In Transit - The HART Tampa Bay Transit Blog

Free Fun this Spring Break!

2012-03-09T17:11:00.000-05:00

Middle/High School students ride HART FREE in March!

Staying in town for Spring Break this year? Can't afford much to do? Have no fear, we've put together a list of FREE (mostly) things to do for your Spring Break! What's even better is pairing it with FREE rides on HART! If you haven't heard about the HART STAY-cation promotion, read about it here. The gist is FREE rides for Hillsborough County middle and high school students throughout March on HART Local, Limited Express, In-Town Trolley and HARTFlex services!

The museum itself is a work of art

Art on the House
Tampa Museum of Art, Fridays from 4 pm - 8 pm
120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, 33602

Looking to treat your inner artist to a thought provoking and aesthetically appealing Spring Break? Tour 66,000 sq. ft of Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities, alongside 20th-century fine art, all for FREE! The Tampa Museum of Art, through a gift from Hill Ward Henderson, provides FREE admission to the museum's galleries on Friday evenings. Donations however are appreciated.

The Tampa Museum of Art is served by HART local routes 7, 10 and the In-Town Trolley.

120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, 33602

River O' Green Fest

Photo credit: Tampa Bay Times

Curtis Hixon Park, March 17, 10 am - 4 pm
600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa FL 33602

On March 17, the Hillsborough River will be turning green. But don't worry, it's just dye! Mayor Bob Buckhorn has decided to dye the Hillsborough River kelly green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. The river will be dyed between the Cass Street Bridge and Kennedy Bridge.

Local Irish bands and dancers along with six food trucks will be on hand for the event. A number of kid's activities including, a kid's craft area, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fun Zone, the Tampa Bay Lightning Street Team, a jig contest, sack races, potato toss and a strength competition. The event is free and open to the public.

Curtis Hixon Park is served by HART local routes 7, 10, 14, 30, 46 and the In-Town Trolley.

Spring Break Beach Party
The Florida Aquarium, March 11, 11 am - 6 pm
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 32602

Are you a member of the Aquarium? Enjoy this members only night! From hula hoop contests to limbo competitions and exciting games for the kids, there is something for everyone. A live DJ will keep the party going!

Florida Aquarium members are free, each additional guest is only $5!

The Florida Aquarium is served by HART local route 8 and the TECO Line Streetcar.

There a number of events for those looking toward the skies this Spring Break.

SPoT X Etnies benefiting Boards for Bros
Skatepark of Tampa, March 17, noon - 5 pm
4215 E Columbus Drive, Tampa FL 33605

What better than the wind whipping through your hair as you ripped through the air, defying gravity on a wooden deck with no safety net? If "Ollies," "kickflips" and "fakies" are in your vocabulary, you might want to check out the Skatepark of Tampa (SPoT) during your Spring Break. On Saturday, March 17, SPoT provides the opportunity to skateboard with professional skateboarders Andrew Brophy, Cairo Foster and Tyler Bledsoe (among others). It's all for a good cause too, as the event will be raising money for Boards for Bros, a SPoT initiative aimed at collecting and refurbishing skateboards so that they can be provided to kids in the community that can't afford their own.

Free food and drinks will be provided with a donation. For more information, visit the event page on the SPoT Facebook.

SPoT is served by HART local route 15.

Those looking for a more subdued aerial event might consider this next one at the Museum of Science and Industry...

Gaze at the stars!

Skywatch

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), sundown
4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33617

See the universe up close as you gaze at the stars with astronomy experts. See various star clusters, craters on the moon, other planet's moons and more! If you've always been fascinated with the sky, this is the perfect event for you.

MOSI is served by HART local route 6.

Even if you can't get away for spring break, there's plenty to do right here at home! Get there, with HART!

Marion Transit Parkway Temporary Detour

2012-03-07T11:25:00.000-05:00

Downtown express commuters and HART customers who board the bus along Marion Transit Parkway should be advised of a temporary detour that avoids the area of Marion Transit Parkway and Morgan Street at the Polk Railroad Crossing, which will be restricted due to work by CSX. This restriction will go into effect at any time starting today or within the next few days, and is expected to last about 3 - 4 weeks. The bus detour will begin when the restriction for this area begins.

The detour will mean buses will instead use the following streets:

Buses headed southbound will follow their regular routes on Morgan Street, left on Cass Street, right on Pierce Street, right on Twiggs Street, left on Marion Transit Parkway and continue on their regular routes.
Buses headed northbound will follow their regular routes on Marion Transit Parkway, left on Zack Street, right on Florida Avenue, right on Cass Street, left on Marion Transit Parkway and continue on their regular routes.
The following bus stops will not be served: Cass Street Station and Federal Station. Riders that normally use Cass Street Station should use the temporary "flag" stop on Morgan between Tyler and Cass. Riders that normally use Federal Station should use the stop at Zack and Florida stop.

For more information about HART, visit www.goHART.org or call Customer Service at 813-254-4278 (HART).

HART Security Standards Earn National Recognition!

2012-03-06T16:51:00.001-05:00

HART partners with law enforcement for regular security/safety drills

HART is one of 17 rail and mass transitagencies from throughout the country to receive the Transportation SecurityAdministration's "Gold Standard," the highest rating an agency canearn for its Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE). Transitagencies volunteer for this comprehensive review, which analyzes systems,identifies vulnerabilities, and assesses progress in areas suchas security plans, security training, drills/exercise programs, publicoutreach efforts and background check programs.

Transit systems were reviewedin 2011, and TSA announced those who received the "Gold Standard"earlier this month.

"For HART, it means ourplans and procedures are up to par with best practices, and we will continuefine-tuning our collaboration with law enforcement and emergencyresponders," said Michael Stephens, who oversees HART safety/security asDirector of Human Resources, Risk, and Legal Services. "HART is a valuableresource for law enforcement investigations and during an emergency, and we areready to respond when needed."

HART has enhanced securityoperations and emergency management by building strong partnerships with locallaw enforcement and emergency response agencies. HART has also boosted trainingamong drivers, transportation supervisors, as well as maintenanceemployees, to increase their awareness about suspicious activities.

Projects such as enhanced lighting have helped increase safety on HART

In addition, since 2002, HARThas used federal funding to build an extensive surveillance system and securitycameras are now on all buses and streetcars, as well as several HARTfacilities. These cameras have not only enforced rider regulations and servedas a crime deterrent for enhanced safety of HART customers, recordings fromthese cameras have provided local law enforcement with valuable evidence tohelp solve outside criminal investigations.

"I commend theseorganizations for their commitment and hard work that this level of achievementrequires," said TSA Administrator John S. Pistole. "TSA recognizesthe continued dedication individual transit agencies demonstrate every day toensure the safety of travelers nationwide."

The BASE program was developedto increase enhance prevention and protection capabilities, and furtherresponse preparedness of transit systems nationwide. BASE is aimed at meetingthe requirements in the 9/11 Commission Act's security assessment section,which directs TSA to identify critical assets, infrastructure and systems andtheir vulnerabilities, and assist bus and public transportation authorities toaddress their security programs

Streetcar Extension = Urban Excellence!

2012-03-02T17:01:00.000-05:00

Communities are only as great as the transit that serves them.

There is a special relationship between mass transit and the community it serves. Mass transit connects communities, mobilizes residents and fosters growth and civic pride within the community.

Investments made in transportation are investments made in the community.

Rendering of CAMLS facility showing streetcar connectivity

The TECO Line Streetcar has been credited with spurring $1.2 billion in development along the streetcar line since 2005. Development such as the $30 million University of South Florida's Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), which recently opened just south of the new Whiting Station.

CAMLS' proximity to the streetcar will provide mobility along the line to doctors in town for the facility's research and training innovations. The TECO Line Streetcar has spawned patterned growth and foot traffic (with money to spend) to businesses along the line.

In addition to CAMLS, the extension also provides improved connectivity to a larger number of hotels, restaurants, residents, retail, office and government buildings.

This investment in expanded downtown connectivity was rewarded on Feb. 29., when the TECO Line Streetcar extension to Whiting street was awarded with an "Urban Excellence Award" from the Tampa Downtown Partnership. The Tampa Downtown Partnership is a not-for-profit downtown Tampa business advocacy group.

"Your efforts encourage a more vibrant and connected environment between the cultural, residential and business destinations in Downtown Tampa and Ybor City," remarked the Partnership.

HART officials posing with Urban Excellence Award

About the Urban Excellence Awards

The Downtown Tampa Urban Excellence Awards celebrate businesses, organizations, individuals, events and projects that have made significant contributions toward creating a unique, vibrant and diverse downtown environment – and have made a lasting, positive impact on downtown Tampa. Each year an awards jury representing a cross-section of downtown constituencies selects six (6) award winners honoring the leadership, innovation, hard work, talent and community spirit.

Phase IIa

The original 2.4-mile system opened in2002 and was built to allow for phased expansion. Phase IIa Streetcar Expansion Project extendedservice an additional .3 miles into the core downtown Tampa district. Click here to view a map of Phase I and IIa of the TECO Line Streetcar System.

On Track for the Future

The Urban Land Institute Panel, a non-profit organization of land use experts, laudedthe streetcar expansion and encouraged future extensions during theirpresentation of the September 2011, Tampa Central City Conceptual DevelopmentPlan. In keeping with the originalvisionary approach of the streetcar system, the Phase IIa extension was builtto allow for future system expansion.

Things to Do in Tampa this Weekend: 2/24 - 2/26

2012-02-24T15:57:00.001-05:00

The 65th Annual Fiesta Day
7th Avenue - 2/25 - 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

A day to celebrate Ybor City's culture and heritage, this free, family friendly "street festival" offers food, entertainment and shopping. Prepare your senses as the smells of Latin food and the rhythms of Latin music will fill 7th Avenue, along with vendors, dancing and a whole array of family fun.

Please note: 7th Avenue will be closed from 15th Street to 20th Street from 6:00am to 7:00pm to accommodate crowds and vendors. The TECO Line Streetcar might be your best bet as 15,000 attendees are expected and parking might become scarce. Simply park in the Channelside garage or any of Downtown's parking garages and catch the streetcar to Ybor.

The TECO Line Streetcar will have an information booth, so don't be afraid to come by and say hi!

Ybor City is served by TECO Line Streetcar stations 1-4.

Visit www.ybor.org for more information.

The 9th Annual Flan Fest
Centennial Park - 2/25 - 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Flan is the star of this fest!

Consider yourself a big flan fan? The fabulous dessert will be featured once again at Flan Fest, held in conjunction with Fiesta Day. The flan-tivities will be held this Saturday, Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Centennial Park in Ybor City. The main attraction is the Annual Flan Bake-Off, a 40 contestant flan slug-fest to determine who has the best custard treat the Bay area. Judging begins at noon with winners announced at 2:30 p.m.

The event will also feature live entertainment, shopping, and all day food and flan sampling.

And if you really, really, LOVE flan, a Flan Eating Contest is also scheduled for the event.

Flan Fest is a fundraiser for the Ybor City Saturday Market, a non-profit organization. Make it a flan-filled day in Ybor and support a great Ybor City group!

Centennial Park is served by TECO Line Streetcar station 1.

Comedian D.L. Hughley
Tampa Improv - 2/24 - 2/26

Funnyman D.L. Hughley might be most known for starring in his own sitcom "The Hughleys," but Hughley's comic roots are what have provided him staying power. This "Original King of Comedy" has been featured in a number of television shows, movies, and comedy specials. Most recently, Hughley took the helm of his own late night talk show "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News" on CNN. Catch him while you can, as he'll only be in town for the weekend.

Shows are 21+ except the 10:00 p.m. Friday night show, which is 18+.

Nuclear Cowboyz
Tampa Bay Times Forum - 2/24 - 2/25 - 7:30 p.m.

Motocross Mayhem!

The world's top freestyle motocross riders are in town to perform some of the craziest tricks you have ever seen. If that isn't enough, this theatrical performance will be paired with state-of-the-art lights, lasers and pyrotechnics. It's sure to be a mind-blowing motocross experience!

Sounds like the perfect date night... for your significant other and his friends.

Visit www.nuclearcowboyz.com for more information and to purchase tickets!

The Tampa Bay Times Forum is served by TECO Line Streetcar HSBC station (station 9).

Taking to the Skies for Freedom

2012-02-10T16:25:00.001-05:00

Freedom Rider Kredelle Petway

The Freedom Riders consisted of 436 individuals from different states, races and genders, each with their own story to tell.

Throughout February, we're telling the stories of 2 local Freedom Riders, along with the author who shined the spotlight on their courageous story. This week, we feature Kredelle Petway, one of the only airplane Freedom Riders.

Activist by birth

Born in Camden, Alabama in 1941, Kredelle Petway is the daughter of Matthew Petway, a pastor and former NAACP activist.

With her father's ties to the NAACP, Kredelle Petway found herself active with the local movement.

In the early 1960's, she participated in Montgomery and Tallahassee sit-ins. Petway studied mathematics at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Petway spent her breaks from Florida A&M at home in Montgomery, Ala. In 1961, she filled in as a secretary for the Montgomery Improvement Association, a group started in 1955, after Rosa Park's arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus.

When King calls

That summer was particularly special for Petway.

She sat around the dinner table with Dr. Martin Luther King, Ralph Abernathy (Dr. King's close assistant and best friend) and her father Matthew Petway to discuss the Petway family's participation in the 2nd wave of Freedom Rides.

The Freedom Riders faced violence such as this torched bus

The first wave, originating in Washington, ended in a bombed-out bus and bloodied riders.

The plan for the family was to board a flight from Montgomery to Jackson, Mississippi.

On July 24, 1961, Petway, her father, brother and Cecil A. Thomas, a fellow Freedom rider were arrested only minutes after arrival in the Jackson airport. She was just 20-years-old.

Kredelle Petwaywas arrested as a Freedom Rider

"When we landed in Jackson, they were waiting for us," Kredelle Petway said. The group spent three days in jail before being bailed out.

