HART to Re-open Yukon Transfer Center, Rosa Parks Day Dedication!

Yukon Transfer Center receives a Makeover

Public restrooms, added bus bays among the highlights

HART will host a re-opening ceremony to mark the completion of the renovated Yukon Transfer Center, the first HART transfer center that opened in 1983. Renovation highlights include:

• Upgraded to attain ADA compliance
• Added bus bays to handle additional capacity
• Addition of public restrooms
• Improved security features
  

The grand re-opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. The facility is located at 400 E. Yukon Street.

HART buses will now feature a plaque dedicated to Rosa Parks

Honoring Rosa Parks Day

In honor of Rosa Parks Day celebrated the next day, HART will also unveil Rosa Parks bus plaques that will be permanently installed on all HART buses. These bus plaques are dedicated to the legacy of Rosa Parks and the "It All Started on a Bus" campaign that pays tribute to the important role that transit played during the civil rights movement, as well as today to achieve social justice in communities throughout the country. Every day in Hillsborough County, thousands of residents without reliable transportation options depend on HART to arrive to work, see their doctor, and attend school.  

This event is free and open to the public. Community leaders, elected officials, HART board members and staff will be present during the ceremony.

HART High-Five to Jerry Goodman!

Congratulations to Jerry Goodman who received runner up for Driver of the Year by the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA). Mr. Goodman was presented the award last week at a special ceremony during FPTA's annual conference, which took place this year in Daytona Beach.

Mr. Goodman has been with HART for 28 years, starting off as a service attendant and then getting behind the wheel a year later.

"My supervisor had come to me at the time about the opportunity to drive the bus," Goodman said. "I thought, well, if I don't like it, I can always go back to being a service attendant." He never went back.

Mr. Goodman is one of a handful of HART employees to reach 2 million miles of safe driving. He marked this milestone earlier this year. On average, it takes about 14 years for a bus operator to reach 1 million miles of driving without a preventable accident.

Working at HART almost since its inception, Mr. Goodman has witnessed its many changes. In fact, he was one of the operators to initiate the streetcar system when it opened in 2002 and drove as a streetcar operator for about five years.

"It seems like HART has become more service-oriented over the years," Mr. Goodman said in summarizing the agency's direction over his time here. "The best part of my job is helping a customer get from Point A to Point B."

On weekdays, customers will find Mr. Goodman operating Routes 5 and 53LX. A native of Tampa and graduate of Plant High School, Mr. Goodman now lives in Brandon with his wife of 35 years.

HART/PSTA Consolidation Study Webinars

*Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Business Journal

HART and PSTA will host webinars to provide information and an update regarding a coordination study currently under way:

• Wednesday, Nov. 14 @ 6 p.m.  
• Thursday, Nov. 15 @ Noon 

To register for this webinar and receive the required web link and access code, please email MejiaM@goHART.org . If registration reaches capacity, please note that a recording of the presentation will be posted on www.goHART.org and www.PSTA.net after the webinars have concluded.   

About the HART/PSTA Coordination Study

During the 2012 Florida Legislative Session, legislation was passed that mandates a coordination study of HART and PSTA in order to achieve improvements in regional transit connectivity and implementation of operational efficiencies and service enhancements. This study is currently underway, and is due to the Florida Legislature on Feb. 1,2013 . To find out about the progress of this study, please join us for an informational webinar and an opportunity to ask or submit your questions. 

These webinars are being hosted by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). HART and PSTA awarded a contract to McCollum Management Consulting to conduct the coordination study, and HART and PSTA have held joint meetings to discuss the study and its progress.    

For more information about HART, visit www.goHART.org   

For more information about PSTA, visit www.PSTA.net 

Reminder: Schedule and Fare Changes are coming Nov. 11!

 

Customer feedback is a big part of schedule changes!

Throughout the year, HART planners assess route productivity and update bus service every spring, summer and fall based on improving safety and efficiency, ridership demands and trends, and customer feedback. In addition, fares are reviewed every two years to determine if changes are warranted. The last HART fare change took place in November 2008. Below is a summary of changes to routes, schedules and fares effective Sunday, Nov. 11.

Summary of Route Changes:

• Routes 50X and 61LX: Due to low performance as compared to other express routes fully subsidized by HART, 50X and 61LX will merge as a single, local-fare route. Therefore, 61LX will extend to serve Carrollwood Baptist Church and Citrus Park Park-n-Rides, previously served by 50X. View 61LX eastbound schedule and map. View 61LX westbound schedule and map.
• Brandon Flex: North boundary of the zone will expand from Oakfield Drive to Brandon Boulevard. In addition, to improve neighborhood circulation and ridership demand, regularly scheduled weekday route will be initiated within the Brandon Flex zone. View Brandon Flex map. View locations of Brandon Flex bus stops.

Summary of Schedule Changes:

• Route 28X: Due to low performance as compared to other express routes fully subsidized by HART, 28X will be reduced from two trips in the morning and two in the afternoon to one trip in the morning and one in the afternoon. View schedule. 
• Route 16: Minor schedule adjustments.  
• Routes 30, 34 and 39: Frequency will improve from 35 minutes to 30 minutes.  
• View Route 30 eastbound schedule
• View Route 30 westbound schedule
• View Route 34 eastbound schedule 
• View Route 34 westbound schedule
• View Route 39 eastbound schedule
• View Route 39 westbound schedule 
• Brandon Flex: Due to low ridership, Saturday service will be eliminated.
• Holiday service: To match service to ridership demand and streamline various levels of service provided on holidays, the following days will be migrated from Saturday to Sunday level of service: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Most holidays will now operate on a Sunday level of service; Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Martin Luther King Jr. Day will operate on a Saturday level of service.

Fare Changes:

The last fare change took place in Nov. 2008

View new HART fare schedule. HART farecards purchased before Nov. 11 must be activated by Dec. 31, 2012. New HARTPlus fares are effective Nov. 11 regardless of when passes are purchased.

For general information about HART, visit www.goHART.org or call HART Customer Service at 813-254-HART (4278).

Serving Those Who Serve

You served your country with distinction.
Now HART is returning the favor.

If you're active duty or retired military personnel, or a military dependent, we'd like to thank you for your service by providing free rides on HART buses Sunday, November 11, in recognition of Veterans Day. Just show your military ID when boarding for your free ride.

It's our way of saying thank you for standing up for all of us.

Click here for more details on the Veterans ride free for Veterans Day. Free ride

Promotion does not cover HARTPlus and the TECO Line Streetcar System.