By PENNY FLETCHER

Close to 80 riders boarded two new South Shore connector buses Nov. 20 as they made their debut in Sun City Center.
Forty-seven of those were welcomed aboard one of the buses by Raymond Miller, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit company’s executive director. All the riders were taking part in the inaugural trip of HARTline’s Route 35LX from South Shore to Westfield Brandon.
Other HARTline officials also rode with the residents, explaining the addition of services in the South Shore area due to its recent growth.
“The area is growing very, very fast,” said HARTline spokeswoman Kathy Karalekas. “We’re trying very hard to make public transportation a more pleasant experience so that more people will choose our services.”
With roads overcrowded by new development, HARTline has added several routes as well as expanded services on others in hopes of getting more people out of their cars and onto public transportation, she said.
As part of the kick-off of the new services, HARTline offered free rides on all five routes serving South Shore the week of Nov. 20.
Besides 35LX, new routes include 47LX to downtown and local connector routes 86 and 87, which add to Route 31 that already runs the route from South Shore to downtown Tampa with many stops along the way.
LX, which stands for “limited express” takes between half and hour and 45 minutes to get from Sun City Center to Westfield Brandon, Karalekas said.
Another “LX” service, No. 47, will offer limited express service every hour Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and from 4 to 6 p.m., between the South Shore Regional Service Center and Westfield Brandon, traveling on U.S. 301. This route will depart from the South Shore Regional Library on Saturdays and will run every two hours.
Connector routes 86 and 87 (with 20 seats and two wheelchair positions) will also continue to run in South Shore. Although HARTline buses range from the capacity to transport 20 to 35 passengers, South Shore buses will average about 35 seats.
Several fixed-rate schedules are available for frequent riders, including a 31-day fare card that costs $10 ($5 for seniors 65 and older) and the 20-ride card, which can be used for an indefinite amount of time, until the 20 rides have been taken.
Sun City Center residents will be permitted to use their community association cards for identification as proof of age, Karalekas said.
Kings Point residents will not have to pay to ride the bus, because HARTline and the Kings Point Condominium Association have an agreement where a portion of their condominium dues pays their fare, she added.
All buses are equipped to carry bicycles in case riders want to use another means of transportation once they reach their stop. All busses are accessible for wheelchair riders.
The wheelchair capability is important to Don Schings, who uses a wheelchair. A director on the Sun City Center Board of Directors, Schings took the inaugural ride to see if it would be easily accessible.
“The LX Express ramps were easy to use, and there were good tie-downs so I didn’t get tossed around,” Schings said. “We were dropped off in Brandon (at Westfield Brandon) in front of Sam Seltzers right on time. We stayed awhile and then took a bus back, and that was right on time too.”
Another Sun City Center Community Association director, Peter Walker, also tried out the new bus, although he only rode to the first stop – in front of Publix at the corner of U.S. 301 and State Road 674.
Walker, who stands taller than 6-feet, said he had plenty of leg room.
“I didn’t feel crowded,” Walker said. “The ride was very enjoyable. Very comfortable.”
The association board is now considering allowing HARTline to erect a bus shelter and bench at its stop on association property in front of the library, Walker said.