"It was very interesting, because I knew we were going to get out," Petway said. "I was too excited to be nervous."

Racial segregation on buses, trains and planes officially ended on November 1, 1961, six years after Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat and eight months after the beginning of the Freedom Rides.

Following the rides, Petway graduated from Florida A & M University in 1972 with a degree in mathematics. Over the years, Petway worked for a number of organizations, including the Louisville Urban League, U.S. Department of Treasury and Veteran Affairs.

Remaining devoted to advancing civil rights, Petway retired in 1999 to focus on promoting equal opportunity employment practices. She now resides across the bay in Apollo Beach, FL.

It All Started on a Bus...

HART is honoring the Freedom Riders, and the author who shined the spotlight on their courageous story throughout February. Visit www.goHART.org/black_history_month to find out what HART is doing to honor their contributions.

It All Started on a Bus: The Freedom Riders

2012-02-01T15:24:00.000-05:00

Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat

Martin Luther King, Jr. was the face, the voice and the spirit behind the civil rights movement, but he was not alone. It all on started on a bus in 1955, when Rosa Parks, a seamstress, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man, which was in violation of segregation laws at the time. She later appealed the conviction, challenging the legality of segregation. Rosa Park's actions soon prompted bus boycotts in Montgomery, Alabama, which lead to the desegregation of Montgomery buses and became one of the movement's first victories. The boycotts, led by King, propelled him to the champion the cause.

The boycotts may have advanced the movement, but it wasn't until 1961, that widespread desegregation in public transportation was in seen in the South.

Freedom Riders' bombed-out bus

Coming from a variety of racial, ethnic and economical backgrounds, 436 students risked their lives on buses, planes and trains, in pursuit of racial equality. What became known as "Freedom Rides" took place throughout the South in support of civil rights, where in some cases; participants were harassed, beaten and jailed.

HART is honoring Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. and Kredelle Petway, throughout February for their contributions toward advancing racial equality as part of the Freedom Riders. Joining them is Dr. Raymond Arsenault, author of the award winning book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice, which shined the spotlight on the 436 courageous and determined individuals, 50 years after the rides t through the South.

Keep on the lookout for our PSAs featuring the trio on My Fox Tampa Bay (Channel 13 on most TVs) and PBS (WEDU) throughout the month. We'll also be featuring them individually on the blog over the next few weeks.

One man had a dream that one day all men would be created equal. That dream became a reality through the actions of many, including Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders. HART honors the role that transit played in advancing that dream of equality. It all started on a bus...

Above: Video (5 minutes) remembering the acts of the Freedom Riders, with a few interviews from two of the Freedom Riders, along with Dr. Arsenault, whom documented their stories.

Visit www.goHART.org/black_history_month for more information and video clips on the Freedom Riders.

Arrgh Mateys! Set sail for Gasparilla with HART and the TECO Line Streetcar!

2012-01-20T17:03:00.001-05:00

Arrgh you ready?! Have your sights set on Gasparilla? Well, set sail with HART and the TECO Line Streetcar. We're rolling out extra streetcar, bus and trolley service to ensure a safe and easy way to get around during Gasparilla on Saturday, Jan. 28. Service includes:

TECO Line Streetcar
•    For those parking in Ybor City, take the streetcar from Ybor City (Centennial Park Station) to Downtown Tampa (Dick Greco Plaza) View Map for Gasparilla 2012 -- Streetcar and Bus service
•    Continuous service 9 a.m. - 1:30 a.m.
•    $5 for an all-day pass, which may be purchased with cash at ticket vending machines (change provided) located at each streetcar station. This fare does not cover the City of Tampa parking fees.

For more information on the TECO Line Streetcar, visit www.TECOlinestreetcar.org.

HART Bus Service
•    For those parking in Ybor City, take HART Bus Route 8, which will operate continuous service during peak times in the morning and afternoon from Ybor City (Streetcar Society Station) to Downtown Tampa (Dick Greco Plaza) View Map for Gasparilla 2012 -- Streetcar and Bus Service
•    Buses will run from Port Authority and Cumberland Streetcar Stations to Dick Greco Plaza when streetcars are operating at capacity.
•    $3.75 for an all-day pass, which may be purchased in advance at HART retail outlets or on board buses on Gasparilla Day with cash only (no change provided). Monthly bus passes may also be used. This fare does not cover City of Tampa parking fees.

In-Town Trolley

•    Provides a connection from the north end of Downtown Tampa (Marion Transit Center) to the south end of Downtown Tampa (Dick Greco Plaza). View Map for Gasparilla 2012 -- Streetcar and Bus Service
•    Continuous service 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
•    25¢ or streetcar/bus all-day passes accepted.

Getting to Downtown Tampa on HART

HART will operate on a normal Saturday schedule.

•    From North Tampa: Routes 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 12, 18
•    From Temple Terrace: Route 6
•    From Brandon: Route 8
•    From West Tampa: Route 7
•    From South Tampa: Route 19
•    From Citrus Park: Route 7
•    From Town 'N Country/Westchase: Route 30

Click here to view the HART system map. Have specific questions about HART service during this special event, call 813-254-4278 or visit www.goHART.org. Never attended Gasparilla before? Learn how to party like a (responsible) pirate!

Leave the gray hairs to Jack Sparrow

Just remember, gray hairs may give Captain Jack Sparrow a"distinguished look." However, with over 500,000 swashbucklersexpected to attend Gasparilla, don't test your luck - save yourself some grayhairs - and ride with us.

Party Like a (Responsible) Pirate

2012-01-20T16:59:00.003-05:00

Hop aboard with your crew and
let the streetcar steer you to all the Gasparilla fun.

The pirate lads and lasses are donning their gear, and the scene is set for the annual Gasparilla Pirate Invasion and Parade to take place this Saturday, January 28th.

If you plan on joining the half-million or so other revelers in downtown Tampa or along Bayshore Boulevard, here are some tips to help make getting there a little easier.

Start with the Streetcar
Let's get this out of the way right off the bat: unless your great-aunt Mildred has a house off Bayshore and will graciously let you stash your car in her driveway, parking in the neighborhoods near the parade route is an absolute no-no. As in, they'll tow your car away - no really, they will.

So if great-aunt Mildred isn't an option, your next-best bet is to make riding the TECO Line Streetcar System part of your day of fun!

Here's your first tip: downtown lots and garages will fill up fast, so try parking in Ybor City and hop aboard the streetcar. There are a number of stations that serve the streetcar system along 8th Avenue, and all of them are an easy walk from the Ybor City parking facilities. From there, we'll drop you off at Greco Plaza, next to the Tampa Convention Center and right in the middle of the Gasparilla activities.

All aboard! Next stop Gasparilla!

Another important tip to remember if the streetcar is part of your plans - you'll need to pick up a farecard at one of the Ticket Vending Machines along the route before you board. You can pay by cash or credit card at the machines. If you have questions, HART team members will be out in force to help you navigate the Gasparilla transportation scene.

For the whole scoop on parking locations, rates and other info, check out the parking page on the City of Tampa's website here.

Rubber-wheel it!
Here's another tip to enjoy the Gasparilla festivities: Rubber-wheel it on the HART In-Town Trolley to access even more fun going on throughout downtown Tampa.

The rubber-wheeled In-Town Trolley will be on detour Saturday from 9 a.m. until 2 a.m. on Saturday, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the parade and Pirate Fest, and to try some of the wonderful new bars and restaurants (ahem, Taco Bus) that have been popping up downtown. You can also use the Green Line to connect to the TECO Line Streetcar System at Dick Greco Plaza near the Tampa Convention Center and take your pirate crew to Channelside and Ybor. It's as if the whole city is at your beck and call (and why not, you are a pirate, aren't you?).

Hop on the Bus, Gus
If you'd prefer to skip the driving altogether, we have a tip for you, too: HART will be running regular bus service on several routes that serve downtown, including Route 7, Route 19 and Route 30, so you can get to the party without any parking hassle at all. Just be sure to note that these routes end service mid-evening, so you'll want to plan your return trip accordingly.

By the way, for you northwest Tampa/Town 'n' Country folks, as well as our pirate-loving friends in Pinellas County, here's a really great tip - park for FREE at the HART Northwest Transfer Center (map here) and ride Route 30 all the way into downtown. How pirate-licious is that? (Route 30's last trip back to the Northwest Transfer Center is at 9:30, though, so bear that in mind when you're making your nighttime pirate plans.)

Make your pirate party fun and safe with HART and
the TECO Line Streetcar System!

And here's the most important tip of all: never, ever drink and drive. Responsible pirate partiers make sure everyone in their crew makes it back to home port safe and sound.

Check out the links below for more info, and have a fun - and safe - Gasparilla.

Click here for HART and TECO Line Streetcar service during Gasparilla info.

For a map of HART and TECO Line Streetcar services in and around downtown during Gasparilla, click here.

To get more details on all the Gasparilla activities, go to the official event website here.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - News and Notes

2012-01-14T11:27:00.001-05:00

Monday, January 16, marks a special day for America. It's a day celebrating the birth of a man that helped change society for the better by advancing equality and civil rights in the United States.

HART will operate on a Saturday schedule in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day with the TECO Line Streetcar on a normal Monday schedule (Noon to 10 p.m.).

The following services will not operate on Monday:

Express/Limited Express Routes
HARTFlex (South Tampa, South County and Town 'N Country)
In-Town Trolley (Route 96)

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

HART Customer Service centers at University Area Transit Center and Marion Transit Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. HART on Franklin and all other HART offices will be closed.

The MLK Day service flyer can be downloaded here.

MLK Jr. Parade Detours:

Three routes will be on detour from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. due to the MLK parade:

Route 9: Bus stops along 15th St. between Lake and Hillsborough Ave. will not be served due to street closures from the MLK parade.

Route 12: Bus stops along 22nd St. between Lake and Hillsborough Ave. will not be served due to street closures from the MLK parade.

Route 32: Bus stops along MLK blvd. between Nebraska and 34th street will not be served due to street closures from the MLK parade.

It All Started on a Bus...

Ms. Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat

Martin Luther King, Jr. was the face, the voice and the spirit behind the civil rights movement, but he was not alone. It all started in 1955, when Rosa Parks, a seamstress, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man, which was in violation of segregation laws at the time. She later appealed the conviction, challenging the legality of segregation. Rosa Park's actions soon prompted bus boycotts in Montgomery, Alabama, which lead to the desegregation of Montgomery buses and became one of the movement's first victories. The boycotts, led by King, propelled him to the champion the cause.

Bombed out bus of the Freedom Riders

The boycotts may have advanced the movement, but it wasn't until 1961, that widespread desegregation was in seen in mass transit.

Coming from a variety of racial, ethnic and economical backgrounds, 436 students risked their lives on buses, planes and trains, in pursuit of racial equality. What became known as "Freedom Rides" took place throughout the South in support of civil rights, where in some cases, participants were harassed, beaten and jailed.

Dr. Raymond Arsenault, Kredelle Petway, Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr.

HART is honoring Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. and Kredelle Petway, throughout the month of January and February for their contributions toward advancing racial equality as part of the Freedom Riders. Joining them is Dr. Raymond Arsenault, author of the award winning book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice, which sparked a renewed interest in this amazing tale of courage and determination.

Keep on the lookout for a PSA featuring the trio on My Fox Tampa Bay (Channel 13 on most TVs). We'll also have more in depth posts featuring them individually in the coming weeks.

One man had a dream that one day all men would be created equal. That dream became a reality through the actions of many, including Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders. It all started on a bus, and HART honors the role that transit played in advancing that dream of equality.

HART Board Takes a Position During Joint Meeting

2012-01-14T10:48:00.000-05:00

“Efficiency” is the latest buzz word for governments and businesses, and certainly should be with our current economic environment. One idea to improve efficiency for this region’s transit service has been possibly consolidating HART and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA).

But getting passed a cursory idea and further examining the details of consolidation now makes it a complex issue that deserves a complete breakdown to make sure it’s what makes sense for this community. Let’s take a stab here at mulling over some of the details and impacts potentially involved with consolidating transit agencies.

First, lets start with some background. The idea of consolidating HART and PSTA came to the table last year when State Sen. Jack Latvala discussed it during a HART Board meeting in September. Good or bad, this idea required fact-based analysis before moving forward with it. In that spirit and to protect local governance, fiscal responsibility, and most importantly, our transit service, the HART Board approved a Legislative Policy Statement in November to emphasize these guiding principles.

On Monday, the boards of directors for HART and PSTA held a joint meeting to provide updates, and discuss current and future opportunities for collaboration between the two agencies. That’s the thing – collaboration with PSTA or other transportation-related agencies is not a new concept for HART. Cross-county bus routes and combined purchases just to name a few. In fact, in fiscal year 2011, a fuel procurement consortium among HART, PSTA and Citrus Connection saved HART more than $1 million. And, yes, if there are additional similar savings to be had as a result of more collaboration – needless to say, we’re very open to that!

During the joint meeting, the boards also discussed Section 71 of Florida Senate Bill 1866, which had been filed earlier that day. Among other elements of the bill related to governance, it would require HART and PSTA to contribute $100,000 to Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) to assist and facilitate a study of the consolidation issue. In concurrence to the HART Legislative Policy Statement, the HART Board voted unanimously to note its opposition to this portion of the bill -- as currently presented -- citing its impact to costs and governance, as well as its constrained timeframe. HART and PSTA board members agreed to meet in the future to identify opportunities for greater efficiency and continued collaboration on all aspects of transit planning and delivery, as suggested in the bill.

HART Board Vice Chair Steve Polzin, PhD

We’re fortunate to have a transportation researcher as vice chair of the HART Board. During the joint meeting, Steve Polzin, PhD, provided many thoughtful and well-documented comments about consolidation. During his briefing, he explained in great detail why merging transit agencies is difficult and does not necessarily result in cost savings.

