813 Spotlight | Tampa 'Downtowner' A New FREE Green Ride Service

 

As residents, it's a way for us to say, "We appreciate your being here," to our visitors. It's welcoming! Now, if you live outside Downtown you can Uber or Taxi in then stay and travel for free from a show at the Straz Center for Performing Arts to cocktails and an exquisite dinner on the waterfront at Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina then off to Le Méridien for music and a nightcap before heading home. During the day you can bring the kiddos to the Florida Aquarium or Tampa Bay History Center then take a Downtowner to Taco Bus, Paninoteca , Sam & Eddy's for an authentic slice and more!  Factor in Pirate Water Taxi (a fee-based service) and the possibilities are endless, it's time to explore your city, with Downtowner for FREE!

This app-based service provides  fully electric,  green Downtowner vehicle seven days a week and covers Downtown Tampa's business district, the Channel District, River Arts District, the University of Tampa area, as well as the non-gated north end of Harbour Island. The Tampa Downtown Partnership 's new on demand, complimentary ride service allows residents and visitors to easily commute between these areas, making our urban core, even more, user friendly and technology centric. (The goal is to keep wait times down to ten minutes or less.)

The Tampa Downtown Partnership is officially launching the Downtowner ride service Thursday, October 20th at 6:00pm. The complimentary service will be officially announced at a press conference held at Grand Central at Kennedy. The event begins at 5 PM and concludes with a reception for the public provided by the Channel District Community Alliance and City Dog Cantina. The Partnership will launch the service with an inaugural ride with several dignitaries integral to the success of the program like Mike Suarez, City Council President; Yvonne "Yolie" Capin, Community Redevelopment Agency Chairperson; and Bob McDonaugh, Administrator of Economic Opportunity for the City of Tampa.  This group will take the Downtowner from City Hall to Grand Central at Kennedy where members of the media and downtown can take photos with the vehicle.

"The Tampa Downtown Partnership worked for over two years to provide this valuable service to residents, the workforce, and visitors," said Greg Minder, Chair, Tampa Downtown Partnership Board of Directors. Downtown Tampa's transportation needs continue to grow as our city experiences ongoing development and interest. 

 

The service is made possible through the generous support from both the public and the private sector. The City of Tampa's Downtown and Channel District Community Redevelopment Agency are key partners. Others partners on the project include: Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina, Hilton Tampa Downtown, The Barrymore Hotel, Embassy Suites Tampa Downtown, Le Méridien Tampa , Park Tower, Bank of America Plaza, Tampa City Center, Franklin Exchange, Rivergate Tower, 100 N Tampa, Fifth Third Center, SunTrust Financial Center, Two Harbour Place, SPP/Lightning and the FL Department of Transportation,

Service Hours for the Downtowner are: 
 

Mon-Fri 6:00 AM- 11:00 PM
Sat - Sun 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Let's give a big round of applause to The Downtown Partnership (a private, membership-based not-for-profit 501(c)6 comprised of companies, organizations, and individuals with the common goal of advancing Tampa's Downtown)!  As Tampa grows our transportation choices need to grow and this is a step in the right direction. With the presence of cutting-edge technologies like the Downtowner, our city is proving we are not only a progressive and desirable place to visit, we are a progressive and desirable place to live too! This wonderful new app will serve our fair city well as it brings new interest and attention to the place we call home. 

 
Ready to download the app for this green, fun and effective, electric transportation service in Downtown Tampa?  Click over to the Downtowner Business Page on 813area then click the website link or Download it on your iPhone or Android device. We look forward to your reviews of this new service, be sure to register as a user on 813area and connect to let others know what you think!