HART Honored with National Award for Excellence in Budgeting

HART has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its Fiscal Year 2025 budget—marking a major achievement in public sector financial management.

The recognition is the highest form of acknowledgment in governmental budgeting, and reflects HART’s strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public funds.

“The GFOA recognition reflects HART’s strong commitment to transparency and accountability,” said Chief Financial Officer Loretta Kirk. “It’s a proud moment for our team and a clear validation of our continued efforts to be responsible stewards of public resources while building trust with our community.”

To receive the award, HART’s budget document was evaluated against nationally recognized guidelines that assess how well it serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communications tool. The budget was required to rate “proficient” in all four categories and meet 14 mandatory criteria to qualify.

Participation in the GFOA’s Budget Awards Program includes over 1,700 government agencies across North America. HART’s inclusion in this distinguished group underscores the agency’s leadership and best practices in budgeting within the transit industry and the broader government sector.

HART Extends TECO Line Streetcar Hours for Lightning Playoff Games

HART is extending TECO Line Streetcar service until midnight in support of the Tampa Bay Lightning's playoff push! Streetcar service will be extended for all weeknight playoff home games. The TECO Line Streetcar operates until 2 A.M. on Friday and Saturday.

Streetcar Hours – Lightning First Round Playoff Series:



• GAME 1: Tuesday, April 22: 7:00 A.M. – MIDNIGHT (Extended service)
• GAME 2: Thursday, April 24: 7:00 A.M. – MIDNIGHT (Extended service)
• GAME 5*: Wednesday, April 30: 7:00 A.M. - MIDNIGHT (Extended service - *if necessary)
• GAME 7*: Sunday, May 4: 8:30 A.M. – MIDNIGHT (Extended service- *if necessary)

The TECO Line Streetcar offers a fare-free, convenient way to explore Tampa with its 2.7-mile route connecting downtown Tampa, the Channel District, and historic Ybor City. Streetcars operate every 12-15 minutes with a stop at Amalie Arena— home of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Officials recommend parking in Ybor City and taking the Streetcar to avoid game traffic.

For more information or to track your streetcar in real-time, visit www.TECOLineStreetcar.org.

TECO Line Streetcar carries almost 25k During Final Four Weekend!

The Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) is proud to announce that almost 25,000 trips were taken on the TECO Line Streetcar during the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four weekend. As fans from across the country descended on downtown Tampa for the championship festivities, the streetcar played a vital role in helping people move safely, quickly, and efficiently between key destinations.

Final Four Streetcar Ridership:

• Thursday, April 3, 2025: 3,666
• Friday, April 4, 2025: 5,472
• Saturday, April 5, 2025: 9,071
• Sunday, April 6, 2025: 6,484

HART extended service hours on Thursday and Sunday to meet increased demand, ensuring fans had reliable, late-night access to and from the festivities. Streetcars operated fare-free every 12–15 minutes across the 2.7-mile route connecting downtown Tampa, the Channel District, and historic Ybor City—with convenient access to Amalie Arena, the centerpiece of the Final Four action.

In addition to the Streetcar, Route 1 operated fare-free with service every 15–30 minutes, linking downtown with Tampa Heights and Armature Works. Route 1 is fare-free until January 2026 thanks to the City of Tampa.

“We were thrilled to help showcase Tampa as a vibrant, accessible city during one of the biggest weekends in college sports,” said HART CEO Scott Drainville. “The TECO Line Streetcar provided a smooth and scenic way for thousands of fans to experience all our downtown has to offer.”