The fact is that transit agencies are unique to the potential cost savings of mergers, and the geographies of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties compound that. For instance, the biggest cost to a transit agency is its workforce – most are drivers and mechanics -- and the number of these employees needed by a transit agency is in direct correlation to the amount of transit service provided by that agency. A merger doesn’t mean one driver will have the superpower to be behind the wheels of two buses simultaneously. Even Superman was never seen with his alter-ego, Clark Kent.

In addition, the presence of our (beautiful) bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties makes it that much more costly to subsidize deadhead – non revenue – miles and paratransit trips.

The Wall Street Journal published "When Civic Mergers Don't Save Money" in August 2011 that provides a national perspective about government consolidations. Moreover, the article reports that mergers rarely save money and actually might end up raising costs.

If lean times have provided us with anything, it's been the opportunity to think creatively and efficiently to save money. Pun intended -- we've really taken efficiency to HART!

HART Flex saves us $500,000 annually!

We mentioned the procurement consortium, but it doesn’t stop there. We've improved on-time performance by prioritizing bus stops and introduced new on-demand flex van service into five different zones -- this saves HART $500,000 annually. We've also become younger with age by replacing more than 60 buses and 30 paratransit vans over the last couple of years, which reduces the high maintenance costs associated with operating older buses.

In summary, when examining the issue of consolidation between HART and PSTA, the best question to ask ourselves is, Will it address the major issues we are currently faced with? This means will it dramatically increase revenues to fund enhanced local service, more technology or perhaps a transportation alternative?

What’s Next?

Business as usual - continuing to protect the transit interests of our customers and stakeholders, and wisely investing taxpayer money into high-quality bus and van service.

You’re numero uno to us, and it's important to keep you updated. Below is a news roundup and be sure to check back with us to find the latest or to comment on any developments.

News coverage of HART/PSTA joint board meeting:

TBO (Tampa Tribune Online)
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Creative Loafing

Tampa Tips for FMEA Conference Attendees!

2012-01-04T16:28:00.000-05:00

HART and the TECO Line Streetcar would like to welcome all those in town for the Florida Music Educator's Association (FMEA) Conference!

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 and Channelside Cinemas) - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar
Ybor City Historic District (Centro Ybor) - Routes 8, 12, the TECO Line Streetcar
International Plaza (Shopping) - 15, 30, 59LX
Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) - Route 6
St. Pete Times Forum - Route 8, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
David A. Straz Jr. Center - In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
Tampa Convention Center - Route 4, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
Tampa Museum of Art - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolly
Tampa Theatre - In-Town Trolley
Glazer's Children Museum - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolley
University of South Florida - Routes 5, 6, 18, 57
Westshore Plaza (Shopping) - Routes 5, 30, 45, 89
Raymond James Stadium - Routes 7, 32, 36, 45

Only $1.75 for a one-way ride!

Flying out? Route 30 runs between downtown and Tampa International Airport every 30 minutes on weekdays and weekends. Service begins at 4:40 a.m. through midnight during the week and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends.

A 3-day Visitor Unlimited HARTride card is your best bet at only $11.00 and valid on all HART local buses, In-Town Trolley and the TECO Line Streetcar System.

Things to know about the In-Town Trolley and TECO Line Streetcar System:

In-Town Trolley: The In-Town Trolley is a rubber-wheeled vehicle, that makes stops at popular locations in downtown Tampa weekdays, 6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 6 p.m. The line operate on a 15-minute frequency and costs only 25¢!

TECO Line Streetcar Line: The streetcar line runs on rails that connects Ybor City, Channelside and Downtown Tampa. It operates 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Thursday, and 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Streetcar Operators do not provide change.

It's easy to plan your own trip! Visit www.goHART.org to use the Google Trip Planner feature or call 813-254-HART (4278).

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

Welcome to Tampa and have a great time!

Top Wishes for 2012: A Fun Look Ahead

2011-12-30T15:45:00.002-05:00

With the New Year approaching, you're probably being bombarded with lists and resolutions and well this is no different. We lack a crystal ball, but with a notepad and casual conversation, we've come up with our Top 12 Wishes of 2012.

Top story doesn't involve Gov. Scott

Our list begins (in no particular order) with arguably the top local transit story of 2011 and here is a hint, it doesn't involve Governor Rick Scott.

1. No more Robin Hoods

Quick summary: Back in April, a local man allegedly robs a Wachovia bank and uses a HART bus as his getaway vehicle. The story gets more interesting, when the man begins handing out the stolen cash (Robin Hood-style) to patrons on the bus. A HART supervisor calls the operator to report the criminal on the bus. The operator announces a "mechanical failure" on the bus and pulls over, where deputies are waiting for the robber.

Moral of the story? Next time pay off the driver. We kid, we kid.

In case you're interested in the full story.

Let's leave the crazy with Cee-Lo in 2012.

2. No more Platt St. Bridge closure

Who knew we'd miss the bridge so much - we get dirty looks on Kennedy. January can't come soon enough!

Photo credit: Michael Esser, Boss Magazine

3. Va-va Voom! More photo shoots like this one...

Boss Magazine recently held a photo shoot with a pair of lovely ladies on the ol' Birney streetcar and he can't stop talking about them. Fulfill his wish - more (camera) action.

4. Economy turns around

Who doesn't want this one? We need money! When home values drop, our funding goes down... big time.

And on that note...

5. Win the lottery

Goes hand-in-hand with #4. Service enhancements cost money, which we're currently lacking. In the past, we've mentioned researching possible alternative funding sources. Want to know what we've come up with? Powerball! Have you seen those payouts? That's demonstration line money.

Don't worry though, even if we don't hit the lotto, we're still here to serve you!

6. HARTline finally dies

R.I.P. HARTline and "motion sickness" color scheme

We started phasing out the HARTline name in 2005, and re branded to HART to reflect our multi-modal system. We embrace our past but the purple, red, and green is gone. Those days are over... We hope 2012 is the year we finally become just HART.

Sidenote: You can't do much with that color combination. We believe the combo was called "motion sickness".

7. Drivers yielding to buses

Remember to yield to buses, it's the LAW - as in a fine and possible jail time. If a bus is attempting to pull out of a bus bay, you MUST allow them back into traffic. Either that, or you're probably rear-ending the bus. We've seen it happen - not pretty.

8. Stay off the tracks!

Driver of car didn't see stop sign. Photo credit: Don Lamison

We're not sure how some individuals can maneuver their vehicles onto parts of the TECO Line Streetcar tracks, and into the way of the streetcar, but they do. We know some people aren't use to the yielding to trains or train tracks (it is Florida, after all). However, after almost 10 years of service and signs at all crossings, it's kind of hard to excuse.

The only driver on the tracks should be the motorman. Give up the keys and take a seat, we can always use the entertainment.

9. Entering and exiting

We hope more people enter the front and exit the rear... on the bus we mean. You know, the rear - on the bus - blocks the doorways when riders are headed in both directions.

10. FTA Weight Regulations

We hope the FTA doesn't have to raise the assumed passenger weight for passenger capacity regulations again. It means less passengers allowed on the bus at one time.

Not sure what they're looking at though, considering studies have shown that transit riders are 3 times more likely to get the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity.

11. More people "occupying" the Streetcar

If you want to occupy something, occupy the streetcar. We could always use more ridership.

And finally...

12. More eyes reading this blog

For those that read the blog regularly, we thank you! If you like the content, please don't hesitate to share it with your friends, families, co-workers, pets, etc. Sometimes it feels like we're a comedian playing a Bar Mitzvah. Is this thing on?

Have a happy and safe New Year from all of us at HART!

Giving Thanks this Holiday Season...

2011-12-30T09:12:00.000-05:00

The Holiday Season is the time of year for reflection of the past year(s). A time to reflect on what we have, not what we lost. There are plenty of reasons (in no particular order) to have a HART-Felt Holiday Season!
Best Ridership in HART History

We saw record ridership this year with13.7 million passenger trips (1.4 million more than FY 2010), while PSTA also saw a record number of riders with 13.1 million passenger trips.

With the exception of a just a couple of months in FY 2011 (my statistics teacher would say those are considered “outliers” anyway!), HART saw double-digit ridership increases month after month despite flattening gas prices. In fact, we've seen growth in ridership dating back to February of 2010, and we hope seasoned and new riders alike are taking note of the investments HART has made to boost accessibility and service, including more shelters and a big boost in late-night and weekend service.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

If you're a regular reader of the blog, then you probably have seen us mention CNG in the past couple of days. We received an early gift, when we learned last week that HART is one of 46 recipients to receive funding from the Federal Transit Administration for a clean-fuel transit project. The $2.3 million grant will go towards a CNG fueling station and "CNG fitting" our 21st Avenue Maintenance Facility. This will allow us to begin converting our fleet to CNG as dictated by the fleet replacement schedule.

CNG is more environmentally-friendly and currently costs 20-25% less than diesel.

Our Troops

We are thankful for those here and abroad who give (and have given) such a tremendous sacrifice to protect our rights and freedoms around the world. We would like to specifically mention our riders on the 24X and 25LX, which are two of the busiest Express routes in the HART system. HART is honored to serve those who serve and thanks to MacDill AFB for valuing public transportation by offering free passes to military personnel!

Award Wins

We have been very fortunate to earn a number of awards over the past few years. Last year, HART received the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) "2010 Most Outstanding Public Transit System of the Year" among all transit agencies carrying between 4-20 million passenger trips annually. The award is quite the honor in the transit industry, as it is comparable to an Oscar in film. One agency in North America is recognized in three size classes for demonstrating outstanding achievement in efficiency and effectiveness over a 3-year period. We're thankful for all of the HART family for their hard work in receiving this award.

We recently passed the baton off to Sun Metro in El Paso, Texas. Congratulations Sun Metro!

Increased Funding for Public Transportation

Recently, $10.6 billion in funding for public transportation was approved, which is a 3 percent increase in funding over FY 2011! While it doesn't guarantee more will trickle down to HART, it does provide more opportunities for HART to compete for grant funding. Projects such as the CNG fueling station and the TECO Line Streetcar Extension, both received funding from the Transit Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) grant program. We are always thankful for investments in transit and infrastructure!

Rosa Parks

Rosa Park's refusal to give up her seat changed the course of history. It all started on a bus... and we are forever thankful to Ms. Parks for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay 2011

Special Events

Tampa played host to a number of special events this year, in addition to the annual group of festivities held in Tampa - Gasparilla, Guavaween, etc. Tampa welcomed the "Elite Eight" group of the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament, Red Bull Flugtag, the CuervoGames and the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships, which is like the World Cup of Dragon Boat Racing. These events not only offered free entertainment, but also gave us the ability to showcase our service and grow ridership. These events are in addition to all the concerts, festivals and sporting events held around the county.

Metro 510

Metro 510, a mixed-use, workforce housing complex sits adjacent to our main transit hub, Marion Transit Center. Metro 510 markets itself to service workers and entry-level employees who would normally not be able to afford a luxurious apartment downtown. Metro 510 leases apartments from $588 for a one-bedroom to $808 for a three-bedroom. The complex provides renters with easy connectivity to the HART system and downtown, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and effective use of natural lighting.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Metro 510! We're thankful that you're here.

The Community

Obviously, HART would not exist without the support of Hillsborough County residents, employees and visitors. Last year, HART saw a record number of trips taken throughout Hillsborough County, and from the bottom of our HART (pun, maybe a little cheese... intended), we really do appreciate your ridership and continued support!

Here is to a great 2012!

Light Up Tampa Bay with the TECO Line Streetcar this New Year's Eve!

2011-12-29T14:38:00.000-05:00

Fireworks over the Channel District

The Tampa skyline will light up this weekend 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. "Light Up Tampa Bay" begins at 1 p.m. with 12 hours of live music and a ball drop. If you're keen on viewing the fireworks from the wharf area, it will be limited to 3,000 people with wristbands. Wristbands will be given out starting at 8:30 p.m.

Click for map of Downtown service

The TECO Line Streetcar is your best bet to avoid the expected traffic and parking nightmare. Park in Ybor and take the streetcar to Channelside (Hop off at the Tampa Tribune Station) or the Riverwalk (HSBC Station or Dick Greco Plaza). A map of the Downtown network of services can be found to the right.

Should you plan on driving to the festivities...

American Automobile Association (AAA) offers a complimentary "Tipsy Tow" 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 1-800-AAA-HELP (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. AAA received 2,400 "Tipsy Tow" service calls in 2010.

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

New Year's Eve Service:

HART is operating on a normal Saturday schedule for New Year's Eve. HART Customer Service Centers at University Area Transit Center and Marion Transit Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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.

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.

Click here for a rundown on what services will be in operation.

The HART Administrative Office in Ybor will also be closed on Monday in observance of the New Year.

Safe travels in 2012!

Welcome to Tampa for 2012 Outback Bowl!

2011-12-27T11:17:00.001-05:00

Decorations are starting to get taken down and holiday broadcasts are now returning to regularly scheduled programming. The holiday season is almost over. Keyword being, almost, because we're not done yet!

New Year's Eve is coming up and we've got a big time college football bonanza to bring in the New Year!

Plenty to see and do in Tampa!

HART and the TECO Line Streetcar would like to welcome all the Michigan State and Georgia coaches, players and fans to Tampa for the 2012 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 and Channelside Cinemas) - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar
Ybor City Historic District (Centro Ybor) - Routes 8, 12, the TECO Line Streetcar
International Plaza (Shopping) - 15, 30, 59LX
Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) - Route 6
St. Pete Times Forum - Route 8, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
David A. Straz Jr. Center - In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
Tampa Convention Center - Route 4, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar
Tampa Museum of Art - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolly
Tampa Theatre - In-Town Trolley
Glazer's Children Museum - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolley
University of South Florida - Routes 5, 6, 18, 57
Westshore Plaza (Shopping) - Routes 5, 30, 45, 89
Raymond James Stadium (Home of the Outback Bowl) - Routes 7, 32, 36, 45

Only $1.75 for a one-way ride!

A 3-day Visitor Unlimited HARTride card is your best bet at only $11.00 and valid on all HART local buses, In-Town Trolley and the TECO Line Streetcar System.

