Thankful in 2016: A HART Year in Review

With 2017 fast approaching, many are looking towards the New Year as a fresh start. However, we at HART are looking to continue building on the successes of the past year. 

2016: Year in Review

One frequent theme for HART throughout 2016 was partnerships.

HARTPlus Customer Choice Program

Back in January, we announced a partnership with Yellow Cab of Tampa Bay and FDOT to provide same-day paratransit service for HARTPlus riders. The HARTPlus Customer Choice pilot program provides riders with quick and convenient service that is available 24 hours a days, seven days a week. The taxi voucher program has provided over 30,000 trips since January!

Keep TBB Farmers Market has expanded to UATC!

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Farmers Market

With our on-the-go riders in mind, HART partnered with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful by launching a first-of-its-kind Farmers Market at Netp@rk Transfer Center in February. The market allows transit riders and the general public to choose the healthy option, while not having to deviate from their normal routine.

The market will expand to the University Area Transit Center in 2017!  

Free WiFi on all HART Buses

With our commitment to enhancing the rider experience, HART partnered with UDP Technology to provide FREE WiFi on all HART buses, with vans and streetcars coming in 2017. Since April, HART riders have been able to use free WiFi on board to stream music, check emails, and more!

ESMS Program Certified ISO 14001

The organization's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship was recognized in June, when the HART Environmental Sustainability and Management System (ESMS) was certified ISO 14001. ISO certification is an international standard in environmental management. HART is one of only 13 transit agencies in the United States, and the only one in Florida to reach ISO 14001 certification.

HART was 1st U.S. transit agency to launch OBA trip planner

OneBusAway Tampa Grows

OneBusAway Tampa, the hit HART real-time app that launched in 2013, became a one-stop shop for travel information in July, with the launch of the OneBusAway Trip Planner. Customers can now plan their trip and see how close their bus is in real-time, all via the OneBusAway Tampa app! HART is the first U. S. transit agency to launch the dynamic trip planner feature of OneBusAway and third in the nation to launch OneBusAway.

The dynamic trip planner will notify you via the app if the end time of your selected trip has changed by at least 2 minutes, or if your selected trip plan is no longer recommended.

The service has shattered expectations with 208 million hits in a 12 month period.


Launch of Flamingo Fares App

Download the app today!

With the launch of the Flamingo Fares app in September, riders on both sides of the bay can now purchase a single fare for travel between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties! The Flamingo app allows patrons to book a 3-day unlimited regional pass, valid for 3 consecutive days for only $11! Fare options in the Flamingo Fares app will be expanding in 2017 to include various travel lengths (1-day, 31-day, etc.).

The Flamingo Fares pilot is all part of a larger project to bring smart card technology to HART! The implementation of smart cards (the cards, readers, etc.) will take place in 2018.

Download the app today!

HART HyperLINK

HART HyperLINK, the nation's first transit-operated rideshare service, launched to much fanfare in November! The innovative service extends the footprint of the HART network direct to your doorstep, delivering rides to and from local bus stops for passengers in select areas (Brandon, Carrollwood, and the University/Lutz). HART HyperLINK operates 30 minutes before/after service begins/end within the zone. The cost of the service is $3 per trip + the cost of HART Local, Express, Flex, etc.

HART partnered with international transportation provider TransDev, to roll out the service.

Service Expansion

The core of HART service is still our buses and vans, and in 2016, we were able to expand service by 325,795 miles! This includes the expansion of In-Towner service to Saturdays and a host of Local route enhancements. HART also continues to make investments in our fleet with a transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and vans.

Not a bad year, eh? 2017 looks to be even better as HART takes Hillsborough County transportation Beyond the Bus!

Ring in the New Year with HART and the TECO Line Streetcar!

The Tampa skyline will light up Saturday night in celebration of the New Year with thousands watching from Channelside and the Riverwalk.

The fireworks can be seen from a number of locations along the river, but the party will be at Channelside. The annual "Light Up Tampa Bay" begins at 7 p.m. with hours of DJs spinning in the courtyard.

The TECO Line Streetcar System is your best bet to avoid expected traffic and parking issues. Park in Ybor City, and take in the Outback Bowl Parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. Following the end of the parade, take the Streetcar to Channelside (Hop off at the Amalie Arena Station) or the Riverwalk (HSBC Station or Dick Greco Plaza). Only park once!

The TECO Line Streetcar will be FREE after 7 p.m.

