June 2020 – Plant City is one of the fastest growing areas in Hillsborough County with over 40,000 residents and is strategically located between Tampa and Lakeland. In the mid-2000s, HART and Plant City operated the Strawberry Connector service to provide circulator trips within Plant City, which ceased operation during 2008. Starting in 2012, HART operated a commuter express service (Route 28X – East County Express) from Tampa to Plant City. Unfortunately, HART had to eliminate that service by 2017 since there was not enough ridership to serve that route. Currently, there is no bus service in Plant City.
The Hillsborough MPO, in collaboration with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit and the City of Plant City, are conducting a study to develop a transit plan for Plant City. The project will focus on the feasibility of re-initiating transit service from Tampa to Plant City through a travel market analysis and possibly establish service to Polk County in the future.
So far two stakeholder focus group meetings have taken place to seek public engagement on the alternatives presented on project. Future meetings will take place in the form of public open houses. As a follow-up to the second Stakeholder Focus Group meeting, which was held virtually on May 21, 2020, a survey is being conducted to gather additional preferences, ideas, and comments on initially proposed alternatives.
View a recording of the virtual meeting.
Check out the project page for additional information.
We want to hear from you! Please complete the Plant City Transit Study survey by June 30.