Things to know about the In-Town Trolley and TECO Line Streetcar System:

In-Town Trolley: The In-Town Trolley is a rubber-wheeled vehicle, that makes stops at popular locations in downtown Tampa weekdays, 6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 6 p.m. The line operate on a 15-minute frequency and costs only 25¢!

TECO Line Streetcar Line: The streetcar line runs on rails that connects Ybor City, Channelside and Downtown Tampa. It operates 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Thursday, and 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Streetcar Operators do not provide change.

It's easy to plan your own trip! Visit www.goHART.org to use the Google Trip Planner feature or call 813-254-HART (4278).

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

Have a great time watching the Michigan State Spartans take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the New Year's Day showdown and enjoy all that Tampa has to offer!

Print this post

HART-Felt Holiday Notes

2011-12-24T18:43:00.000-05:00

The holiday season is upon us. The eight days of Hanukkah have begun and Christmas and Kwanzaa are right around the corner. Many families around the world will get together over feasts and chatter, celebrating various beliefs and participating in different traditions. However, some of our family and friends will not have the same opportunity to break bread with their families this holiday season.

Over 1.4 million troops serving our country are stationed in over 150 different countries around the world. Even troops stationed in the United States sometimes find themselves as much as 3,000 miles away from their loved ones.

As we've touched on in past posts, active and retired members of the Armed Forces make up a strong contingent of the HART family. As such, we wanted to do something special for troops around the world and locally at MacDill AFB. Holiday greetings featuring HART employees/retired military members and also active military to their families have been airing on WTSP (local CBS affiliate) since the beginning of December. Check out the video spots below.

The holiday season equals holiday service levels. Below is our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day schedule.

HART Holiday Service

Christmas Eve

HART and the TECO Line Streetcar will operate on a normal Saturday schedule. The following services will not operate:

Express/Limited Express service
HART Flex (South Tampa. South County, Town 'N Country)
In-Town Trolley (Route 96)

HART Customer Service will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling (813) 254-4278. Customer Service centers at University Area Transfer Center and Marion Transit Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other HART offices will be closed.

Christmas Day:

HART will operate on a Sunday schedule. The following services will not operate:

Express/Limited Express service
HART Flex service
In-Town Trolley (Route 96)

The TECO Line Streetcar will not operate in observance of Christmas Day.

HART Customer Service will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling (813) 254-4278. All other HART offices will be closed.

HART Holiday Luncheon

Food was the main attraction...

We recently held our employee holiday luncheon, which is a great way to get the HART family together for the holidays. Food and refreshments were served along with a "year-in-review" slideshow.

'Tis the season for giving and our team is in full bloom! More than 400 pounds of food were donated by employees from all of our different facilities as part of the Boxes of Hope food drive, benefiting Metropolitan Ministries. Way to go everyone!

The giving doesn't have to stop there or with us. You can visit the Metropolitan Ministries website for food drop off locations. There is still time left to donate!

The holiday season comes and goes quickly, so enjoy it and happy holidays from our family to yours!

Here's a TIP - MacDill's Transportation Incentive Program (TIP)

2011-12-21T11:33:00.000-05:00

More than 3,000 Hillsborough County residents are employed by MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), home of U.S. Central Command or Centcom.

With such a concentration of employment in the Tampa area, there's a good chance that you are associated with MacDill, whether it be by direct employment, contract work or family and friends. Did you know that MacDill AFB offers its personnel FREE transportation to the base?

Believe it.

If you live in Brandon, Valrico, Riverview, and the Fishhawk areas east of Tampa, MacDill, through their Transportation Incentive Program (TIP), provides FREE monthly HART Commuter Express passes, a $90 value.

If you have not signed up for MacDill's TIP, you are missing out on a benefit that could save you hundreds of dollars a month in gas and tolls. More than 1,450 personnel take advantage of a daily, hassle-free express bus ride or van pool, which is 100 percent paid for by Uncle Sam.

According to MacDill, the TIP has its origins from Executive Order 13150, which "seeks to reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption and emissions by military members and federal employees by mandating a public transportation program that offers assistance with commuting costs".

Don't live in the above areas? TIP also includes TBARTA Commuter Services, a van pool program. The van pool program provides commuters, in groups of five or more, funding to secure a passenger van for their daily commute. For information on the van pool program visit www.tampabayrideshare.org/vanpool.

As with any program, there are a few stipulations to the TIP program. You obviously can't intend to profit off the sale or trade of bus passes and van pool vouchers. And TIP applications shall be based solely on costs associated with the use of a qualified mode of transportation to and from MacDill in conjunction with employment by the Department of Defense (DoD).

Are you eligible for the TIP Benefit?

1) DoD active duty military members
2) DoD Reserve Military members (including both Reservists and National Guard Members) on active duty status
3) DoD Federal civilian employees
4) DoD NAF personnel

Per MacDill: The TIP program is managed by the 6th Comptroller Squadron, Financial Services Office in bldg. 149 on Hillsborough Loop. After identifying the service or bus route that will best serve you, please e-mail finance.services@macdill.af.mil to get a copy of the application. Applications must be returned in person so eligibility requirements can be verified using the members DoD issued ID card. Applications can be dropped off any duty day and are processed at the end of each month. Riders typically are able to pick up their bus pass/van pool vouchers by the third week of the month after they apply.

Save a lot of money and the environment, help keep Tampa's congestion down and learn to relax on board one of our buses straight from a park-n-ride to the base. Sounds like a no-risk, big reward plan!

Streetcar Holiday Connections: Dec. 10, 25¢ Rides from 9 am - 5 pm!

2011-12-05T09:32:00.001-05:00

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Mark Santa's arrival with 25¢ one-way rides on the TECO Line Streetcar this Saturday from 9 am - 5 pm, courtesy of Centro Ybor!

Santa will be making appearances in the morning at Centro Ybor and Centennial Park. In addition to the jolly man's arrival in Ybor City, several activities are also planned along the streetcar line. There will be an entertainment stage at Centro Ybor, Art in the Park and entertainment at Centennial Park; Ybor Art Association's Deck the Walls (art exhibits at multiple locations along the streetcar line); and behind-the-scenes tours at Stageworks Theatre.

Multiple businesses will also have special deals in the Streetcar Holiday Connections Brochure: $5 off at the Florida Aquarium, free child's admission with the purchase of an adult admission at the Glazer Children's Museum and $2 off admission at the Tampa Bay History Center, to name a few.

Looking to fill up your tummy like ol' Saint Nick? There are a variety of food and drinks specials at restaurants along the streetcar line. A quick peak shows: 20% off your entire bill at Pizza Fusion in Downtown Tampa, 15% off your food bill (with brochure) from Blue Dog Bistro in Centro Ybor and 10% off your order (with brochure) at Cold Stone Creamery in Channelside!

You can also receive a FREE kid's meal from Gametime in Ybor just by visiting the streetcar information tent located at Centro Ybor - while supplies last.

A few things to consider:

The TECO Line Streetcar serves Ybor City, the Channel District and Downtown Tampa, for maps and schedules visit www.TECOlinetreetcar.org.
Bust open that piggy bank. It's 25¢ fares, so you're going to need those quarters, our streetcar motormen don't provide change.
The special 25¢ one-way fare is valid from 9 am - 5 pm.
The TECO Line Streetcar System is not responsible for changes to any special offers listed in the Streetcar Holiday Connections brochure. Special offers are valid on Saturday, Dec. 10 only.

Is there a better way to spend the day than 25¢ rides with Santa on his (yellow) sleigh?

Streetcar Holiday Connections - Dec. 10, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

'Tis the Season for Giving

2011-11-28T14:45:00.001-05:00

Mateo Baracaldo and his winning entry!

Mateo Baracaldo's ability to fully understand just how fortunate he is at the young age of 6, has garnered him (4) free tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney World in Orlando, along with some free Disney swag!

HART held a contest throughout November asking those 16 and under a simple question - what are you thankful for? Mateo's essay was picked by HART CEO Philip Hale, out of a number of written entries received by HART and Radio Disney.

While the Disney tickets are great and the swag is cool, this is the season for giving. So another part of Mateo's prize, was the opportunity to pick a deserving family to win a free 32" LCD TV and a $100 grocery gift card, presumably to be used on a Holiday dinner.

Mateo chose Ms. Nidias Burgos, his former Pre-Kindergarten teacher in the Head Start program, which is designed to ensure that every student has an equal chance to succeed in kindergarten. Mateo wrote to us to tell us why he selected Ms. Burgos.

Mateo's and Ms. Burgos' families together with the gifts.
"I picked Ms. Burgos' family because she's very nice and helpful. She deserves it. Cause she bought my Dad a cake on his birthday and she's a hard worker and helps others. And I love her and she has a beautiful heart. And it's pay back time."

Now, Mateo and his family get to enjoy a magical day with the Mouse in Orlando and Ms. Burgos and her family get to enjoy a nice Holiday classic on their new 32" TV, following a nice dinner!

In life, a little cake goes a long way.

Keep an ear out for Mateo, because he will be on Radio Disney AM 1380's Kid's Concern Show in the coming weeks to discuss his essay and the nominated family.

A nice beginning to a HART-Felt holiday season!

Go Green on Black Friday!

2011-11-21T13:54:00.001-05:00

HART is open for business throughout the holiday weekend and residents are invited to "Go Green" on "Black Friday," while avoiding the stress of driving and parking.

On Black Friday, residents can take advantage of routes that connect to most shopping centers, including:

International Plaza: Route 15
University Mall: Routes 12, 45
Westfield Brandon: Routes 8, 37 and HARTFlex
Westfield Citrus Park: Route 39
Westshore Plaza: Routes 15, 30 and 45

Brandon/Northdale Flex will operate on Black Friday

In addition, Brandon and Northdale residents may take advantage of HARTFlex for curbside service by just making a two-hour advance reservation. These reservations may be made by calling 813-449-4555.

Schedule for Nov. 24, Thanksgiving Day

HART local bus routes and HARTPlus will operate a Sunday schedule.
The following services will not operate:

TECO Line Streetcar System
Commuter Express Routes
In-Town Trolley
HARTFlex

University Area Transit Center, Marion Transit Center, HART on Franklin and all other HART offices will be closed.

Schedule for Nov. 25, Black Friday

HART local bus routes; HARTFlex in Brandon and Northdale; and HARTPlus will operate a Saturday schedule. The TECO Line Streetcar System will operate 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

The following services will not operate:

Commuter Express Routes
In-Town Trolley
HARTFlex in South County, South Tampa and Town 'N Country

University Area Transit Center and Marion Transit Center will be open. HART on Franklin and all other HART offices will be closed.

View the HART website for schedules, maps and fare information.

For more information, HART Customer Service will be open throughout the entire holiday weekend at 813-254-4278 or 813-626-9158 (TDD).

HART High Five: Planner James Fogarty

2011-11-18T16:46:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to HART Transit Planner James Fogarty for being selected as part of the 2011 Class of Tampa Bay Business Journal's Up & Comers - 30 Under 30!

TBBJ received more than 600 nominations for this annual recognition and a panel of judges narrowed it down to a class of 48 deserving individuals, who demonstrated exceptional business accomplishments, community involvement and mentoring activities.

Mr. Fogarty has been instrumental in providing engineering analysis and support for several major planning efforts at HART -- including the Alternatives Analysis Study for light rail, planned regional park-and-ride facilities and a major update to this year's HART Transit Development Plan. He also continues to provide updates to community partners regarding on the HART capital investment program.

He is currently coordinating upgrades for the HART Yukon Transfer Center, serves on the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and is a judge for the local Future City Competition, which provides middle school students a creative opportunity to imagine, design and build cities of the future.

Mr. Fogarty started with HART in 2009, just a few years after receiving his bachelor's degree in engineering. He is now a certified engineering intern and in April, plans to take the final examination required to become a professional engineer.

Mr. Fogarty was formally recognized during the 2011 Up & Comers Awards Ceremony held on Nov. 10. High five, James!

HART Awarded $2.3 Million Federal Grant for CNG Fueling Station

2011-11-18T10:41:00.001-05:00

A follow up on the HART Board recap in which there was discussion on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday that HART is the recipient of a $2.3 million grant to fund a CNG fueling station and associated modifications to an existing HART maintenance facility. This is the first step for HART towards transitioning vans and buses from using diesel to CNG, which is cleaner and more efficient to use in public transit.

"Natural gas offers a cost-effective alternative to diesel fuel," said Philip Hale, HART Chief Executive Officer. "Natural gas is available domestically and at this time, costs approximately 20-25 percent less than diesel."

The preliminary project timeline includes design and construction through 2012, and an operational CNG fueling station in 2013.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Transit Administration (FTA), HART is one of 46 innovative clean-fuel transit projects nationwide that will share $112 million in funding from two FTA programs: the Clean Fuels Grant Program and the TIGGER III (Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction) Grant Program.

To view a summary of other HART capital projects underway, visit HART at Work.

About CNG & Public Transit

Natural gas is a clear, odorless and non-corrosive gaseous mixture of hydro-carbons. Natural gas vehicles show an average reduction in ozone-forming emissions of 80 percent compared to gasoline vehicles, according to a report from the California Energy Commission. Many transit agencies nationwide are transitioning to CNG vehicles, including DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit), which plans over the next three years to deploy more than 650 new CNG buses and paratransit vehicles as replacements for its current fleet of buses that began service in 1998. In addition, LA Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) retired its last diesel bus in January 2011.

From the Driver's Seat: Service Changes

2011-11-16T15:01:00.000-05:00

Every now and then, Jason Eames, one of our HART Operators will give insight From the Driver's Seat, on a number of things pertaining to HART.

HART services are reviewed for efficiency three times a year

If you’ve been a public transit user for any length of time, you no doubt have noticed that every few months there are modifications to bus routes and schedules you’ve become accustomed to. These modifications may result in other changes -- a different person behind the wheel or perhaps your bus stop was relocated.

