HART AT WORK: TECO Line Streetcar Station Closures

Streetcar track construction will begin Nov. 4 through February 2020

TECO Line Streetcar customers will see station closures, due to ballast replacement along the Streetcar right-of-way.

Track construction is anticipated to begin November 4, 2019, and is expected to last through February 2020.

During this time, the TECO Line Streetcar will not operate between Cadrecha Plaza Station and Cumberland Avenue Station Monday - Friday. 

Service will operate regular service (no closures) on Saturday/Sunday, holidays, and during major events.

A free HART bus shuttle will operate from Stations #4 and #7

A free HART bus bridge will operate from Cadrecha Plaza Station (to downtown) and Cumberland Avenue Station (to Ybor City) to connect streetcar customers.

Visit the "Alerts and Detours" page for an updated station closure timeline. 

We apologize for any inconvenience the track work may cause.

Streetcar Station Closure / Bus Shuttle Map

HART AT WORK: Marion Transit Center Construction

HART customers will soon notice construction taking place on the roads surrounding our main hub, Marion Transit Center, in downtown Tampa.

The need to fix the roads surrounding Marion Transit Center has existed almost since the transportation hub was opened in 2003.

The project will take place in phases with road construction expected to start the first week of November, pending processing of right-of-way permits.

During the construction, HART customers may notice select bus platforms closed with buses changing boarding platforms. Stay tuned to the HART Alerts & Detours page and HART social channels for updates on construction and the most current boarding platform layout.

The Morgan Street side of Marion Transit Center (including the east platform) will be the first street closed. 

Impacted Routes:

• Route 5
• Route 6
• Route 9
• Route 12
• Route 20X (to South Tampa)
• Route 60LX (to Brandon)
• Route 360LX (to Brandon)

The project is expected to last roughly four months.

Morgan Street will be the first street under construction

HART Board Approves FY2020 Budget

Every $1 invested in transit provides $4 return!

The HART Board of Directors voted unanimously to adopt the Authority's FY2020 Budget, which will take effect on October 1, 2019.

The $121.5 million spending plan is comprised of capital program and operating tactics that focus our HART's to deliver those Outcomes.

The FY2020 Budget is The Starting Line of the TRANSitFORMATION of HART, focusing on excelling in four key areas:

• Customer Experience: Customer-centric initiatives, increasing customer satisfaction
• Key FY2020 Projects: Service improvements, Bus Shelter Improvements and Expansion, Farebox Technology Upgrades, Vehicle Safety Surveillance Modernization & Expansion, Computer-Aided Dispatch/ Automated Vehicle Locator (CAD/AVL) Solution for Paratransit
• Community Value: Community sentiment, partnerships
• Key FY2020 Projects: Fleet expansion (including the purchase of 10 electric buses, Compressed Natural Gas buses, Vans, etc.), InVision: Tampa Streetcar Project Development & Engineering / Phase IV Study, Marion Transit Center Facade Repair
• Employee Success: Organization realignment, engagement, talent development

• Key FY2020 Projects: Marion Transit Center Renovation, Replacement of Immersion Washing System, Expanding HART Auto Body Capabilities, Administrative Policy Modernization
• Financial Performance: Financial sustainability, improving service productivity

• Key FY2020 Projects: Wheel Alignment Equipment, Vehicle Fluid Tracking Software, Diagnostic Technologies for Vehicle Repair, HVAC Replacement

"HART is building a Culture of Excellence," said Benjamin Limmer, HART CEO. "This budget reflects the beginning of that transformation, with an over $121 million investment in public transportation in Hillsborough County".

The Adopted FY2020 Budget does not include All for Transportation Sales Tax Funding. Once AFT funds become available, HART can amend the FY2020 Budget to reflect the additional funding.

Adopted FY2020 Budget "By the Numbers"

• 8.9% growth in Ad Valorem = $3,970,378
• Operating Budget is $83,491,758
• $4,564,016 or 5.8% higher than FY19 Adopted Budget
• Capital Budget is $37,961,026
• $5,333,853 or 16.3% higher than the FY19 Adopted Budget 

If you are unable to attend any of the meetings, they now can be viewed live on HART YouTube channel.

