All Aboard the Winter Village Express!

Winter Village Express operates Sundays through Dec. 23!

The holiday season is so close, we can almost feel Jack Frost nipping at our nose - 65° at night. Brr!

The Tampa Downtown Partnership is once again holding their Winter Village, featuring an ice rink, a cafe with warm beverages, and a holiday marketplace with local boutiques!
The Winter Village is located in Curtis Hixon Park and will take place from November 16 - January 5.

Along with the Winter Village, is the transformation of the TECO Line Streetcar System into the Winter Village Express! Launching November 18, the Winter Village Express offers a festive experience aboard a holiday-themed Streetcar. Enjoy treats, music, and fun, while on board!

The Winter Village Express will operate every Sunday through December 23. You can pick up the Winter Village Express at either Whiting Station in Downtown Tampa (Station #11) or Centro Ybor Station (#2) in historic Ybor City.

Winter Village Express Operating Schedule:

The Winter Village is open 11/16-1/5

Whiting Station in Downtown Tampa:

• 3:25 p.m.
• 4:25 p.m.
• 5:25 p.m.
• 6:25 p.m.
• 7:25 p.m.

 Centro Ybor Station:

• 3:55 p.m.
• 4:55 p.m.
• 5:55 p.m.
• 6:55 p.m.
• 7:55 p.m.

The cost of the Winter Village Express is $5.00 for a roundtrip ticket. Tickets can be purchased at both stations, Whiting and Centro, by credit card or exact change. All trips are first come, first serve due to limited availability, so come early!

For more information on Winter Village, or the Winter Village Express, visit http://www.wintervillagetampa.com/.

Happy Holidays!

HART and PSTA Offer Free Rides to Cross-Bay Ferry Riders!

HART and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) are providing free bus, trolley and streetcar rides to passengers of the newly relaunched Cross-Bay Ferry! Riders simply need to show their ferry ticket to the operator and enjoy the ride.

In Hillsborough County, passengers can board any HART fixed-route bus or van service (HARTPLUS excluded), or the TECO Line Streetcar System for free. Ferry riders can pick up the TECO Line Streetcar at Cumberland Avenue Streetcar Station, just steps from the Florida Aquarium.

Current TECO Line Streetcar schedule

Streetcar service operates every 15 minutes, from 7 AM - 7 PM and every 20 minutes, from 7 PM – 11 PM, Monday through Thursday, with extended hours on Friday until 2 AM. In addition, Saturday service operates every 20 minutes, from 8:30 AM – 2 AM and Sunday 8:30 AM – 11 PM.

Ferry riders can also connect to HART’s robust transit network to enjoy the sights and sounds of Busch Gardens, the shopping of International Plaza, and more. The HART Route 8 is just a short walk from the Cross-Bay Ferry dock. HART's central transit hub, Marion Transit Center, is located in downtown and provides connection to almost 15 HART routes. Riders can use the HART Trip Planner to map out their trip!

“It’s a great time for transportation in the Tampa Bay area, this partnership is just another example of how citizens can get around in our scenic Bay area,” said HART Interim CEO Jeff Seward. “Visitors, residents, businesses, employees, and commuters in the Tampa Bay area are excited to once again take advantage of this transit option, connecting the Tampa and St. Petersburg downtown cores.”

In Pinellas, PSTA’s Downtown Looper picks up at the Ferry dock (501 2nd Ave NE St. Petersburg) every 15 minutes, seven days a week. The Looper connects to the rest of PSTA’s bus and trolley system, so riders can enjoy the rich culture, shopping, and dining of downtown St. Petersburg or travel out to the award-winning beaches, or elsewhere throughout the county.

To enjoy the free ride, passengers are required to present a same-day Ferry ticket to the bus, trolley or streetcar operator upon boarding. The Cross-Bay Ferry runs from November 2, 2018, through April 30, 2019. The Ferry will operate seven days a week, except for holidays. Please check the schedule on the Cross-Bay Ferry’s website for the latest information.

HART MVP Express Passes are Now on Sale!

MVP Express passes are now available!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans will soon have a new way to get to Ray Jay! Launching November 11, the HART MVP Express will provide express service from four designated Park-N-Ride locations to Raymond James Stadium for only $10, round-trip, per person.