I’m pretty certain you’ve asked yourself, “Why does this happen?” This time period is what is known as a markup. Bus schedule and route modifications brought on by a markup may seem a bit confusing as you at first, but rest assured it’s all done in the name of improving the overall bus system. And, believe it or not, bus drivers also have a little getting used to.

Many of you have grown accustomed to a familiar face every week or every day, and now that face may change. And I can tell you that from the driver’s seat, I become friends with many of my “regulars.” But please know the operator that will be taking over for the next few months is just as reliable and helpful. After the operators have made their selections for their new routes they have a two week time period that they use to familiarize themselves with routes that are new to them and to old routes they may not have driven in a while.

The purpose of these markups are to implement patron and operator suggestions to make the existing service better and to better meet the needs of you, the patron. No matter what city you have lived in or may live in in the future these markups happen at least three times in a year’s time.

The impact that a markup has on an operator is a refreshing one in my opinion. At most jobs that you might work, you tend to do the same thing day in and out for your entire tenure. Bus operators on the other hand, get to change their daily jobs every four months. While the actual job of driving the bus and serving the passengers does not change, the scenery and the roads we see each day do.. While this may sound minor, it can have a big impact on an operator. There are some operators that do grow attached to the people they serve and getting used to not seeing those same faces can be tough on them. Then you have your operators that choose to be an extra board operator. These drivers come in every day not knowing which route(s) they will be driving that day and that means they have to know each route before they wake up that morning.

Schedule books are available at HART sales outlets

Make sure to pick up a summary of the route and schedule changes distributed on all buses a few weeks before changes take effect. Updated Route Schedule Books will also be available for purchase for $2 – I personally recommend getting one of these! When a new markup begins and you aren’t 100% sure if your normal commute has changed you can always the HART Trip Planner, an awesome tool powered by Google. You can plan your entire commute with easy access on the go. You can also use this tool on your smart phone or tablet when you are in transit to a new destination. And, of course, when in doubt, call HART Customer Service, open seven days a week at (813) 254-4278.

I hope this better explains what a markup is. Say hi to your new operator!

Mr. Eames has been with HART for one year.

11/14/11 - Major Projects & Legislative Committee Meeting Recap

2011-11-15T13:39:00.001-05:00

The Major Projects & Legislative Committee met Monday and received a summary of HART capital projects under development, design and construction. View HART at Work, which provides details for each project that impacts current and future public transit facilities, including the Yukon Park-n-Ride, MetroRapid North-South and East-West, Transit Signal Priority, new park-n-ride facilities in Brandon and in Northeast Hillsborough County, and the Basic Transit Infrastructure Program. It also includes a map that demonstrates the geographical range these projects have across Hillsborough County. You could say public transit improvements are coming to a zip code near you!

No need to mention the improvements underway at the 21st Avenue Facility -- most employees are working through this major renovation project. Thank you for your patience! Construction is scheduled through Fall 2012.

The Major Projects & Legislative Committee also held a discussion about the importance of securing federal or state funding to incrementally implement the use of CNG at HART.

"Compressed Natural Gas is one of the most effective fuel technologies for public transit," said HART Chief Executive Officer Philip Hale, adding that especially in Florida's hot weather, CNG-fueled vehicles operate more efficiently than diesel-hybrid vehicles. The battery power of a diesel-hybrid bus is not enough to run the ongoing air conditioning system needed for a bus that operates under Florida's extended warm and humid weather conditions.

Natural gas is colorless, shapeless, and odorless in its pure form. It is abundant in the United States, and when burned it gives off a great deal of energy and few emissions. Unlike other fossil fuels, natural gas is clean burning and emits lower levels of potentially harmful byproducts into the air. Most natural gas vehicles operate using compressed natural gas (CNG).

HART is working with the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization to undertake project development work identifying the specific requirements to support CNG vehicles at the HART maintenance facility. Project development is required to effectively compete for federal and state monies that would fund such a project.

High Five Friday: Veterans Day Edition

2011-11-10T15:42:00.001-05:00

High Five Friday is very special today as we honor members of the HART family that have served their country.

HART has more than 100 employees who are veterans or family members of veterans, each with a special story of bravery and sacrifice. But this year's Veterans Day story goes to Angel Ortiz, who is receiving a warm welcome home from his HART family.

"It feels great to be back," Ortiz said during a recent interview with him. "The welcome they gave me here ... I feel like I never left."

Mr. Ortiz is a HART Mechanic A, as well as a Navy Reservist. He returned to HART in October after a three-year deployment to El Salvador.

"Two years, eleven months and two weeks," he said. He recalls the time frames of each deployment with precision.

He's been with HART for six years, but deployed to Bahrain just a few months after he started. After a year, came back to HART for about six months, and deployed once again to El Salvador for what was supposed to be a one-year assignment.

He also had a four-year deployment to Spain prior to coming to HART. He has been in the Navy Reserves since 1994.

His most recent experience with the military has been in the areas of arms and security, and prior to that he worked in regulating drug trafficking.

Welcome Home, Angel Ortiz!

"I always wanted to be in the armed forces. I wanted to serve my country," Ortiz said. He lives in West Tampa with his wife of seven years. He said he looks forward to taking time to spend time with his family, especially his kids.

In addition, he enjoys softball and said he is looking forward to joining the HART softball team!

As a Mechanic A he works on all of the HART vehicles - cars, vans and buses - performing general maintenance.

"As soon as I got back, Mr. Hauck got me registered for classes, and the first week I was here I was taking classes," he said. Mr. Ortiz now is just four classes away from becoming a Master Mechanic.

And just one day away from Veterans Day, a day to honor the unselfish service by people like Mr. Ortiz, as well as the millions of American veterans and their families. Happy Veterans Day, and high fives all around!

Mr. Ortiz left a special message for his fellow veterans over on our YouTube channel.

HART Board Recap: Employee Recognition, Yukon Construction

2011-11-10T11:04:00.001-05:00

Monday's meeting kicked off with recognition of HART employees: Harold Ward and James Chapman, each who received first runner up for the Florida Public Transportation Association's Mechanic and Driver of the Year, respectively.

Left-right: HART Mechanic Harold Ward, HART CEO Philip Hale

Mr. Ward is a master mechanic who has been with HART since 1981. He always shows a positive, can-do attitude and his calm demeanor is an integral part of the success of HART Fleet Maintenance. One of this agency's goals has been to reduce bus failures and increase the mean distance between failures. During the past two years, Harold has lead a team of mechanics to reduce monthly unit failures by 6 percent and increase the monthly mean distance by 1700 miles. Harold is an outstanding technician who leads by example and promotes teamwork.

HART Operator James Chapman and his wife

Mr. Chapman has been a bus operator with HART since 1984. He is an exemplary employee and leader among his peers. He has been named bus operator of the month five times throughout his career, and this year was inducted into the 2 million mile club for driving without a preventable accident for the past 27 years. He has been training operators since 1986 for on-the-job training and route familiarization. These are just a few of the initiatives he's taken on and accomplished at HART!

Yukon Transfer Center build out model

The HART Board also approved starting construction for an upgrade at Yukon Transfer Center, which serves about 800 customers each weekday and bus routes 1, 9, 14, 16 and 39. The upgrades will provide additional bays to accommodate increased demand and improve visibility. The total amount of the project is $600,000, paid for by state grants and HART funds. Construction is scheduled to begin before the year's end.

The HART Legislative Policy Statement for the 2012 Florida Legislative Session was adopted by the HART Board and includes monitoring legislation that relates to the consolidation of HART and PSTA, as well as working towards maintaining current funding levels for transit.

Lastly, Katharine Eagan, HART Chief Operating Officer, presented the HART Board with a summary of bus ridership in 2011, highlighting significant gains in holiday and Sunday service. View 2011 HART Ridership At-A-Glance

Next Meeting: HART Major Projects & Legislative Committee meeting is scheduled Monday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. at the HART Ybor Office.

Things to Do in Tampa Bay: 11/04 - 11/06

2011-11-04T16:57:00.001-04:00

Cheers to the freakin' weekend...

Fall is in the air, with plenty of reasons to be outside to enjoy it. Here is just a few events to really take advantage of the beautiful weather.

MacDill Airforce Base Airfest 2011
Saturday, Nov. 5 and Sunday, Nov. 6. 9:00 a.m.

If you love intense aerial maneuvers, along with getting in the cockpit of dozens of new and classic aircrafts (safely on the ground), this event is for you! The U.S. Air Force hosts the free event, but expect other branches of the armed services to get in on the flight action.

More than 50,000 are expected to attend the event. If you're planning on busing it, use routes 19 and 36 to Britton Plaza. HART will detour route 36 from Britton Plaza to the base with continuous bus service.

Conga Caliente

Saturday, Nov. 5 - 11:00 a.m.

Florida's 2nd largest Hispanic family festival is this Saturday! The annual celebration of Hispanic culture and arts features performances by national acts, ethnic food, a health village, cigars, domino games, kids activities, an art village, educational displays and a beer garden for those 21+. The event is free.

Al Lopez Park
4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa FL 33614

HART serves Al Lopez park via Routes 7, 32, 36, and 45.

The 5th Annual SWFBUD Bicycle Bash
Saturday, Nov. 5 - 11:00 a.m.

If you're a regular reader of the blog, or our social media outlets, you're probably already familiar with the Bicycle Bash. The Bicycle Bash gives the Tampa Bay's bicycle community a chance to come together and promote bicycling as a healthy lifestyle, effective transportation and asset to the region.

The 5th Annual Bicycle Bash will feature:

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn leading a bike ride called the Buckhorn Bash Ride around the Flatwoods 7-mile loop at 11:15 AM.
The SWFBUDDY Awards given to local Tampa Bay residents and officials who have worked to make the area a more bicycle-friendly community.
A Swap Meet where people can buy used bike gear; food provided by the famed Taco Bus Food Truck; and music.
Guest announcers Skip Mahaffey and Brendan McLaughlin of Channel 28 Action News
Free bike gear giveaway drawings; an artist doing creating live bicycle painting;
SWFBUD lawyers will be on hand to offer free legal advice regarding bicycle issues.
Tampa BayCycle will provide a free BikeSmart bike education class and Tampa Bay's bicycle clubs will be on hand to talk about bike rides throughout the region.
HART and the Hillsborough MPO will also discuss transportation plans and initiatives.

HART will have a booth at the event, giving out HART bike flashers as well as putting on a demonstration of new ways HART plans to boost bicycle travel via transit!

Flatwoods Wilderness Park
14302 Morris Bridge Road , Thonotosassa FL 33592

We also have events for those that want to escape the ... "brisk" low temperatures, in favor of a more moderated environment.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Friday, Nov. 4 - 7:30 p.m.

Even though they're playing on ice... don't expect the blustery conditions normally associated with an ice rink. Instead expect REAL lightning bolts, plus seats, a brand new party deck and the world's most powerful synthetic pipe organ! The Bolts are riding a win streak heading into the game against a team just a couple years removed from hoisting the Stanley Cup.

St. Pete Times Forum
401 Channelside Drive, Tampa FL 33602

The TECO Line Streetcar drops off at the St. Pete Times Forum - HSBC Station. Don't worry about getting stranded, the streetcar has your back until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

2nd Annual Ybor Jazz Festival
Nov. 1 - Nov. 6

Looking for an extended weekend? Hosted by Hillsborough Community College (HCC), this five-day inaugural event features local, national and genre favorites in daytime and evening concerts.

Attend every day or pick and choose days. Featuring the Helios Jazz Orchestra, with Anthony Castellano Jr., Liz Hollister, Denise Moore, Sasha Tuck and Belinda Womack.

The event is $15 for a day pass and $5 for students and seniors. It's free if your HCC faculty or a student with ID.

    November 4 - 6 p.m. Bryan Shuler and Dagari
    November 5 - 6 p.m. Thick as Thieves
    November 5 - 8 p.m. New Groove City
    November 6 - 3 p.m. New Orleans Jazz, Funk, Gospel

Hillsborough Community College Ybor Campus Performing Arts Building
1505 E Palm Ave., Tampa FL 33675

The HCC Ybor Campus is only a block or two away from the Cadrecha Station of the TECO Line Streetcar System and is also accessible via HART routes 5, 12, and 18.

Kevin Nealon
Friday, Nov. 4 - Nov. 5

He wants to "Pump... you up! Known for his dry wit, this comedian is mostly remembered for his time on Saturday Night Live. He has appeared in a number of Adam Sandler's films and has recently found success on cable TV.

Here is an example of one of his more iconic characters on SNL.

Shows at the Improv are 21 and up, except the Friday 10:30 p.m. show, which is 18 and up.

Tampa Improv
1600 E Eighth Ave., Tampa FL 33605

The Tampa Improv is located near the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union Station of the TECO Line Streetcar System.

Bikes on Buses... Expands to Vans!

2011-11-03T15:08:00.000-04:00

Bikes on buses just got a whole new meaning! Customers may now bring their folded bicycles on HART buses and vans.

HART will host a demonstration of new ways to boost bicycle travel via transit during the popular 2011 Bicyle Bash on Sunday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Hillsborough County Flatwoods Park, 14302 Morris Bridge Road in Thonotosassa. Those who sign up for HART News receive a FREE bicycle flasher!

Folded bikes on buses must:

Have 20-inch wheels or smaller; larger bicycles should be loaded on the bike rack.
Be folded and bagged before boarding the bus.
Be folded underneath the seat or in front of the customer so it does not take up extra seats or block the aisle.

Bike with larger wheels should continue using the bike rack.

Users of bicycles with larger wheels should continue using the bicycle rack. Each HART bus and van accommodates two bicycles. Only single-seat, two-wheel bicycles are permitted on buses; no tandems or three wheelers. Motor-powered vehicles are not permitted on the bus or on bicycle racks. If the rack is full, patrons should be prepared to choose a location to lock up their bicycle, or wait for the next bus serving that route.

