Since MLK Day is just a little more than 2 weeks away, I wanted to go ahead and post the holiday transit service schedule for all of the transit districts in Tampa Bay. However, since the new year has begun, I’ve also decided to use this post to talk about holiday transit service in general.
On some holidays, like Columbus Day, some districts may operate on a normal weekday service schedule. However, most districts operate on some sort of modified schedule; whether it be a Saturday or Sunday level of service, or a special abbreviated schedule. From what I understand, the level of transit service during holidays is mainly dictated by demand, as well as funding. Most transit districts are able to provide some level of service during most holidays. However, in smaller districts (like Pasco County for instance), transit services will not operate during holidays. This may be due to a lack of demand on holidays, or perhaps a lack of funding. In some cases, it may be both, or perhaps other reasons.
Depending on your transit district, holiday schedules for the entire year may be posted on your transit district’s website. Other districts may only post holiday schedules on a “case by case” basis, so please be sure to check with your respective transit district for the latest information. As always, such information is subject to change.
For the MLK Holiday, which is Monday, January 21, 2012, the following districts will operate on a normal weekday schedule:
- Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA – Pinellas County, FL)
- Central Ave Trolley
- Suncoast Beach Trolley
- Clearwater Jolley Trolley
- FLEX (Connector) Services
- Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT – Sarasota County, FL)
- Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT – Manatee County, FL)
- Longboat Key Trolley
- Anna Maria Island Trolley
- Beach Express Trolley
- TECOline Streetcar (Tampa, FL)
- The Tide Light Rail (Norfolk, VA)
The following districts will operate on a Saturday-level schedule:
- Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART – Hillsborough County, FL)
- Northdale FLEX Service
- Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) Bus Services (Hampton Roads, VA)
The following districts will NOT operate:
- St. Pete Downtown Looper Trolley (St. Petersburg, FL)
- Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT – Pasco County, FL)
- Hernando THEbus (Hernando County, FL)
For holiday schedules for the remainder of 2013, I invite you to check out the links below. Please note that not all of the transit districts listed above have complete holiday schedules available on their websites. I’ve only listed the districts that have 2013 holiday schedules posted to their websites.
- Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART – Hillsborough County, FL) – Goes by Fiscal Year (October, 2012 through September, 2013)
- Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA – Pinellas County, FL) – Please see the section titled “Holiday Schedule” near the top of the page.
- Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT – Sarasota County, FL) – On the right side of the district’s homepage, please see the section titled “SCAT 2013 Holidays”.
- Hernando THEbus (Hernando County, FL)
- Hampton Roads Transit (HRT – Hampton Roads, VA) – Goes by Calendar Year (January, 2013 through December, 2013)
MCAT and PCPT generally post their holiday schedules online also, but 2013 schedules are not yet available. I will update this post when they become available.
Also, the St. Pete Downtown Looper Trolley does not operate on MLK Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, as mentioned on their website.
I will stress again that all of the information regarding holiday transit schedules is subject to change, so please double check with your transit district for up-to-date information. If I hear of any changes, I will update this post as soon as possible. However, please feel free to contact me via the Contact page if you see something here that is incorrect.
Have a wonderful 2013! 😀
Warmest Regards,
HARTride 2012
The Global Transit Guidebook 