Eager pirates can get a jump on the crowds, by locking up their MVP Express passes early!



Here's how to secure your MVP Express pass.

If you don’t already have an account, you must create one prior to purchasing your MVP Express Pass. You can do so in one of the following ways:

Left: Adding MVP Pass to cart. Right: MVP Pass after activating

1. Download the Flamingo Fares app for iOS or Android
2. Click on “Buy Tickets,” then add your purchase
3. You will be prompted to confirm your selection to continue, then select “Purchase Tickets”
4. You’ll be asked to sign in with Facebook, Google or email to create an account
5. You’ll be prompted to confirm your purchase and then asked to add your credit card information

Your purchased tickets will appear in “Use Tickets” and can be selected for activation!

Once activated, your ticket will display "1 MVP Express 1-Day Pass" and the expiration date and time.

The MVP Express will operate for the following Bucs home games: 

• 11/11/18 vs. Washington Redskins
• 11/25/18 vs. San Francisco 49ers
• 12/02/18 vs. Carolina Panthers
• 12/09/18 vs. New Orleans Saints
• 12/30/18 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Be the MVP of your tailgate on the MVP Express!

Visit goHART.org/MVPexpress for more information.

Roll to the Polls with HART on November 6!

HART wants to help you Roll to the Polls on Election Day!

All riders displaying their valid voter information card will receive a FREE lift on HART on November 6.

The Roll to the Polls promotion is valid on all HART services, except HARTPlus.

Riders are encouraged to locate their nearest precinct before leaving the house. You can do this and check your voting status by visiting the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website. 

Exercise your right to VOTE!

HART Launches New "Safe HART" Campaign

As the HART transit systems evolves, so must our programs to keep safety as our number one priority.  

Recently, HART launched a multi-faceted effort involving operations, safety and security, and our communications departments, emphasizing safety through various communication platforms - what we call SAFE (Stay Accident Free Everywhere).

HART is committed to ensuring the safety of our community and continuing the conversation about safe travel, including the potential dangers associated with entering a bus when the doors are closed.

The safety of our customers, operators and the general public remains HART's top priority and an active focus of our services, programs, and initiatives. Part of our ongoing commitment to safe travel in the region includes providing helpful information to emphasize the importance of safety guidelines.

This new "Safe HART" campaign provides a simple, effective way to communicate an important safety message: Ensuring the safety of the traveling public requires a community effort. HART asks its customers and the community to share the important safety message. 

Follow HART on Facebook, Twitter for rider alerts and service information. Use #SafeHART and share helpful safety information.

Help spread the message so that entering the bus when the doors are closed becomes something that we, as a community, don't ever do.

As we work to achieve our mission of taking people to the places that enhance their lives, we do so fully dedicated to safety. It is among the many areas in which we hold ourselves accountable for setting the highest standards.  

We want your experience with HART to be efficient, friendly, and most importantly, SAFE.

HART Operator Wins Third Place from Industry Association!

HART bus operator Jimmy Suarez

Jimmy Suarez, a 15-year bus operator at HART, is being honored with the distinction of third place Operator of the Year by the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA).

Suarez's nomination and win celebrates his exemplary customer service and impeccable safety record, including 14 consecutive years of safe driving, and more than 1.5 million miles behind the wheel.

"I have been doing this for a long time. I take pride in my driving and taking care of my customers," said Suarez. "I take my job very seriously because I have a responsibility to protect my customers. When I notice a new customer boarding my bus, I consider them a new family member. I do my best to make them feel comfortable and give them a good experience with HART."

The award is presented annually to operators whose service has "enriched and enhanced" public transportation in the community.

Recently, Suarez was honored with the Million Mile Award and has received numerous rider commendations. He is known for his enthusiastic attitude, excellent driving skills, good judgment, and first-class customer service to our passengers.

"It is dedicated professionals like Jimmy Suarez, and our Million Miles honorees who make it possible for HART to receive accolades from our peers for our hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence, said HART Interim CEO, Jeff Seward. "We could not be more proud of our outstanding bus operators, and are grateful for the loyalty and focus they bring to their work each day."

Way to represent HART, Jimmy!