Word to the wise! Bicyclists should attach an identification number to their bicycles -- whether it's the manufacturer's serial number, a license plate or a sturdy decal -- and keep a copy of this number with them. This will greatly facilitate the process of claiming lost bicycles. In addition, the Tampa Police Department encourages bicyclists to register their bicycles with its Bicycle Registration Theft Protection Program to assist in recovering stolen bikes.

Thinking about expanding your bicycle travel by getting on board with HART? Visit www.goHART.org or call 813-254-4278 (HART) for help with planning your trip!

HART High Fives: James Fogarty

2011-11-02T14:27:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to HART Transit Planner James Fogarty for being selected as part of the 2011 Class of Tampa Bay Business Journal's Up & Comers - 30 Under 30!

TBBJ received more than 600 nominations for this annual recognition and a panel of judges narrowed it down to a class of 48 deserving individuals, who demonstrated exceptional business accomplishments, community involvement and mentoring activities.

Mr. Fogarty has been instrumental in providing engineering analysis and support for several major planning efforts at HART -- including the Alternatives Analysis Study for light rail, planned regional park-and-ride facilities and a major update to this year's HART Transit Development Plan. He also continues to provide updates to community partners regarding on the HART capital investment program.

He is currently coordinating upgrades for the HART Yukon Transfer Center, serves on the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and is a judge for the local Future City Competition, which provides middle school students a creative opportunity to imagine, design and build cities of the future.

Mr. Fogarty started with HART in 2009, just a few years after receiving his bachelor's degree in engineering. He is now a certified engineering intern and in April, plans to take the final examination required to become a professional engineer.

Mr. Fogarty will formally be recognized during the 2011 Up & Comers Awards Ceremony scheduled Nov. 10. High five!

Things to Do in Tampa this Weekend: 10/28 - 10/30

2011-10-28T16:50:00.001-04:00

With a number of ghoulish events going on in Tampa this weekend, it's a good time to be a friend of the undead. Even if you're not in the mood for madness, we've got a number of big events for you. We'll start off with...

Scaredy-cats

Friday:

*Credit WEBN-TV

Josh Groban
St. Pete Times Forum

If you sleep with the lights on... then this is probably a safe bet. Part-time talk show host (filling in for Regis Philbin) and young pop-opera star, Josh Groban is looking to bring the lights down low and sing into the audience's soul. Hop off at the HSBC station, if you plan on taking the TECO Line Streetcar. The show starts at 8:00 p.m.

Alex Reymundo
Tampa Improv

Looking for some laughs instead of some shrieks? Check out one of the original Latin Kings of Comedy, along with George Lopez. Arrive to the Improv in style with the TECO Line Streetcar, get off at the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union Station for the Improv and Centro Ybor.

Shows are 21 and up only. Except Friday at 10:30 p.m. which is 18 and up.

Saturday:

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Winnipeg Jets

*Credit: Pointinshoot's Flickr

Check out the NHL's newest franchise as the Winnipeg Jets fly into Tampa on Saturday to take on your hometown Bolts. The Lightning are looking to match their longest win streak over another opponent, when they host the Jets, which use to be the Atlanta Thrashers. The HSBC station is your stop if you plan on taking the streetcar to the St. Pete Times Forum.

Time isn't an issue as streetcar service ends at 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. During the week, games also aren't a problem as streetcar service is extended during regular season Lightning games. More information can be found here.

Fright-seekers

All weekend:

*Credit: Ricky Brigante

Howl O' Scream
Busch Gardens

If you like to pay to get the ____________ scared out of you, Busch Gardens' Howl O' Scream is probably you're best bet (without driving to the land of Mickey and Potter). It's the last weekend for the annual event with tons of haunted houses, scare zones, roller coasters in the dark and spooky live shows. The theme this year is "The Dark Side of the Gardens: Zombies Live Here.".

Don't bring the little ones, it's obviously too intense for scaredy-cat adults who'll probably be at the Josh Groban concert or Tampa Bay Lightning game. The park stays open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Visit www.howloscream.com for ticket and attraction information.

Ghost Tour Tampa
Indigo Cafe

Didn't know Tampa has a dark-side? Take a candlelit walking through through Tampa to discover it's haunted and secret past. The tour has multiple stops and include ghost stories, visits to haunted houses and tales of restless spirits and supernatural oddities.

Visit www.ghosttour.net/tampa.html for ticket and attraction information.

Saturday:

Guavaween
Ybor City

Not so scary... minus some of the scandalous costumes you'll see people wearing. Let your inner zombie go wild with this Tampa tradition. The roughly 20-year-old festival began as a big Halloween party between local Ybor residents and now has morphed into one of the area's biggest annual celebrations. We actually wrote a whole write up on Guavaween, which you can find here. Basically, festivities begin at 3 p.m. and are expected to end early the next morning. Admission is $12 in advance and can be purchased online from the Ybor Chamber's website. Tickets are $17 at the gate.

Just a taste of the madness...

Ybor City garages fill up fast for the event, so either plan to arrive early or plan to park in the Channelside/Port Authority garage or the Fort Brooke parking garage and take the TECO Line Streetcar. Please note that beginning at 2:30 p.m., southbound streetcar service will terminate at the TECO Line Streetcar Barn until 2 a.m. Oh, and it's ADULTS ONLY this year, don't bring the little guavas with you.

Enjoy your weekend! There is plenty to make it Spooktacular!

Guavaween in the Big Guava...

2011-10-26T14:48:00.000-04:00

Let your inner zombie out at Guavaween!

What's Halloween in the Big Guava, without Guavaween?

Rated one of the top Halloween events in the country, Guavaween is always a great time to let your inner zombie out and join in one of Ybor City's biggest parties. The 26th annual Guavaween celebration begins this Saturday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m. and is expected to end in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Things to know before you go:

Leave your little guavas home this year, as the festival is ADULTS ONLY.
Don't forget your Batman belt buckle, Guavaween's theme this year is "superheroes".
The motorized parade is back, which means changes to streetcar service during the event. The TECO Line Streetcar System southbound trips will terminate at the Streetcar Barn located at 1201 E. 7th Ave. in Ybor City from 2:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Exact change is required to purchase fare cards on-board the streetcar.
Cash and card users can save time by purchasing your $5.00 unlimited ride pass in advance at ticket vending machines available at ALL stations along the system.

A lot of interesting characters...

Guavaween is one of Ybor's biggest celebrations, so parking is usually at a premium. Park in the Ft. Brooke parking garage (connected by Whiting Station) or Tampa Port Authority parking garage (connected by the Tampa Tribune Station) to avoid all the traffic.

Visit http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/, for streetcar fares and maps. For Guavaween music lineup and ticket information, visit http://www.ybor.org/.

Join HART at the 5th Annual Bicycle Bash - Nov. 6, 10 a.m.

2011-10-25T16:46:00.002-04:00

Clear your calendar, grab your bike and head on over to Flatwoods Park in Thonotosassa as SWFBUD, the alliance of Tampa Bay bicycle stores, is proud to put on the 2011 SWFBUD Bicycle Bash Festival. The fest, celebrating bicycling in the Tampa Bay area is Nov. 6 from 10 am to 4 pm.

The Bicycle Bash gives the Tampa Bay's bicycle community a chance to come together and promote bicycling as a healthy lifestyle, effective transportation and asset to the region.

HART realizes the importance of our bi/tri-wheel counterpart and how it complements public transportation in a well-rounded car-free lifestyle. We'll have a booth, along with a HARTFlex van demonstration on using the new "Bikes on Vans" rack as well as a how-to on bringing folded bikes on-board.

We're not alone at the event...

The 5th Annual Bicycle Bash will also feature:

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn leading a bike ride called the Buckhorn Bash Ride around the Flatwoods 7-mile loop at 11:15 AM.
The SWFBUDDY Awards given to local Tampa Bay residents and officials who have worked to make the area a more bicycle-friendly community.
A Swap Meet where people can buy used bike gear; food provided by the famed Taco Bus Food Truck; and music.
Guest announcers Skip Mahaffey and Brendan McLaughlin of Channel 28 Action News
Free bike gear giveaway drawings; an artist doing creating live bicycle painting;
SWFBUD lawyers will be on hand to offer free legal advice regarding bicycle issues.
Tampa BayCycle will provide a free BikeSmart bike education class and Tampa Bay's bicycle clubs will be on hand to talk about bike rides throughout the region. HART and the Hillsborough MPO will also discuss transportation plans and initiatives.

*Courtesy of SWFBUD

The Bicycle Bash, co-sponsored by The Cure on Wheels charity bike ride and Hillsborough County is FREE and open to all! Flatwoods Park is located at Flatwoods Park, 14302 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa, FL 33592 - think Bruce B. Downs exit of 1-75 North.

Please log on to www.bicyclebash.com for more information.

Art in Transit

2011-10-21T16:30:00.003-04:00

Mass transit has always been about connecting people to their community. It's through this basic belief, that mass transit and the arts have always shared commonalities.

We recently stumbled upon a blog with some of the most beautiful buildings in Europe and they're not what you might expect (castles, cathedrals, etc.). The Traveling Canucks blog has Europe's Top 10 Most Fascinating Train Stations.

Unlike America, where the car is king, rail rules the road in Europe. These 10 train stations are great examples of art in transit - beautiful architectural wonders that also double as transit hubs and epicenters of hustle and bustle; interaction.

The Federal Transit Administration understands this connection and encourages the inclusion of art in transit facilities by stating,

"The visual quality of the nation’s mass transit systems has a profound impact on transit patrons and the community at large. Good design and art can improve the appearance and safety of a facility, give vibrancy to its public spaces and make patrons feel welcome.”

HART kept this vision in mind with some of our own HART art:

Whiting Station

Marion Transit Center

Dick Greco Plaza

We have nowhere near the long history of Europe's fine facilities... but we're painting our own masterpiece, with each stroke a step closer.

Have you been to any of the Top 10 European train stations listed on the blog? Are they as amazing as they photograph?

HART High Five: Phillip Arriaga

2011-10-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

With the weekend coming up, we're in the high five giving mood! Another High Five Friday!

Quick-thinking by HART Operator Phillip Arriaga made him a superstar after a thermal event on his bus Oct. 4. Below are a few of the comments that poured in that same day from his 51X customers:

Michelle Linaki wrote: " ... The driver did what he was supposed to do. He got everyone off the bus first, put out the emergency cones, called in the problem and within 10-15 minutes we got a new bus to finish taking us the rest of the way. Nobody got hurt, we were only a few minutes later than normal. After everything was over, we were able to joke about it. Thank you for having a wonderful bus driver."

Celia Ryan wrote: "The bus driver was fantastic. He responded quickly, confidently and responsibly. A replacement bus arrived 10-15 minutes later. How great is that!"

Diane Rose wrote: "We are always quick to complain when there have been problems on the 51X. But this time, I have nothing but the highest praise for our driver on Tuesday .. he got everyone off and in a safe area, made sure everyone was OK, then he did his job putting out traffic cones, calling for help ... Again he made sure we were OK and made us laugh on the rest of the way home. BIG KUDO's to this driver. We all gave him a huge round of applause as we left the bus."

Louise Garcia wrote: "I would like to commend our driver's ability during the event. He stopped the bus and made sure we exited safely. Fire trucks came shortly thereafter and our driver secured us continuing transportation to our destinations. The secondary bus arrived within a few minutes and we were once again safely on our way. Our driver continued with us on this bus as well. We thank our driver and HART for employing such caring and knowledgeable people."

Operator Arriaga has been with HART since 2008. High Five!

If you see Operator Arriaga on the 51X, make sure to give him a high five for his exceptional work!

Streetcar service during Tampa Bay Lightning games

2011-10-17T12:39:00.002-04:00

HART is the thunder all season long! The TECO Line Streetcar will have extended service during all Tampa Bay Lightning games.

With over 20,000 fans converging on the St. Pete Times Forum, the TECO Line Streetcar offers a low cost and convenient way to avoid all the game traffic in downtown. Park in any of the Ybor City garages and ride the streetcar, which drops off right at the St. Pete Times Forum!

Coming from the West?

Park in the Fort Brooke Garage located on Franklin St. and Whiting St., Whiting Station is directly across the street from the garage.

Not going to the game? Anyone can take advantage of this later service to get around Downtown Tampa, the Channel District and Ybor City!

Ticket Vending Machines are located at every station

Know before you go:

Streetcar Motormen do not provide change. Please use the ticket vending machine located at the station if you do not have exact change or are paying with a debit/credit card.
Streetcar service will operate until the Tampa Bay Lightning games have ended, with one last trip immediately following the game.
A map of the TECO Line Streetcar System can be found here.

TECO Line Streetcar fares and regular service hours can be found at www.TECOlinestreetcar.org.

Tampa Bay Lightning game schedule and ticket information can be found here.

Go Bolts!

HART High Five: Award Winners

2011-10-14T16:37:00.001-04:00

It's High Five Friday! In this version of HART High Five we're looking at recent HART award wins.

Maintenance:

Congratulations to Harold Ward, who will receive the Florida Public Transportation Association's Bus Mechanic of the Year - 2nd Place Award. Mr. Ward will receive his award during the FPTA Annual Conference on October 18 in Tampa. High five!

Operations:

Congratulations to James Chapman, who will receive the Florida Public Transportation Association's Bus Operator of the Year - 2nd Place Award. Mr. Chapman will also receive his award on home turf during the FPTA Annual Conference. High five!

Marketing:

HART accepting the AdWheel Grand Award!

The HART Marketing Department recently received national industry recognition for our Black History Month awareness campaign, It All Started on a Bus.... This campaign honored local Black community leaders and celebrated the role that public transportation played in the Civil Rights Movement.

The AdWheel awards honor American Public Transportation Association (APTA) members’ marketing and communications efforts, each year. Awards are presented in the following main media categories: print, electronic, campaigns, and special events.

HART received the Grand Award, which is selected from the first place winners in our group (agencies with 4 million - 20 million passenger trips annually).

If you've followed this blog since the beginning of the year, you've probably seen some elements of this campaign. High five!