Click here to view video recordings from recent HART Board/Committee meetings. 

HART and TBFAD Release Call for Artists for "Art on HART" Program

Michael O' Connell's "Soundwaves"

HART is proud to once again partner with the Tampa Bay Foundation for Architecture & Design (TBFAD) on the "Art on HART" program, which transforms a HART bus into a rolling art canvas.

HART and TBFAD have put out a Call for Artists to all Tampa Bay area artists with a passion for architecture, design, and music.

The project is one of TBFAD's community outreach programs, which places artists' one-of-a-kind designs in highly accessible and visible public spaces. 

This year's theme touches on how music influences the world around us while encouraging respect for others. Artists are encouraged to incorporate Tampa Bay's wide diversity of design, architecture, and musical culture into their submission.

Interested artists are requested to register their intent to submit prior to September 27, 2019, by sending an email to TampaBayFAD@gmail.com. The deadline for artwork submissions is Friday, November 15, 2019, at 5:00 p.m.

Entries will be judged by an expert panel of judges and the TBFAD "ART on HART" Committee. HART's 800+ employees will select the winning entry. Submissions will be evaluated based on concept, originality, layout and marketing adaptability.

The winning artist will receive:

• Their artwork wrapped on a HART bus for a year
• A $2,000 cash award from program sponsors
• Featured bio in the TBFAD 'ART on HART' printed program
• Recognition on TBFAD & participating organizations social media sites.

The partnership between HART and TBFAD injects art, music and public transportation onto the streets and into the communities of Hillsborough County.

The "Art on HART" bus will be unveiled during a public event at a later date.

ART on HART program sponsors:

HART is Prepared for a Storm. Are You?

HART operates Evacuation service. Know your route!

As Floridians, we are all aware of the threat of hurricanes from June-November. It's a part of the "charm" of living in the Sunshine State!

Should a hurricane threaten the Tampa Bay area, it is vital that residents heed any warnings and prepare for the worst of the storm.

Just as residents and their families need to prepare, so does HART. Have you ever wondered how an organization with over 800 employees and 200+ vehicles plans for a major storm?

Let's take a look at what it takes to prep the HART network for a major hurricane.

Should a storm threaten the Tampa Bay area, the Hillsborough Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated. Once activated, a HART representative will be located at the center to keep the agency abreast of storm developments and coordinate evacuation service.

When instructed by the EOC, HART will cease normal service and begin Emergency Evacuation service to move residents from lower ground, to higher ground. For the safety of our riders and employees, normal HART service will cease once the EOC and HART Emergency Management determine that conditions are unsafe to continue service. 

When word is received that landfall is eminent in Tampa Bay within 72 hours, our volunteer Emergency Response Team (ERT) will activate.

The organization then begins the process of securing HART facilities. This includes:

• Securing windows and outside objects
• Shutting off water, electricity, gas, etc.
• Disconnecting computerized equipment and covering with plastic sheeting
• Backing up computer data to multiple sources

If a hurricane threatens, HART will relocate vehicles to higher ground

If the Tampa Bay area is forecasted to take a direct hit from a Category 3 or greater storm, HART may split the vehicle fleet up. You may have seen something similar in Houston, when Harvey hit. Our designated locations are the Hidden River Park-n-Ride lot and the University of South Florida. The remainder would remain at the 21st Avenue Operations Facility.

The TECO Line Streetcar System will house the fleet in the Ybor Streetcar Barn. However, depending on the severity of the storm, streetcars may be moved to an off-site storage location on the bed of a tow truck.

Following the passing of the storm, three phases will occur:

1. Recovery - Damage assessment for facilities, vehicles, and other property
2. Communication - Call back/contacting HART personnel
3. Restoration - Delivery of service

HART will work to the best of our ability to get the network back up and get back to our daily job of moving Hillsborough County!

Rest assured though, HART is prepared for a storm. Make sure you are too!

Hop on HART this School Year!

HART serves 20+ colleges throughout Hillsborough County!

