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The new route is aimed at giving employees at industrial parks a reliable and convenient way to and from the job.
By JENNIFER GOLDBLATT
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 17, 2001
For those who have a job in one of the Pasco's industrial parks, but no convenient way to get there, there's help on the way: the 50X commuter bus route.
The new route, which will begin operating Sept. 10, will go to the county's two industrial parks, starting at Bayonet Point at U.S. 19 and State Road 52, and ending in Pinellas County at the Park-n-Ride lot in Oldsmar off State Road 580.
"It's meant to support those companies and businesses along the route that may be having some difficulties with employees' transportation needs," said Mike Carroll, director of transportation for Pasco County Public Transportation. "It also gets some traffic off the road and reduces pollution."
For the businesses in those industrial parks, it offers a way to help attract and keep employees they might not otherwise be able to because those persons didn't have reliable transportation.
The route stops at West Pasco Industrial Park and Odessa Industrial Park in Pasco, Tri-County Business Park in Pinellas, and ends at the Park-n-Ride lot off Tampa Road. Connections are available there to PSTA and HARTline, the public transit authorities for Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
There will be buses leaving Bayonet Point Plaza at 6 and 7 a.m. In the afternoon, buses will leave the Park-N-Ride lot in Oldsmar at 3:45 and 4:45 p.m. The route runs only on weekdays (no weekends or holidays).
People who use Route 50X at least two days a week, can register for the Guaranteed Ride Home Program, which guarantees a taxi ride home up to eight times per year in case of a family emergency, illness or unscheduled overtime. To register, call Bay Area Commuter Service at 1-800-998-7433.
The costs are the same as other bus routes: $7.50 for a monthly pass, 50 cents for one-way cash fares. Riders under 16, over 65, the disabled and medicare card holders qualify for reduced fare, 25 cents.
Daily passes for unlimited rides for the day cost $1.00. Monthly passes are available at Gulf View Square mall news stand, PCPT and all Pasco County libraries.
For complete schedule, call (727) 530-9911 or (813) 254-4278.
- Jennifer Goldblatt covers business in Pasco County. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6229, or toll free at (800) 333-7505, ext. 6229. Her e-mail address is