The Graphics Man That Can

Graphic Designer Kirk Mieczkowski recently won two
American Graphic Design Awards in the Advertising category for Spring STAY-cation and Community Outreach Display marketing materials. The pieces were selected from more than 10,000 entries nationwide. Winning entries from each category were published in the Graphic Design USA Design Annual, a 250-page special edition magazine, which credited Kirk and HART. This is the fourth consecutive year that we have brought home this award. High five!

Oh to be Loved...

HART recently recognized 45+ outstanding employees from a mixture of departments at a bi-annual luncheon. Honors received included Employees of the Month/Quarter(s), Longevity (25 and 30 years of service) and HART Star awards, which are given to employees who went far beyond their job duties.

What does it take to be Employee of the Month?

Employees of the Month are honored for their outstanding performance, professionalism, and dedication to HART and most importantly, the community.

Thanks to all the award winners for their great service to HART!

Make a Mental Note

Make a note next time you're riding HART. If you see James Chapman (or any of the above) getting you to work, don't be afraid to give them a high five for a job well done!

Ready for a double feature?

2011-10-12T14:57:00.000-04:00

Interested in seeing Dolphin Tale, the true story of local (for now) animal celebrity, Winter the Dolphin? Maybe a sweet new action thriller? Or, a romantic comedy for the first date?

After you're done with your first feature, get ready for seconds as the TECO Line Streetcar has partnered up with Muvico Centro Ybor 20 to give you a free ride! Just give your ticket stub to the Streetcar Motormen and receive a free ride on the TECO Line Streetcar! It's a perfect excuse to follow your movie with a double feature of dessert and drinks in Channelside or Downtown.

The promotion is valid until December 8, 2011. Movie ticketholders do not need to use their free streetcar ride on the same day they watch a movie.

More information on the Muvico promotion can be found here.

Muvico Centro Ybor 20 showtimes can be found here.

We'll see you at the movies!

Streetcar vs. Trolley: Know before you go to Flugtag

2011-10-06T16:58:00.000-04:00

Streetcar, trolley, interchangeable terms right? Not necessarily... there is a difference! Find out which is which before you arrive.

With 100,000+ expected to pile into downtown for the Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay, you'll most likely find yourself on HART and the TECO Line Streetcar System. We operate both streetcars and trolleys, which can get kind of confusing. Know before you go - trolleys and streetcars are not the same.

Streetcars run on tracks...

The TECO Line Streetcar System is a 2.7-mile electric streetcar system that runs on tracks between the entertainment, restaurants and other destinations of Ybor City, the Channel District and Downtown Tampa. The system consists of eleven stations, five in the Channel District, four in Ybor and two in downtown.

... and trolleys have wheels!

The In-Town Trolley routes are "trolley-buses" or rubber-wheel trolleys that operate throughout Downtown Tampa, Harbour Island and the Channel District. There are two In-Town Trolley routes - the Purple Line, which operates during work commute hours on weekday mornings and afternoons, and the Green Line, serving various restaurants and entertainment hotspots in downtown and the Channel District on Friday and Saturday nights.

(Note, the In-Town Trolley Purple Line will operate special service on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Purple Line will not serve Harbour Island between those hours. The Green Line will operate normal service from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m. click here for a printable PDF map)

Now that you're set on the differences between the two, it's time to put this knowledge to the test! Map out your attack plan with our guide to getting to Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay.

Take off to Flugtag with HART: Extra service during event!

2011-10-03T12:41:00.001-04:00

110,000 packed the Convention area in 2008
*Photo courtesy of Red Bull

Enjoy the Red Bull Flugtag event at the Tampa Convention Center, and also have fun at Channelside and Ybor City safely and easily by riding HART!

Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay is Saturday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. With 100,000+ specators expected near the Convention Center, HART will operate extra streetcar, bus and trolley service during the following times:

Continuous Streetcar Service: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Regular Streetcar Service: 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Continuous HART Bus Service from Ybor City to Tampa Convention Center: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m
Extra In-Town Trolley Service: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (will not travel to Harbor Island)
Regular In-Town Trolley Service: 6 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Continuous service is 10 - 15 minute frequency. The streetcar system will resume regular service (20-minute frequency) 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Heading to the event by Streetcar?

Take off to Flugtag with the TECO Line Streetcar. Flugtag-goers may park at any City of Tampa public parking garage in Ybor City and then hop on the TECO Line Streetcar into Downtown Tampa. The Streetcar line begins at Eighth Avenue and 20th Street (Centennial Park Streetcar Station), runs through Channelside and ends in downtown Tampa. Streetcars will stop at each station unless a streetcar is at maximum capacity. View map

Bussing it?

Buses will handle streetcar overflow and mirror the streetcar line. Again, Flugtag-goers may park at any City of Tampa parking garage in Ybor City to access this bus service. Buses will run from the Streetcar Society Station (Eighth Avenue and 15th Street) and/or Cadrecha Streetcar Station (Seventh Avenue and 13th Street), into downtown Tampa. In the afternoon, buses will leave from Dick Greco Streetcar Plaza (across the street from the Tampa Convention Center) back to Ybor City.

In-Town Trolley Service

The rubber wheel trolley will operate extra hours on a modified route (will not travel to Harbor Island), from north downtown Tampa, to Tampa Convention Center area and then the Channel District. The In-Town Trolley will resume its regular route during its regular hours of operation, 6 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Click here for a map of your downtown transportation options for Red Bull Flugtag Tampa Bay.

1-Day Unlimited Ride Fare Card

You're best bet for event day is the 1-Day Unlimited Fare Card. The fare card may be purchased for $5 at Ticket Vending Machines, located at each streetcar station, and used for riding the streetcar, buses and/or trolleys. Ticket Vending Machines accept credit/debit cards or cash. Farecards do not include City of Tampa Parking Garage fees.

Need help with trip planning? Below are a few sites for reference and on event day, the HART Street Team will be on hand near streetcar stations and at bus staging areas to assist customers.

References:

TECO Line Streetcar System: http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/
HART: http://www.gohart.org/ - Going completely car-less to the Red Bull Flugtag? View schedules and maps of several routes that travel into downtown Tampa on Saturdays!
City of Tampa Public Parking: www.tampagov.net/dept_parking/

HART High Five: Mark Sheppard, Travel Trainer

2011-09-29T17:09:00.000-04:00

We're introducing a new series titled "HART High Fives," which will recognize HART employees that have recently received commendations from patrons. We'd like to share a letter from Liz, who takes care of Brenda, the focus of this letter.

Congratulations to Mark Sheppard, Travel Trainer, who received this high five:

"An interesting thing occurred last month while Brenda was taking the bus to her doctor's appointment ... She lives right off of West Waters Avenue and went to her bus stop across from the Walgreens near her home and waited for the Route 16 bus, which her iPad said would get there by a certain time.

When it was 15 minutes past the time it was supposed to arrive, Brenda did an amazing thing. She called HART and found out that the [scheduled] time had been changed since the last time she had been to that doctor, and the bus would be arriving in about 10 minutes.

She waited for it but realized en route that she would be late for her appointment if she got off the bus at a designated bus stop rather than right in front of the doctor's office. She asked for a courtesy stop, but they were not able to.

She was dropped off at the next stop, past the doctor's office, and she figured out in which direction she would have to walk to get to her doctor's office. She arrived 5 minutes late, but that was no big deal.

Someone who doesn't know Brenda would wonder what was so special about what happened that day. You know Brenda and her cognitive abilities. This type of independent behavior would have been totally absent if not for YOUR travel training expertise and the time you spent with her PLUS all the experience and confidence she has gained through accessing HART's public transportation on a daily basis for the past five or six years.

She takes the bus to a couple of different doctors' offices, to the public library, three different malls, her credit union and the Super Wal-Mart on Henderson, to name a few. She is now asking if she can take it to night school (Chamberlain). It has freed my time up considerably and given her a level of confidence and independence. She's now able to have so much control of her life.

Thank you, Mark, from the bottom of my heart, for taking that time so very long ago to make Brenda the independent traveler that she is today."

- Liz Price

Mark Sheppard has been with HART since 2003 and is nationally recognized in the industry for his travel training work. Sheppard has been honored by a number of organizations, including: the Florida Diagnostics & Learning Resources System, Center for Urban Research, Council for Exceptional Children and the USF College of Education. Sheppard plans on hitting a milestone, when he trains his 1000th "trainee" in December 2011 or January 2012.

Here's a HART high five to Mark for all his great work. We're glad to have him as a member of the HART family!

Hispanic heritage events throughout Tampa Bay!

2011-09-28T11:09:00.000-04:00

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 - October 15 and celebrates the culture, contributions and histories of our friends and neighbors whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

There are a number of events coming up in celebration of the month. Below is a listing of several events planned throughout Tampa Bay.

"Gitano" (Gypsy)

Elio Lopez art on display - Sept. 1 - 30

The Kotler Art Gallery, at the John F. Germany Library, has Spanish-American, Elio Lopez's artwork on display throughout the month of September, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The event is free to the public.

Examples of Elio Lopez's work can be found at his website - http://www.arteespanol.us/.

MOSI $10 Admission - Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

Head on over to MOSI throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, for $10 general admission! Some restrictions apply. Visit http://www.blogger.com/www.MOSI.org for details.

27th Annual Hispanic Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner - Sept. 29, 6 p.m.

Hosted by the Sheriff's Hispanic Advisory Council, this annual dinner recognizes personnel of the Sherrif's Office for their outstanding service and also awards scholarships to deserving students. The event costs $40.00, and includes dinner and entertainment.

Our Hispanic Heritage Bookmark Contest

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with three annual contests.

Kindergarten - 5th grade students may enter the Our Hispanic Heritage Bookmark Contest
6th - 12th grade students may enter the Our Hispanic Heritage Poster Contest
Adults (age 18 and older) may enter the Our Hispanic Heritage Poetry Contest.

These contests are open through Sept. 30. Winners will be announced at an award ceremony at the Town 'N Country Regional Library on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.

For contest rules and entry forms, visit www.hcplc.org/hcplc/events/hh/. Entries must be turned in no later than Sept. 30.

La Ley 760AM Live Remote at Marion Transit Center - Sept. 30, 5 p.m.

Join HART and La Ley 760AM at Marion Transit Center (MTC), this Friday, Sept. 30 from 5-6 p.m. La Ley will host another live radio remote from MTC, and once again they are bringing great food and music! Thanks to everyone who participated in the previous remote to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month on September 16.

Experience the Flavor of Ybor!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a historic tour through Ybor City with the TECO Line Streetcar! Visit the Ybor City Museum State Park at the Centennial Station, show your Streetcar Savings Pass (your TECO Line Streetcar fare card) and receive 50% off admission and 10% off in the gift shop. The museum features the history of Ybor City, including: the cigar industry, social clubs and the Spanish immigration experience. The park also features a Mediterranean-style garden and a re-creation of a Ybor City cigar worker's house. Ybor City walking tours are also provided from the museum. Explore the flavor of Ybor City's past!

When you've worked up a hunger from all that walking, take the TECO Line Streetcar over to Channelside and enjoy traditional Spanish tapas from Tinatapa's. Just like before, enjoy a discount with your TECO Line Streetcar farecard - 20% off your bill!

Plan on attending any of the above events?

HART Board approves 2012-2013 budget

2011-09-27T08:29:00.000-04:00

The HART Board unanimously voted to adopt the fiscal year 2012 budget and a millage rate of .5000. This vote took place after Monday's final budget public hearing, held at the HART Administrative Office in Ybor City.

The total fiscal year 2012 HART budget includes a capital budget of $40.1 million, and an operating budget of $60.7, which is less than the originally proposed budget of $65.7 million and less than last year's budget of $62.7. The operating budget supports:

44 Regular, Express, and HARTFlex Routes
Service until midnight on eight routes, which operate as early as 4:30 a.m.
In-Town Trolley during rush time weekday mornings and late afternoons
Paratransit operations, or transportation for persons with disabilities
Streetcar operations
More than 200 buses and vans
3,700 bus stops and shelters throughout Hillsborough County
Customer Service, seven days a week
More than 1 million trips each month!

Budget documents are available at http://www.gohart.org/ , then click on "Public Meetings."

Each year during the budget development process, two budget hearings are held in September. This year, budget hearings were held Sept. 12 and Sept. 26.

In other matters, during its regular meeting, which took place after the budget hearing, the HART Board voted to authorize a contract for a Project Development & Environment Study and Option for 30 Percent Design Services for the MetroRapid East-West Project to HDR Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $1.9 million, paid for by Hillsborough County Community Investment Tax funds. The term of the contract is 16 months.

Public hearing on proposed FY 2012-2013 budget is today

2011-09-26T09:53:00.016-04:00

The final public hearing for the proposed HART FY 2012-2013 budget is today at the HART Administrative Office, 1201 E. 7th Ave in Ybor. As a part of the FY 2012-2013 budget, the HART Board is considering a restoration of the historic millage rate to .500, in order to maintain existing levels of transit service. The public hearing begins at 5:30 p.m.

Public comment is welcome at the meeting. See below for video from the first public hearing.

A regular HART Board meeting will immediately follow the public hearing.

Bulls, Bucs and Bellamy: Things to Do in Tampa this Weekend!

2011-09-22T14:56:00.024-04:00

Whether you want brutes or bubbly, gut-busting laughter or great American History, there are a lot of deals to be had this weekend at Tampa attractions!

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. the Florida Panthers - Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Bolts are back! It may be preseason, but don't tell the Bolts, as they look to get their first "W" of the young season. The game tonight doesn't just provide you with an opportunity to check out the new Bolts, but also their fresh new digs and home. Forty-million dollars of renovations went into the St. Pete Times Forum this offseason.

The TECO Line Streetcar drops off in back of the St. Pete Times Forum at the HSBC Station. Lightning fans, have no fear this season, the TECO Line Streetcar runs until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and will serve the end of Lightning games during the week.

