HART is Transitioning to Flamingo Fares! Paper Fare Cards are Gone January 5

HART is announcing the official full transition to Flamingo Fares, a faster, more convenient, and more secure way for riders to pay fares across the HART network. Starting January 5, 2025, HART will no longer accept Paper Fare Cards, making way for modern, contactless fare options that simplify the transit experience. New Fare Payment Options Starting January 5, 2025: Flamingo Fares: Tap-and-go payments with a Flamingo smart card or mobile app Contactless debit/credit/pre-paid cards E-wallet options: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay Cash: Exact change will still be accepted for a one-way fare onboard Benefits of Flamingo Fares Convenience: No more paper cards to carry! Simply tap your Flamingo card, mobile phone, or contactless payment card to board. Savings: With daily and monthly fare capping, riders are guaranteed the best value. Easy Refill: Load money onto your Flamingo card or app anytime, either online or at HART Transit Centers. Getting Started with Flamingo Fares: Download the Flamingo Fares App from the App Store or Google Play. Purchase a Flamingo Smart Card at any HART Transit Center or online at FlamingoFares.com. Transfer Any Remaining Balance from your Paper Fare Card to Flamingo Fares before January 5, 2025. “Flamingo Fares brings greater ease, affordability, and flexibility to our riders,” said Sean McCarthy, Chief Operations Officer, HART. “With Flamingo, we’re reducing the need for paper and the cost associated with collecting a paper fare, improving payment security, and enhancing the overall rider experience.” Why wait until January? Join the Flock! Make the switch today and experience a seamless ride with Flamingo Fares. For more information on HART, visit www.goHART.org or contact HART Customer Service at (813) 254-4278.

Honoring Service and Dedication: A Veteran’s Journey from Military to HART

Nicholas with his grandmother

In honor of Veterans Day, HART proudly recognizes the incredible journey of one of our employees, Nicholas Goulbourne, Director of Maintenance, who served six years in the military, including three years of active duty. 

Originally from Jamaica, he was drawn to military service after 9/11, inspired by a deep sense of duty. As a major in Architectural drafting at St. Petersburg College, he felt compelled to serve after watching the events unfold on 9/11 while practicing his landscaping freehand drawing at his drafting table. His patriotic spirit compelled him to serve, enlisting in the Army, initially without telling his family. He dreamed of joining the infantry and ultimately aspired to special forces. However, his non-US citizen status prevented him from a top-secret security clearance at the time, dashing those dreams. Nicholas joined the US Army Reserve in late 2001, shipping off to basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina in 2002.

Excelling in his aptitude tests, he qualified as an 88-Lima Watercraft Engineer, a demanding military occupation position. Watercraft Engineers are responsible for maintaining, diagnosing, and repairing US Army vessels’ propulsion engines, auxiliary systems, and various mechanical components. The mechanical training was rigorous, particularly managing the intricate mechanics of amphibious landings—skills with an 80% failure rate that demanded discipline and dedication. In December 2002, during a Christmas party at Fort Langley, he received deployment orders, and by January 2003, he was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, serving on the US Army vessel Runnymede. His dedication spanned from 2002 to 2008.

Nicholas as a Mechanic

When his military chapter closed, he sought civilian work that would build on his mechanical skills. The transition to union life and civilian mechanics had challenges, yet his military discipline and resilience carried him forward.

After joining HART, he began as an apprentice since his previous experience was in watercraft engineering, and he needed additional training to work on vehicles with wheels and suspension. His hard work and skill quickly paid off, and he advanced to Mechanic B in less than eight months. He continued to excel, eventually becoming a lead mechanic and then a supervisor in 2015. After five years in that role, he took on increasingly challenging positions, becoming Manager of Technical Services in 2021 and Director of Fleet Maintenance in May 2023. “Discipline, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service,” he says, “are values you never let go of. In the military, you’re used to getting the job done without delay. Civilian work requires a different pace, and adjusting was a big change.”

Reflecting on his time at HART, he feels that transit work is in his DNA. "There’s always something new to learn," he explains. "When you understand the day-to-day operations, you get a deeper respect for the work." The camaraderie he experienced in the military is something he values deeply. "In the military, your battle buddy becomes more valuable to you than yourself. That sense of unity and focus is unmatched."

For him, being a veteran encapsulates all the values he carried from the Army. While he sometimes regrets not finishing his full-time in the military, he’s grateful for the skills and mindset it gave him, which shaped his journey at HART. "The Army gave me a skill set and a foundation that has guided my whole life. 9/11 changed everything for me—I was on track to be an architect, but I chose service. And I wouldn’t change that."

Nicholas Goulbourne, Director of Maintenance