Welcome back, students! Another semester is here. If you're planning on using HART this school year, below is a quick reference guide on connecting to HART and the special fares available from your school.

What is HART?

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) is the public transportation service provider for Hillsborough County. HART serves Hillsborough County's employees, residents and visitors with bus, and van services. HART also operates the FREE 2.7-mile TECO Line Streetcar System, serving the restaurants, attractions and other entertainment venues of Ybor City, the Channel District and downtown Tampa.

Learn how to ride HART here.

HART Adult Student Fare program:

Schools participating in the HART Adult Student Fare program sell HART fare cards to its students for a 25% discount. Students can purchase a 31-Day Local Adult Student Fare Card for only $48.75 (normally $65) at their respective schools by showing their valid student ID. Please note, the adult student discount is not applicable if the pass is purchased at traditional HART sales outlets.

Click here for a listing of participating schools.

What's a fare card worth, if you can't connect to your school?

Luckily, HART has you covered with multiple routes connecting to over 20 colleges in Hillsborough County. Below, you'll find a listing of some of the schools that HART serves with bus, van, and streetcar service.

University of South Florida (USF): 

The following HART routes serve the USF area:

• MetroRapid North-South - UATC/Fletcher Ave.
• Route 1 - Florida Ave.
• Route 5 - 40th St.
• Route 6 - 56th St.
• Route 9 - 15th St.
• Route 12 - 22nd St.
• Route 33 - Fletcher Ave.
• Route 42 - UATC
• Route 48 - Fowler Ave./56th St./Morris Bridge
• Route 275LX - Bruce B. Downs Blvd./UATC

Students ride FREE on MetroRapid, HART Local, Limited Express and Flex routes with valid student ID. Faculty and staff ride for just 50¢.

For information on the U-Pass program, click here.

Hillsborough Community College (HCC): 

We have a number of routes serving the HCC campuses around the county:

• Dale Mabry campus - Route(s) 7, 32, 36, 45
• Brandon campus - Route 37
• SouthShore campus - Route(s) 31, HARTFlex South County
• Ybor City campus - Route(s) 5, 8, 9, 12, the TECO Line Streetcar

HCC Semester Pass: HCC students can purchase the HCC Semester Pass, providing over 4 months of unlimited rides on HART for just $110 - roughly 50% off! The Semester Pass can be purchased at all HCC Bookstores.

Students can also purchase a 31-Day Local Adult Student Fare Card for $48.75 at the bookstores of HCC's Dale Mabry, Brandon and Ybor City campuses.

UT students receive a 25% discount on 31-day passes

University of Tampa (UT):

HART serves UT via the following routes:

• Route 7 - West Tampa/Citrus Park
• Route 19 - Port Tampa
• Route 30 - Town 'N Country/Airport

Sanford Brown University:

HART connects to Sanford Brown via HARTFlex South Tampa

Ultimate Medical Academy:

HART connects to the Ultimate Medical Academy via routes 7, 32, 45.

Now that you've purchased your pass, what's the next step?

Plan your school commute with HART

Your best bet is the HART Trip Planner. Simply type in your starting and end points, arrival time/date, hit "get directions," and let the planner do the rest.

Real-time HART arrival information and trip planning is also available with the OneBusAway Tampa app!

You can also call the HARTinfo line at 813-254-4278, or visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

Hopefully, you found this guide helpful, if there is anything else that you think we should include (like your school), let us know in the "comments" section. Have a great semester!

Ride HART FREE to the 2019 Back to School Bash!

HART is partnering with WWE wrestler (and overall amazing Tampaian) Titus O' Neil's Bullard Family Foundation to provide FREE rides on HART on Saturday, August 3, for the 2019 Back to School Bash & Kickoff Classic at Raymond James Stadium.

The 2019 Back to School Bash & Kickoff Classic is a FREE event for Hillsborough County K-12 Students. Parents and guardians can register their child online at BullardFamilyFoundation.org to receive FREE school supplies, food, school physicals, eye exams, and more!

All HART services will be FREE throughout the day.