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Downtown

Routine day brings surprise, then prize

A Harbour Island woman was headed to work, then learned she was the streetcar's 1-millionth rider - sort of.

By ELISABETH DYER
Published February 11, 2005

For Ingrid Potoczny, Tuesday was her lucky day.

Like most days, Potoczny, 35, left her home on Harbour Island for her job in Ybor City at the Columbia Restaurant's cigar shop.

Upon arriving at the TECO streetcar station at the Southern Transportation Plaza, she thought nothing of the crowd until cameras pointed at her and HARTline officials announced she was the 1-millionth person to ride the streetcar.

"It's awesome. I ride almost every day," said Potoczny upon receiving a basket of gift certificates for businesses along the streetcar route and a piece of cake.

Among her prizes: a streetcar pass good for a year.

Ingrid and her husband, Tony, are frequent riders for both work and pleasure. "We like the urban life," she said.

Tampa's historic streetcars returned Oct. 19, 2002, after rolling to a stop in 1946. Potoczny, who doesn't drive, has been riding from the beginning.

Logging 1-million riders in just over two years is above projections, said Michael English, president of Tampa Historic Streetcar Inc., the nonprofit that oversees the system.

"We knew it would be attractive to visitors and it is, and it's increasingly attractive to people who live and work along the line," English said.

Streetcars carry about 1,200 people on weekdays, more than 3,200 on Saturdays and about 1,000 on Sundays, said HARTline spokeswoman Jill Cappadoro.

Generally, four cars run at a time. More are added for special events, such as Gasparilla, which this year generated 7,700 rides, and New Year's Eve, which had a record 9,037 rides.

Next for the streetcar: a proposed extension of the line from the Southern Transportation Plaza in front of the Tampa Marriott Waterside along Franklin Street north to Whiting Street.

The extension would help serve and promote increased residential and retail activity on Franklin, English said.

The actual millionth customer slipped on board uncounted sometime over the weekend, but HARTline officials wanted to organize the celebration and targeted a loyal rider as the winner.

Potoczny was happy to receive the distinction. She especially looks forward to using the certificate to Big City Tavern in Ybor City. Of course, she'll get there on the streetcar.

Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at 226-3321 or edyer@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 10, 2005, 11:48:06]