Tampa neighbourhood using Teslas as transit vehicles

Starting Monday, people who live and work around the University of South Florida will be able to summon a sleek Tesla to take them to and from a bus stop.

If that doesn’t seem futuristic enough, consider this: the electric vehicles are already equipped with self-driving hardware, and transit officials hope the fleet will soon be driverless.

The project is part of HyperLink — the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority’s solution to getting people to and from bus stops for $3 a trip so they don’t have to walk 45 minutes in the Florida heat or pay for an Uber.

HyperLink started in Carrollwood, Brandon and the University Area six months ago, but Monday’s unveiling of four Teslas operating around the university campus is a development HART officials hope will place the transit agency ahead of its peers nationwide.

Hillsborough County is the first place in the country to use Tesla vehicles as a transit solution, said HART government relations specialist Cesar Hernandez.

“It’s a win for Tampa and, honestly, for Florida for us to be trying these very novel concepts in disruption in transportation,” Hernandez said.

“There’s always that level of risk with innovation, but it’s also an opportunity to show that Tampa is ready to adapt.”

Tesla officials did not respond to an interview request.

The initiative is expected to cost about $860,000 for the two years.

The four Tesla Model X vehicles are painted in HART’s blue and white colours, with stickers highlighting the private business that donated to the program.

The sport utility vehicle model fits up to six passengers, plus the driver.

And it is equipped with full self-driving hardware, including eight surround cameras, a dozen ultrasonic sensors and an autopilot function that can adjust speed, automatically change lanes, exit the freeway and self-park.