StarMetro Celebrates 45 Years of Service
December 17, 2018
StarMetro, the City of Tallahassee’s public transit system, is celebrating 45 years of service this month. To recognize this milestone, StarMetro will offer free rides on all its fixed route buses on Wednesday, Dec. 19. In addition, the system will host a customer appreciation event from 3-6 p.m. at C.K. Steele Plaza, 111 W. Tennessee St. There will be light refreshments, music and giveaways.
“Over the past 45 years, StarMetro has successfully evolved to stay ahead of industry trends,” Angela Baldwin, StarMetro Director said. “Moving forward, our focus remains on providing a great experience for riders, while enhancing products and services.”
StarMetro, formerly known as TalTran, was purchased from Cities Transit Company in 1973. It began operations with 21 used buses, and the bus fare was $0.30. Today, StarMetro provides service using a fleet of over 75 buses, which includes five electric buses, and offers a paratransit program, two FLEX routes and a complimentary weekend Trolley service.
StarMetro has added value to the rider’s experience by providing free WiFi on all its fixed route buses and at C.K. Steele Plaza. It has continually provided technological advances to make riding the bus easier and more convenient. Some of those upgrades include the Token Transit app, which allows patrons to pay for a bus pass with a credit or debit card and maintain the pass on their mobile device; creating online scheduling for Dial-A-Ride service with an estimated time of arrival alert for the customer; and the free Find My Bus feature, which is offered through the City’s DigiTally app, that allows patrons to locate and track their bus in real-time.
StarMetro has also worked to improve pedestrian access, encourage multi-modal transportation and create an inclusive system for all. Two bike racks are on all fixed route buses, and all 900 bus stops are equipped with Braille, making StarMetro the only public transit system in Florida to have 100 percent Braille.
Looking forward, StarMetro plans to purchase additional electric buses and construct a Super Stop (a smaller version of the central bus plaza) on the Southside.
The event on December 19 kicks off a yearlong celebration for StarMetro. For detailed information about StarMetro’s history, visit Talgov.com/45. Stay connected throughout the year by visiting Talgov.com/StarMetro, liking StarMetro’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/RideStarMetro or following @RideStarMetro on Twitter.
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