HART and Yellow Cab of Tampa to Partner on Same-Day Paratransit Service

Yellow Cab will provide same-day paratransit service HART is ringing in the New Year with the launch of a new taxi voucher program, designed to make travel more convenient for those living with disabilities. The HARTPlus Customer Choice Voucher Pilot Project is possible thanks to a partnership with the Yellow Cab Company of Tampa and a FDOT grant of $150,000 to help fund implementation of the program. This amount will allow HART to deliver approximately 9,375 trips with this pilot program. The initiative provides HARTPlus clients with quick and convenient same-day service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The groundbreaking new service is set for launch on January 1, 2016. HARTPlus, a very popular paratransit service, serves clients with unique needs - including the visually impaired, those who use wheelchairs, and patients undergoing medical treatment. Traditionally, rides on a HARTPlus van must be booked one to three days in advance, but the new system enables patrons to call a cab for same-day service at the same price. Under the plan, those already approved for paratransit services can call a taxi and get to a doctor's appointment or back home - or anywhere else for $4. That's the same price they'd pay for a one-way HARTPlus van ride. HART pays the balance of $16 to Yellow Cab as a reimbursement. (In the event that the customer reserves a trip costing more than $20, the additional amount will be paid for by the customer.) All customers have to do is call Yellow Cab at the direct, easy-to-remember number (813-666-6666) to schedule a pick-up. Yellow Cab will maintain a database of HARTPlus clients that are eligible for this service. HART will also coordinate with Yellow Cab Company to help manage ridership, through productivity improvements and passenger education initiatives to ensure a seamless transition for passengers using the new service.

Guide to Getting Around Tampa for the 2016 Outback Bowl!

New Year's Eve is coming up and we've got a big time college football bonanza to bring in the New Year!

HART and the TECO Line Streetcar System would like to welcome all the Northwestern University and University of Tennessee coaches, players and fans to Tampa for the 2016 Outback Bowl!

We understand the difficulties in attempting to navigate the local public transportation scene without an idea on what to see and do and how to get there. So, we created this guide that breaks down some of Tampa's best attractions and how to get there with HART and the TECO Line Streetcar!

Use HART to get to the following Tampa attractions and avoid the parking hassles:

• Busch Gardens - Routes 5, 18, 39
• Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
• Florida Aquarium - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar
• Channelside Bay Plaza (Dining, retail, Splitsville) - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar
• Ybor City Historic District (Centro Ybor) - Routes 8, 5, 9, 12, 18, 46 the TECO Line Streetcar
• International Plaza (Shopping) - 15, 30, 61LX
• Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
• Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) - Route 6
• Amalie Arena - Route 8, The In-Towner, TECO Line Streetcar
• David A. Straz Jr. Center - 7, 10, 14, The In-Towner
• Tampa Convention Center - Route 4, 19, In-Towner, TECO Line Streetcar
• Tampa Museum of Art - Routes 7, 10, 14, In-Towner
• Tampa Theatre - Route 4, 8, 19, 30, 46, In-Towner
• Glazer's Children Museum - Routes 7, 10, 14, In-Towner
• University of South Florida - Routes 5, 6, 18, 21LX, MetroRapid
• Westshore Plaza (Shopping) - Routes 15, 30, 45, HARTFlex South Tampa
• Raymond James Stadium (Home of the Outback Bowl) - Routes 7, 32, 36, 41, 45

Only $2.00 for a one-way ride!

Flying out? Route 30 runs between downtown and Tampa International Airport every 30 minutes on weekdays and weekends. Service begins at 4:30 a.m. through midnight during the week and 6:30 a.m. to midnight p.m. on the weekends.

A 3-day Visitor Unlimited HARTride card is your best bet at only $11.75 and valid on all HART local buses, MetroRapid, In-Towner and the TECO Line Streetcar System.

Things to know about the In-Towner and TECO Line Streetcar System:

In-Towner:  The In-Towner is a rubber-wheel trolley that operates on a 15-minute frequency, serving popular locations in downtown Tampa and is FREE! Service operates 6:30 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.; weekdays only.

The TECO Line Streetcar at Dick Greco Plaza

TECO Line Streetcar System: The streetcar line runs on rails that connects Ybor City, The Channel District, and Downtown Tampa. It operates 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and Noon - 8 p.m. on Sunday. Streetcar Operators do not provide change.

It's easy to plan your own trip! Visit www.goHART.org to use the Google Trip Planner feature or call 813-254-HART (4278). Real-time arrival information is available via OneBusAway Tampa.

Click here for a map of downtown Tampa's network of public transportation service, including streetcar stops, The In-Towner and HART bus routes.

FREE* New Year's Eve Service

Spending the New Year in Tampa? The TECO Line Streetcar System will operate until 1:30 a.m. to serve those attending the Fireworks Display in Channelside. HART will operate on a Sunday service level for New Year's Day. The Streetcar will be FREE to ride after 7 p.m. Avoid the traffic and parking hassle in the Channel District!

Have a great time watching the Wildcats take on the Volunteers in the New Year's Day showdown and enjoy all that Tampa has to offer!

HART Wants Your Feedback!

HART is looking for feedback on our service.

How can HART improve its services to best meet your travel needs? That's one of questions the agency will be asking random riders starting today. HART wants to know how satisfied its customers are with their bus service.

Beginning Tuesday, December 8, and continuing through next week, an on-board survey team from TransPro Consulting will be traveling the HART system talking with riders once again and asking questions about how they use HART services and its performance. 

Members of the survey team will be identifiable by name badges and will select riders at random. The information collected is the second round of the HART 2015 Customer Service Satisfaction Survey which will be used to better understand its customers' opinions of existing service and areas of priority that need improvement.

"We know that people are busy these days, but we really hope they take the time to talk to the members of the survey team and take the survey," said HART Chief Financial Officer Jeff Seward. "The more input we get from the public on different transit issues, the better job we can do in meeting passenger needs."

The information collected from this second on-board survey will be part of the overall customer service satisfaction data which will be used to inform future planning, communicate more effectively with customers and market HART to infrequent riders. Once complete HART will have a robust voice of customer (VOC) scorecard to continually measure customer satisfaction.