The Streetcar will be FREE after 7 p.m. and operate until 1:30 a.m. (Channelside fireworks display scheduled to begin at Midnight).

The FREE In-Towner will also be operating throughout Downtown Tampa until 1 a.m. Park in an outlying garage and take the In-Towner to the fireworks!

Click here for a map of the Downtown network of services, including streetcar, and HART local service.

Should you plan on driving to the festivities...

American Automobile Association (AAA) offers a complimentary "Tow-to-Go" service for those that might have had too much holiday "cheer" this year. The service is available to everyone, meaning you don't have to be a AAA member. Call 1-855-286-9246 (you might want to save this number in your phone now) and a tow truck will come out and tow you and your car home safely - for FREE. Click here for more information on the program.

Whether you're enjoying your New Year's Eve with us or not, please be SAFE!

New Year's Eve Service:

HART and the TECO Line Streetcar are operating on a Saturday schedule for New Year's Eve. The TECO Line Streetcar HART Customer Service Centers at University Area Transit Center and Marion Transit Center will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other HART offices will be closed.

HART Customer Service will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can be reached at (813) 254-4278.

New Year's Day Service:

HART is operating on a normal Sunday schedule for New Year's Day. HART Customer Service Centers at University Area Transit Center, HART on Franklin and Marion Transit Center will be closed. All other HART offices will be closed.

HART Customer Service will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached at (813) 254-4278.

The HART Administrative Office in Ybor will also be closed on Monday in observance of the New Year. HART service will operate on a Sunday schedule (Monday for streetcar service) on January 2nd.

Click here for a full rundown on the HART Holiday Service schedule. 

Safe travels in 2017!

How to Get Around Tampa During The 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 University of Florida and University of Iowa coaches, players and fans to Tampa for the 2017 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, 8, 9, 12, 18, 46, and the TECO Line Streetcar
• International Plaza (Shopping) - 15, 30
• 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, 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! Planning to travel multiple days? 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. Visit www.goHART.org for fares, maps, and schedules.

RIDER TIPS:

Get real-time HART arrival information and trip planning by downloading the OneBusAway Tampa app!

Pay your fare and travel between HART and PSTA (in Pinellas) with the Flamingo Fares app!

In-Towner:  The FREE In-Towner is a rubber-wheel trolley that operates on a 15-minute frequency (30-minute on Saturday), serving popular locations in downtown Tampa. Weekday service operates 6:30 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.; NYE Saturday service from 11 a.m. - 1 a.m.

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 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. Saturdays; Noon - 8 p.m. on Sunday. Streetcar Operators do not provide change.

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 at Channelside Bay Plaza. The Streetcar will be FREE to ride on NYE after 7 p.m. Avoid the traffic and parking hassle in the Channel District!

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

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 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.

Have a great time watching the Gators and the Hawkeyes in the New Year's Day showdown and enjoy all that Tampa has to offer!

HART HyperLINK Expands to Brandon on December 6th!

Map of HART HyperLINK Brandon zone

Earlier this month, HART launched HART HyperLINK, the nation's FIRST transit-operated rideshare service, in the University/Lutz and Carrollwood areas. The service connects riders (within a 3-mile zone) to our expansive HART network via the HyperLINK app, or by calling 813-298-0455 to book a trip. HyperLINK trips are $3 one-way, and vehicles are ADA-accessible.
Beginning Tuesday, December 6th, HyperLINK launches in the Brandon area.


HART HyperLINK riders in Brandon will be able to catch a lift to two designated stops within the zone: Westfield Brandon Transfer Center (Routes 8,31,37,46,53LX) and Brandon Regional Hospital (Routes 37 and HARTFlex Brandon).

Live in Seffner or south Brandon and work in downtown Tampa? Catch HART HyperLINK to Westfield Brandon Mall and connect to the route 8 or 46 to downtown!

HyperLINK app is available on Android and iOS

Each $3 ride is payable by cash or credit, so you can pay how you want to pay. Near the end of your journey, book a ride home and a driver will meet you at the bus stop.

Tired of paying for parking at work or tired of finding reliable parking near a bus stop? HyperLINK eliminates the unknowns. We want to encourage the use of public transit and eliminate artery-clogging congestion. Find out if HyperLINK can help you.

The HyperLINK app is available in both Google Play and Apple App Stores.

Give HyperLINK a try. Your first 5 rides are free with promo code hyperlink-5free.