Prior to the establishment of THE Bus, the only resemblance to public transportation available in Hernando County were a tourist bus company in Brooksville, and a local ParaTransit company, which was privately owned. On October 28, 2002, the Spring Hill Routes started serving the greater Spring Hill area. One week later, November 4, 2002; the Brooksville Purple Route started serving the Brooksville area. The system started with 4 buses in Spring Hill and 1 bus in Brooksville, which shuttled riders between Brooksville and Spring Hill. By the 7th day of operation, ridership surpassed the 3rd year projection of 200 trips per day, with ridership of 219 trips. After 22 months of operation, THE Bus was averaging 425 to 434 trips per day. On May 3, 2004, Hernando County added the Brooksville Shuttle Bus—Green Route, along with the Pasco-Hernando State College—North Campus stop. The former Purple Route was moved entirely within the City of Brooksville. Travel time was extended from 6:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., and the Spring Hill routes were extended from YMCA of Hernando County to Spring Hill Regional Hospital. In addition, they decreased the Brooksville–Spring Hill shuttle travel time from 90 minutes to 60 minutes. The system was expanded on January 4, 2016, with the addition of the Green Route, providing service between Spring Hill and Brooksville via the eastern portion of Spring Hill Drive. Additionally, the existing Purple route was extended to a new terminus at Emerald Drive and US-19 in Pasco County in order to provide a direct connection to Pasco's PCPT system. Finally, service was increased to provide hourly service on all routes.
Fare Structure
The cash fare to board the bus is $1.25. A reduced fare of 60 cents is available to Medicare card holders, persons with disabilities, and students. Transfers to other buses are $0.50 and children under 7 with fare-paying rider are free; limit 3.
Routes
As of January 2016, THE Bus operates 4 fixed bus routes throughout Hernando County, including a connection to Pasco County's transit network via the Purple Route to Pasco Route 21. BLUE ROUTE' - Mariner Blvd. from SR 50 to County Line Road. S RED ROUTE' - Spring Hill Drive/US-19 to Mariner & Northcliffe Blvd, via Deltona Blvd, with service to Forest Oaks Villas and Lakewood Plaza Shopping Center via Northbound buses only. PURPLE ROUTE' - From Brooksville City Hall, via SR 50 and US-19 to PHSC Spring Hill Campus, and extended in January 2016 to provide a connection to Pasco Route 21 in Pasco County. GREEN ROUTE' introduced January 2016, Servicing PHSC Spring Hill via Spring Hill Drive, California Drive and Wiscon Road to Walmart SR 41.
Expansion of service - January 2016
In January 2014, service within The Bus system was expanded with the introduction of the new Green Route, providing service between Spring Hill and Brooksville via the eastern portion of Spring Hill Drive. Additionally, the Purple route was extended into Pasco County to provide a direct connection with Pasco county route 21, thus connecting the system outside of the county for the first time. Lastly, headways on all routes were reduced to hourly.
