Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city located in Hillsborough County on the west coast of central Florida in the United States. Easily accessible by Interstate 4 and Interstate 75, it is the largest city in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area which is composed of roughly 2.6 million residents, making it the second largest MSA in the state behind the new Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach MSA, and third largest MSA in the south. It is also the third largest city in the state following Jacksonville (Duval County consolidated) and Miami. It is also the county seat of Hillsborough County{{GR|6}}. The Population within the city limits in 2004 according to the U.S. Census Bureau is 321,772. The area code served by the city is 813. Other cities in Hillsborough County include Temple Terrace, FL and Plant City, FL.

Public transportation

Airports

Tampa International Airport is the city's main airport. In March 2003, Conde Nast Traveler magazine ranked the airport #1 in the US and #3 in the world. There is also a smaller general aviation terminal called Peter O. Knight Airport which is located on Davis Island near downtown. Saint Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is across the bay and offers another option for air travelers.

Related Topics:
Tampa International Airport - Conde Nast Traveler - Peter O. Knight Airport - Davis Island - Saint Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport

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Train stations

Amtrak services Tampa via the Tampa Union Station which is near downtown.

Related Topics:
Amtrak - Tampa Union Station

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Seaports

Several cruise ships make use of the Port of Tampa, located in the Channel District.

Related Topics:
Cruise ship - Port of Tampa - Channel District

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Mass transit

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HARTline) operates the streetcars as well as the bus system.

Related Topics:
HARTline - Streetcar - Bus

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Streetcars

The TECO Line Streetcar System, which links Ybor City, the Channel District and downtown Tampa, began operating on Saturday, October 19, 2002. Although quite limited in the scope of areas that it services, and its slow speed (about 10-15 mph), the air-conditioned cars do offer a comfortable and nostalgic method of getting around. The line is similar to the streetcar network in Tampa in the early 20th century.

Related Topics:
TECO Line Streetcar System - Ybor City - Channel District - October 19 - 2002 - 20th century

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On February 13, 2005, a drunk man walked in front of one of the streetcars and was struck and killed, the first such accident with Tampa's streetcars.

Related Topics:
February 13 - 2005

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Buses

HARTline has signed transit deals with both the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa, allowing HARTline buses to transfer students and faculty from the two campuses to other areas of Tampa free of charge as long as proof of affiliation with the school is presented.

Related Topics:
University of South Florida - University of Tampa

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Unique Transportation

Currently a double decker highway is being constructed on the Lee Roy Selmon expressway. The design's purpose is to rotate from eastbound to westbound during morning and evening rush hour. Thereby reducing tracffic along Tampa's busiest highways, I-275 and I-4.

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