Page was last updated on 11/12/2023.
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MetroRapid was Hillsborough County’s first attempt to implement a basic form of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), what some in the transit community call “BRT Lite”. This means that the route operates completely in mixed traffic conditions, but a few BRT elements are present such as stylized stations, limited stops, frequent service, & a small handful of bus pull out bays & queue jumps. MetroRapid was first introduced in 2013 & was originally dubbed as MetroRapid North-South. Today, it is more known as MetroRapid Nebraska Ave, or simply Route 400.
Service History
MetroRapid service began on May 28, 2013, with an inaugural fare-free period running until June 7, 2013 to allow customers to get acclimated. During the time of its launch, MetroRapid complimented local Route 2, which also traversed Nebraska Ave, & had its northeastern terminus at the Hidden River Regional Park-N-Ride Lot at the Hidden River Corporate Park near New Tampa.
Mainline MetroRapid service operates every 15 minutes on weekdays (though 12 minute frequency has been trialed before) from 6:00am until 6:00pm, with 30 minute service all other times, except past 10:00pm, when frequency transitions to every hour. Until October, 2017, MetroRapid service east of the University Area Transit Center would operate every 30 minutes between 5:00am & 8:00pm, with no weekend service due to limited demand towards Hidden River.
In October, 2017, MetroRapid was heavily revised as part of HART’s Mission MAX system optimization plan. The segment east of U.A.T.C. was siphoned off to Route 33, which has since been further revised & downgraded to Flex van service (East Fletcher Flex), & several additional stops were added due to the elimination of Route 2 entirely. Beginning in 2022, the original stylized MetroRapid shelters are gradually being replaced with new standardized shelters.
What a MetroRapid network could have looked like
In 2010, it was originally envisioned that MetroRapid would comprise of 5 different lines: Nebraska Ave/Fletcher Ave, TPA Airport/Temple Terrace via MLK Blvd & Hillsborough Ave, Dale Mabry Hwy, New Tampa, & Adamo Dr. An update in 2013 added Gunn Hwy & Busch Blvd to the plans. Because of funding constraints & shifting county priorities however, this network would never come to be. The planned Rapid Transit lines were either planned to be arterial BRT or light rail, which also never came to fruition.
Original Dedicated Fleet
When MetroRapid first launched, HART dedicated twelve uniquely styled Gillig Low Floor buses to operate on the line (#’s 1201 through 1212). These buses were painted in a green/gray/white scheme that otherwise looked identical to the agency’s standard two-toned blue/white livery. The buses were originally to be of the BRT design, but the agency later changed the specifications to have a standard front-end. To my knowledge, these is the only Gillig Low Floor bus order to have a standard front-end & BRT style rear-end.
In 2019, HART repainted all twelve buses into the standard livery to maintain fleet reliability systemwide.
Original Shelter Design
HART originally installed unique, stylized shelters at MetroRapid stops to separate them from regular stops. Many shelters were equipped with ticket vending machines to help speed the boarding process, but plans never materialized to have machines installed at all MetroRapid stops due to funding issues.
Fares
HART charges the same fares on MetroRapid as they do to any other local & limited express route.
The Global Transit Guidebook 
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