TAMPA, Fla. — Look out for bright yellow cars offering low-cost point-to-point rides between hubs in Tampa's downtown. It's called DASH and it's a new way for locals and visitors alike to get around.
The Tampa Downtown Partnership rolled out its Downtown Area Shared Hubs (DASH) ride service on Thursday. The service allows app users to schedule rides in the downtown area in specially designated all-electric Tesla vehicles.
"How cool is it that we get to drive Teslas around downtown Tampa? I'm not saying that that was a major motivator, but it's not a bad deal," Rico Dixson, one of the six DASH drivers, said.
DASH launched with limited hours of service being offered from noon to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12. Barring any adjustments or technical challenges encountered during the opening day, the service will advance to its full-time hours and operate from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.
"We have seven neighborhoods in downtown, so this gives you the opportunity to come into downtown stay in one spot with your vehicle then bounce around via DASH," Shuan Drinkard, interim president of Tampa Downtown Partnership, said.
The DASH vehicles, yellow-and-black Tesla Model Y SUVs, are able to transport up to four passengers per ride. Drivers, who are also trained guides, would take them to one of 20 hub locations throughout the downtown Tampa area. The rides are scheduled via an app and cost $2 per person.
"Moving swiftly through the streets up at downtown Tampa, that's what we are doing. We're doing it with sustainability and with minimal environmental impact to the area," Dixson said.
The app also allows passengers who need a wheelchair-accessible car to request one.
A ribbon-cutting event was held in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon. Local leaders emphasized the the goals and plans towards zero emissions and environmental considerations.
"That is something that we've been doing at the city. You know we're going more and more with our fleet to electric vehicles. It's just one of the many many steps that we can take towards reducing our carbon footprint here in the city of Tampa," Mayor Jane Castor said.
Another local government also made a big move to bring more electric cars to the Tampa Bay area.
The DASH launch comes on the heels of Hillsborough County commissioners voting to approve plans to add more EV charge stations throughout the area. Some of the recommendations include adding more charging stations in various communities for public use and providing ample space for drivers who need disability access. They also recommended transitioning public transportation to electric.
In Hillsborough County, there are currently around 6,000 EVs, according to TPO officials. They said EV use in the area has doubled dramatically since 2008 and they expect the number of EVs on the roads to grow to around 17,000 by 2050.
According to county officials, while most EV owners have their own charging done at home, there are only around 200 chargers for public use in Hillsborough County.
Find the full TPO plan here