TAMPA, Fla. — Changes are coming to the way folks will ride the bus in Hillsborough County.

What You Need To Know

  • HART is eliminating paper fare cards

  • Riders will use Flamingo Fares app instead

  • HART’S board is also considering fare changes, which they haven’t done in 12 years

  • Changes go into effect in January

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) is getting rid of its paper fare cards. It is also considering price changes as well.

HART representatives are now out at bus stops telling riders about the changes.

One change is the elimination of paper fare cards.

HART is switching to the Flamingo Fares app, something officials say nearly half of its riders already use.

HART’S Director of Planning, Justin Willets, explains that riders can also use a reloadable smart card.

“We’re modernizing our fare payment system,” Willets said. “We’ve invested a lot in contactless payment. The paper fares are being phased out by the vendors that provide them.”

HART’S board is also considering fare changes, which they haven’t done in 12 years.

Right now, the base fare is $2. Daily fares are capped at $4. Those prices are now being evaluated, Willets said.

One proposal is to increase fares for HARTFlex, the van service, from $1 to $2 for a one-way fare.

HART is now getting feedback from riders on all these changes. 

“Some positive, some negative,” Willets said. “People understand that the fare hasn’t changed since 2012. And they understand some of the issues we have with paper fares. But we have to communicate exactly how they’ll be impacted.”

Willets added that paper fares will go away in January. Any price changes would go into effect then as well.

The board will be discussing those changes in December.