Route of the Week: Route 18

With a diverse service area roughly the size of Rhode Island, Hillsborough County provides a great mix of urban, suburban and rural destinations for our riders. Think about the destinations that you can see and experience with the HART transportation network!

This week we explore the Route 18! The Route 18 operates 30 minute weekday service and hourly weekend service from The University area to Downtown Tampa.

Route 18 serves a number of USF student housing

Operating near The University of South Florida (USF), Route 18 serves a number of student housing complexes, including (but not limited to): Campus Lodge, The Livingston, The Social at South Florida and Reflections Apartments.

Transversing the northwest corner of The USF Tampa campus, Route 18 is a great option for non-emergency medical trips with a trio of Hospital/Medical Centers served: Florida Hospital - Tampa, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and, the Veteran's Administration (VA) Hospital. Seniors, ages 65+, and those with disabilities, are eligible for 50% off normal fare.

Botanical Gardens features over 3,000 plants, animals & more

A somewhat hidden gem on the USF campus, The USF Botanical Gardens, is 16 acres of gardens, with over 3,000 plants, animals and natural habitats. Admission to the gardens is only $5.00 for adults, and free for children under the age of 6.

Continuing our southward trek, Route 18 operates on the western side of Busch Gardens, with only a short walk to the park entrance. "Race" a cheetah at 60 mph, or feel the fury of a falcon, with a 300-ft drop at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!

Whether it's racquetball at Alfred "Al" Barns, Jr. Park, or soccer (and hopefully soon, swimming) at Cuscaden Park, Route 18 has your outdoor activity needs covered.

On our way into Ybor City, Hillsborough Community College (HCC) students will be happy to see Route 18 connects to the Ybor Campus at 15th St. and 11th Ave. HCC students receive discounts on a 31-day pass, and the HCC Semester Pass provides four months of unlimited rides for $110. This deal breaks down to roughly four months of rides, for the price of two months.

Soon after, we are back in Downtown Tampa at Marion Transit Center, with connection to 25+ routes, including inter-city connections via PSTA, Megabus, and RedCoach!

From campus to coasters, HART Takes You There.