Regional planners have identified transit and transportation as the top priority items for Tampa Bay.

  • PSTA, HART team on pilot fare program
  • Flamingo Fares pass downloadable to mobile device
  • Solid plastic card can also be issued
  • LINK: Flamingo Fares

The ability to move people and goods throughout a community is essential to its continued positive growth.

To that end, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority have teamed on a pilot program to help their customers ride between both systems. According to PSTA spokeswoman Ashlie Handie, Flamingo Fares are the future for transit here.

"We really want to start moving toward a more regional transit system, and so Flamingo Fares is really just the first step toward that regional system," Handie said.

The pass is downloaded to a user's mobile device or issued via a solid plastic card, like a credit or debit card. From there, the rider is given access to both PSTA and HART transit systems, according to Lucien Campillo with HART.

"It offers passengers an easy way to get on the bus without having to have change in your pockets or in your hands as you're trying to get on the bus," Campillo said, "or trying to go someplace and buy a paper pass that you may lose."

Flamingo Fares are available for PSTA and HART riders only. However, next summer, the program will expand to include five Tampa Bay counties.

For more information on Flamingo Fares, please click here.