Back on track

[Times photos: Stefanie Boyar] Each streetcar seats 88 people and travels 30 mph. From 1892 to the 1940s, the streetcar was the main mode of transportation downtown, replaced in 1946 by buses.

By BABITA PERSAUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 17, 2002

Streetcars resume trips through downtown Tampa. Festivities, many free, mark the reopening.

TAMPA -- After 56 years, the clang returns to Tampa.

The electric streetcar opens this weekend downtown, a comeback 18 years in the making.

A whirlwind of activities will accompany the opening for the TECO Line Streetcar System on Saturday and Sunday:

A fall festival at Channelside. A 5K walk on Saturday starts at the St. Pete Times Forum. On Sunday, a 5K run, which ends with a paella feast at Centennial Park in Ybor City.

At Centro Ybor, there'll be Oktoberfest. At the downtown library, a showing of the 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis and Judy Garland singing The Trolley Song.

Many businesses are offering discounts: Kids eat free at the Channelside Beef O'Brady's, with the purchase of an adult entree, and at the Florida Aquarium, buy one admission ticket, get the second half off.

Streetcars will resume service in Tampa this weekend, serving downtown, Channelside and Ybor City. Free rides will be offered during the grand opening weekend.

Even venues off the streetcar path are chiming in. The Tampa Theatre is offering free backstage tours; The Henry B. Plant Museum will have an open house.

"We want to find a way to let everyone take part in this historic event," said Richard Gonzmart, Columbia Restaurant president.

All the clamor emphasizes the purpose of the streetcar: to bring people downtown.

From 1892 to 1946, the streetcar was the main mode of transportation downtown. With nickel fares, cigar rollers rode it to work; families took it to ball games at DeSoto Park.

On Aug. 4, 1946 at 2:15 a.m., the last streetcar rolled into the car barn. The system was replaced by something new: buses.

Then 11 years ago, the Tampa & Ybor City Railway Society, many of whose members once rode the streetcars, started renovating a streetcar found dilapidated in Sulphur Springs.

The group also pushed to restore the line, with support from others including HARTline, the county's bus service. Another chief supporter: Mayor Dick Greco, who remembered the clang from his childhood.

The new cars look very much like the old Birney Safety Cars. Inside, the cars are polished oak and cherry, with seats that flip to face either end.

But there's one major difference: The new cars are air-conditioned.

This weekend marks the opening of the $32-million Phase One, which includes 2.3 miles of tracks, eight cars and nine station stops (five in Channelside, four in Ybor).

A 10th station will be added in December at the Tampa Convention Center. Called the Southern Transportation Plaza, the glass-and-steel hub will also serve taxis and buses.

Extensions to Hyde Park, West Tampa, Franklin Street and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center have been planned, but there's no money available to build them.

This weekend, all rides are free. The grand opening ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at Centennial Park, 18th Street and Ninth Avenue, in Ybor City.

At about 10 a.m., a parade of streetcars will carry invited guests to downtown Tampa. At each stop, the streetcar will burst through a grand opening banner. Afterward, at the Morgan Street Station near the St. Pete Times Forum, the streetcar opens to the public.

Fares: Rides are free this weekend, but after that, you will need exact change. Regular fare is $1.25 one way; 60 cents ages 65 and older, 17 and younger, Medicare recipients and the disabled; free for children 4 and younger accompanied by paying adult. A one-day unlimited ride card is $3; an annual pass is $100.

• Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Wed.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thurs.; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fri.; 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Sat.; noon-8 p.m. Sun.
• How fast: Maximum speed is 30 mph; average is 6.5 mph. A one-way trip from one end of the line to the other takes about 22-25 minutes.
• Web site: www.tecolinestreetcar.org
• Information line: (813) 254-4278.

Opening weekend schedule

Saturday

9 a.m.: Grand opening at Centennial Park, 18th Street and Ninth Avenue, Ybor City.

9 a.m.: Rides and Strides 5K Walk sponsored by the American Cancer Society at St. Pete Times Forum. Registration 7 a.m. Information: (813) 254-3630 ext. 306.

10 a.m.: Parade of streetcars begins in Ybor, ends at the Southern Transportation Plaza, near Tampa Convention Center.

10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Interactive sports and games, including slap shot and goal tending, at St. Pete Times Forum. Shots at Channelside bar and restaurant will be open.

11 a.m.: Streetcar open to the public at Morgan Street Station near the St. Pete Times Forum.

11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Channelside Fall Festival. Costume contest, pumpkin carving demonstration, clowns, jugglers and storytellers.

11 a.m.-5 p.m.: A restored 1923 Birney Safety Car will be on display and available for tours at Ybor Station, 1200 E Sixth Ave.

Noon-3 p.m.: Oktoberfest with German music at Centro Ybor.

4-9 p.m.: Music by Dan McMillan & the Grooving High Orchestra and Derrick Womack & the Groove at Channelside.

Sunday

8 a.m.: Columbia 5K Streetcar Run starts at downtown YMCA, ends at Centennial Park with Ybor Fiesta Feast. Columbia Restaurant will serve its "World-Famous Giant Paella" until noon. Admission to feast is $10; free for registered runners. Register online: www.activeusa.com.

11 a.m.- 2 p.m.: Channelside Fall Festival continues.

4-9 p.m.: Music by the Swinging Johnsons at Channelside.

11 a.m.- 5 p.m.: A restored 1923 Birney Safety Car will be on display with tours available at Ybor Station, 1200 E Sixth Ave.

1-3 p.m.: Day of Magic; family activities at Centro Ybor.

2 p.m.: Screening of Meet Me In St. Louis, 1944 musical with Judy Garland, at John F. German Public Library, 900 N Ashley Drive, Tampa.

Among the businesses offering discounts and special events this weekend:

Florida Aquarium. Buy one admission, get second half off.

Beef O'Brady's, 490 Channelside Drive, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree.

Pop City, Channelside, 20 percent off all food and beverages and a free one-hour unlimited game card with the purchase of a one-hour game card.

American Victory Ship, behind Florida Aquarium, $1 off admission.

Tampa Theatre, noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday, backstage tours and demonstration of the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ.

Henry B. Plant Museum open house Saturday.

John F. German Public Library, display of Burgert Brothers photographs of old streetcars.

Cigars by Antonio, Channelside, buy three Don Antonio or Don Tomas cigars and get one free Saturday only.

The Clayground, Seventh Avenue, Ybor City, two customers paint for price of one, Saturday only.

Ybor City Museum State Park, free admission.

Joffrey's Coffee, Ybor, buy one, get one free Boars Head deli sandwich.

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