Tampa Bay's HART Bus System will Lose 20 Percent of its Routes

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit board of directors voted 12-1 to cut service on 20 percent of the system's bus routes. The move is a response to declining ridership, and a tight budget. "HART receives less tax support than similar agencies in most major cities, meaning it's hit harder by the decrease in fare box revenue." Caitlin Johnson reports in the Tampa Bay Times. Attempts to boost that budget including a 2010 referendum were voted down.

Changes to the system should benefit some riders with new routes being shorter and more direct. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority say these changes should benefit 80 percent of riders.