weekday peak service) & In-Town Trolley Green Line (Fri/Sat evening service) to various points in downtown Tampa, Harbour Island, & Channelside; signed as TRANSPORTATION PLAZA on rollsigns)
- HSBC
- The Tampa Tribune
- Cumberland Avenue
- York Street
- Port Authority
- Cadrecha Plaza
- Streetcar SocietyStreetcar Society StationStreetcar Society is a TECO Line station located in Ybor City, Florida. There is one side platform and one track on the northwest corner of 15th Street and 8th Avenue. The track and platform is situated on a concrete slab on the north side of 8th Avenue. The station is one block west of Tampa Bay...
- Tampa Bay Federal Credit UnionTampa Bay Federal Credit Union StationTampa Bay Federal Credit Union is a TECO Line streetcar station in historic Ybor City. The station has one island platform, located on a passing siding, that allows for trams to pass by each other on the single track line...
- Centennial ParkCentennial Park StationCentennial Park is a TECO Line streetcar station in Tampa, Florida. The station has one track and one side platform on the north side of 8th Avenue. It is the first station on the streetcar and was the location of the opening ceremony of the first train...
Rolling stock
The system has eleven operating streetcars: nine modern replica double-truck BirneyBirney
A Birney or Birney Safety Car is a type of streetcar that was manufactured in the United States in the 1910s and 1920s. The design was small and light and was intended to be an economical means of providing frequent service at a lower infrastructure and labor cost than conventional streetcars...
cars, one restored original Birney car, and one replica open-bench "Breezer". All except the original Birney were built by the Gomaco Trolley Company
Gomaco Trolley Company
The Gomaco Trolley Company is a manufacturer of vintage-style streetcars , located in Ida Grove, Iowa, United States...
.
The replica Birney cars have a welded steel body with cosmetic rivets added to make them look older. The cars are wheelchair-accessible, air-conditioned and have automated stop announcements. The seats are made of wood and are reversible for when the car changes direction. The cars are also equipped with on-board ticket dispensers; however, they do not provide change.
The one original Birney was found in Sulphur Springs, a neighborhood in Tampa. When the car was found it was being used as an apartment. After extensive restoration the car is back to its former condition and is used for special events.