More of a pigskin fan? The Bucs and Bulls are both at home this weekend, looking for your support. Reminder: West Tampa Transfer Center, located near Ray Jay is CLOSED during Bulls' and Bucs' games.

University of South Florida Bulls vs. UTEP

The Miners come to Tampa to take on the #18 ranked Bulls for the first time ever at Raymond James. The Bulls look to go 4-0 heading into Big East conference play against Pittsburgh next week. Kickoff for the game is Saturday at 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Bucs hope to end their losing streak to the Falcons, when they face off at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff for the game is at 4 p.m.

Bill Bellamy at the Tampa Improv

Looking for some laughs this weekend? Bill Bellamy is blowing it up this Friday and Saturday at the Tampa Improv in Centro Ybor. The TECO Line Streetcar serves the Improv via Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union station near Centro Ybor.

$5 Day at MOSI!

In celebration of National Museum Day, MOSI is offering admission to their exhibits (including their new Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause) and an IMAX movie for just $5!

Looking for something... errumm cheaper, than have no fear!

Free Museum Day in Tampa

A number of local museums are FREE on Saturday. The list includes:

Tampa Museum of Art

Tampa History Museum - TECO Line Streetcar

The Ybor City Museum State Park - TECO Line Streetcar, Route 8

Henry B. Plant Museum - HART local routes 14, 30

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

University of Tampa Scarfone/Hartley Gallery - HART local routes 14, 30

To get free access to these museums you must visit http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday and print off your free ticket. See website for details.

The 10th Annual Tampa Theatre Winefest

A weekend of wine sampling and it's all for a good cause! The Tampa Theatre is hosting its 10th Annual Tampa Theatre Winefest benefiting the Theatre's "artistic endeavors, educational programs and ongoing restoration". The Winefest begins tonight with a "Wine Pairing" event, pairing premium wines with dinner selections.

Check out the Tampa Theatre Winefest website for more details.

FREE Streetcar Ride with Muvico Centro Ybor 20 Ticket Stub

Interested in seeing Dolphin Tale, the true story of local (for now) animal celebrity, Winter the Dolphin? The TECO Line Streetcar has partnered up with Muvico Centro Ybor 20 on a ride free promotion. Give your ticket stub to the Streetcar Motormen and receive a free ride on the TECO Line Streetcar! It's a perfect excuse to go for follow your movie with a double feature of dessert and drinks in Channelside or Downtown.

Details for the Muvico promotion can be found on http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/.

Things to do in Tampa this weekend: 9/16 - 9/18

2011-09-16T16:26:00.006-04:00

$5 Admission to the Glazer Children’s Museum

If you haven’t taken your kids to the Glazer Children’s Museum yet, NOW is the time to go. In recognition of the Museum’s first birthday, the Museum’s admission price has been lowered to just $5 through September 30. Your kids will love all the hand's on exhibits. Play stations allow the kids to take on the roll of a tug boat captain or the job of an engineer. Kids become the stars of their own adventures! The Glazer Children's Museum is located at 110 W Gasparilla Plaza in downtown Tampa. Both In-Town Trolley lines serve the museum and cost only 25¢! The Purple line runs Monday-Friday until 6 p.m. and the Green line runs Friday-Saturday from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.

2011 Tampa Carribbean Festival

Tampa's Carribbean beat comes alive with this Carribbean themed event. Follow the beat with live Calypso, Soca, Reggae, along with African and Tassa drumming, steel band, Latin music and more! Reward yourself for working up a sweat from all that dancing with ethnic dishes from Jerk Hut Jamaican Grille and Rhum Bar. The event costs $15 for adults, 10 and under are free; $10 for military/students. The event is being held at the Florida State Fair. For more information, visit http://carnivaltampa.com/

1905 Day at Columbia Restaurants

Dine in Florida’s oldest restaurant, with prices to go with it. This Sunday, Tampa Bay area restaurants (minus the Columbia Café at the Tampa Riverwalk) will roll back prices to 1905, the year the original Columbia Restaurant opened. The menu will be limited for the event, but includes chicken and yellow rice or boliche for $2.95, the famous “1905 Salad” for $1.95, Sangria for 95¢ and flan for just 50¢. No reservations will be taken for the event and expect a long wait.

Your best bet (especially if you’re going to the original in Ybor) is to wait in line, grab a ticket and come back in a few hours. Enjoy all that Ybor has to offer: people watching at Tampa Bay Brewing Company, gaming out at Gametime or enjoying the Ybor Saturday Market.

Channelside is also a good bet to fill your few hours wait.

Board the TECO Line Streetcar and enjoy shopping at Channelside, bowling at Splitsville or watching an IMAX film at Channelside Cinemas. When you’re ready, simply get back on the streetcar in time for your VERY cheap feast. Enjoy!

Things to do in Tampa this weekend: 9/9 - 9/11

2011-09-09T14:55:00.010-04:00

Looking for things to do this weekend? You're in the right place. Disney, Boats and Arroz con Pollo are all in play this weekend in Tampa. Here are some great events to take advantage of the TECO Line Streetcar:

The 6th annual Festival del SABOR

Whether you're looking to celebrate your Hispanic Heritage, or just get down on some great food, the Festival del SABOR is a great family-friendly option. The festival kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins September 15. Love to cook? Love to eat? There will also be an amateur recipe and cookout to find Tampa Bay's best "Arroz con Pollo". Participants have the chance to win $700 in prizes. The adults won't be the only ones having fun as there will be a children's play area, and a stage featuring local musicians. The event runs from noon - 5 p.m. at Centennial Park, which happens to be the beginning of the streetcar line in Ybor City.

Tampa Boat Show

Tampa's largest and longest boat show is back! The Tampa Boat Show showcases the latest in boating technology with vendors from all over the U.S. here to match you up with boats and accessories. This event might need a little more convincing the whole family. No problem, just let them know that powerboat rides will be given free, while at the event. The Tampa Boat Show runs from Friday - Sunday and is located at the Tampa Bay Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St. in Tampa. If taking the streetcar, get off at Dick Greco Plaza, the Convention Center is right across the street. Click here for more information on the event.

Disney on Ice

No need to convince the little ones about this event. Disney on Ice Presents 100 Years of Magic is coming through the St. Pete Times Forum, this Friday through Sunday. Get a taste of Disney without the trip to Orlando, or the theme park prices. Disney on Ice Presents 100 Years of Magic features 65 of Disney's most unforgettable characters from 18 beloved Disney classics. Watch the books and movies come to life as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck and more dance around in a ice skating spectacular. Tickets start at just $15! The TECO Line Streetcar offers a special "Family Pass," which allows up to 2 adults and 3 children (or 1 adult and 4 children) to ride all day for only $12.50! The TECO Line Streetcar drops off right at the St. Pete Times Forum. Click here for more information on the show.

Sunday is the 10th anniversary of 9/11. There are a number of remembrance events going on around the Tampa Bay Area. HART is proud to provide fleet support for a 9/11, 10-year Anniversary Observance Ceremony beginning at the American Victory Ship Mariners Museum, 401 Channelside Drive in downtown Tampa. This observance will be followed by a procession to the Tampa Firefighters Museum, 720 Zack St. in downtown Tampa, featuring a memorial dedication led by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. This event is free, open to the public and begins at 8 a.m. For more information, visit www.americanvictory.org or www.tfmmemorialevent.com.

In addition to the event, TECO Line Streetcars will ring their bells to mark a moment of remembrance Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m.

West Tampa Transfer Center closed during Ray Jay events!

2011-09-09T10:06:00.014-04:00

The Bulls and Bucs are both in town this weekend, so it's a great time to remind everyone that the West Tampa Transfer Center (WTTC) is closed during ANY major event at Ray Jay. WTTC becomes inaccessible during events due to traffic limitations and road closures (Tampa Police Department's call).

All routes serving the West Tampa Transfer Center will be re-routed to St. Isabel Street and MacDill Avenue. The following routes are included in this detour.

Route 7 – West Tampa/Citrus Park
Route 32 – MLK Boulevard
Route 36 – Dale Mabry/Himes Ave.
Route 41 - Sligh Ave.
Route 45 – UATC/Rome/Westshore Plaza

A list of 2011-2012 scheduled Raymond James events can be found here.

Keep in mind that event information is subject to change.

Need to get around during the detour? Just call the HARTinfo Line at (813) 254-4278, and we'll help you find alternatives during this detour.

Save money with the Streetcar Savings Passport!

2011-09-06T14:56:00.018-04:00

We're testing a pilot program that could save you a lot of moolah, just for riding the TECO Line Streetcar.

Throughout the month of September, streetcar patrons can show their farecard to participating businesses along the line and receive special discounts. Whether you're hungry for tapas, history or a little bit of both, the Streetcar Savings Passport has you covered.

Present your TECO Line Streetcar farecard to your server at Tinatapa's in Channelside and receive 20% off your total bill. The Ybor City Museum is offering 50% off admission for TECO Line Streetcar farecard holders, along with 10% off in the Ybor City Museum store.

Tinatapa's is located at 615 Channelside Drive and is served by the TECO Line Streetcar via The Tampa Tribune Station (stop #8). The Ybor City Museum is located at 1818/1820 East 9th Avenue at the beginning of the streetcar line - Centennial Park Station (stop #1).

Offers are valid from Sept. 1 - Sept. 30 and you must present your TECO Line Streetcar farecard in order to receive the deals.

We hope to expand the Streetcar Savings Passport program in the future.

Visit www.TECOlinestreetcar.org for more information.

Rapid Staffing Selected as the HART Outstanding Minority Business!

2011-09-02T15:01:00.007-04:00

HART would like to extend a big congratulations to Rapid Staffing, Inc. for being selected as an outstanding minority business! As part of the designation, Rapid Staffing is receiving four weeks of bus advertising with HART and two weeks of television advertising on WTVT FOX 13. Rapid Staffing is also being featured on goHART.org and a business spotlight is currently running on City of Tampa Television (CTTV).

Rapid Staffing is a Hillsborough County based staffing company, putting people back to work for companies in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties. Rapid Staffing is a certified Minority Business Enterprise by the state of Florida.


Look for our commercial showcasing Rapid Staffing, on FOX 13

The company was selected because of its ability to survive the current economic climate, while giving back to the community. Their nomination also best showed how HART not only positively impacts the business, but also their family. Lani Harless, Owner of Rapid Staffing, regularly recommends HART to potential employees.

"We like to offer and recommend the bus system with HART," Harless said. "If they take HART and they go to work, they can get home from work [because] HART runs a lot of different routes (and) a lot of different hours -- early mornings and they go all the way up until some of the late hours of the evening."

Mrs. Harless's employees aren't the only ones using the service.

"My brother does use HART quite a bit," she said. "He uses it on a daily basis, Monday through Friday and he goes to and from work on a daily basis from Seffner to MacDill. That’s a long way and it would be hard to rely on friends and family for that commute."

Her brother, Steve Nunez, qualified for special transportation to work, but he said his service was cut because of state and local budget cuts. HART has and will continue to serve as reliable transportation for Steve, getting him to work so he can continue leading an independent and productive life.

Watch the four minute clip below for a greater look at Rapid Staffing. You can also catch it on CTTV's "Spotlight on Tampa," which runs throughout the month on Channel 15 for Verizon FiOS or 615 for Bright House customers.

Interested in Rapid Staffing? Visit www.rapidstaffing.com for more information.

HART Operations Facility to Close to Public During Construction

2011-08-30T14:39:00.025-04:00

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, the HART Operations Facility located at 4305 E. 21st Avenue in Tampa, will be closed to the general public (visitors, vendors and patrons) until further notice. A major renovation of the Operations facility is underway and is expected to be completed in mid-2012. Official HART business will now be conducted at the HART Administrative Office located at 1201 E. 7th Ave. in Ybor City.

Patrons seeking to claim their lost bike must now make an appointment with HART safety staff. To make an appointment, please call (813) 623-5835, during regular business hours only (Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Lost bikes will no longer be housed in the lost and found area of the 21st Ave. Operations Facility.

Interested in updates? We’ll keep you posted on the status of HART Operations facility renovation as it transforms into a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building. LEED is an internationally-recognized green building certification system.

Visit www.goHART.org for more information.

Get onboard with HART this school year!

2011-08-22T10:49:00.046-04:00

Welcome back, students! Another summer is in the books and another school year is here. If you're planning on using HART this school year, below is a quick reference guide on connecting to HART and special fares 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 32 Local Routes, 13 Express Routes, and 5 Flex services. HART also operates the 2.7 mile TECO Line Streetcar System, serving the restaurants, attractions and other entertainment venues of Ybor City, the Channel District and downtown Tampa.

For a "how-to" video on riding HART, click 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 $45 (normally $60) 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 in some cases, streetcar service.

University of South Florida (USF):

The following HART routes serve the USF area:

Route 1 - Florida Ave.
Route 2 - Nebraska Ave.
Route 5 - 40th St.
Route 6 - 56th St.
Route 9 - 15th St.
Route 12 - 22nd St.
Route 18 - 30th St.
Route 33 - Fletcher Ave.
Route 45 - U.A.T.C.
Route 57 - U.A.T.C.

Students ride FREE on HART local, limited express and Flex routes with valid student ID. Faculty and staff ride for just 25¢.

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 7
Davis Islands (Admin. Office) - Routes 19, 46
Brandon campus - Route 37
SouthShore campus - Route 31, HARTFlex South County
Ybor City campus - Routes 5, 8, 9, 12, 18, 46, the TECO Line Streetcar

Click here for a map of the HCC service area.

Students can purchase a 31-Day Local Adult Student Fare Card for $45 at the bookstores of HCC's Dale Mabry, Brandon and Ybor City campuses.

University of Tampa (UT):

HART serves UT via the following routes:

Route 4 - Palma Ceia/MacDill
Route 7 - West Tampa/Citrus Park
Route 10 - Cypress St.
Route 14 - Armenia Ave.
Route 19 - Port Tampa
Route 30 - Town 'N Country/Airport
Route 46 - Davis Islands/West Brandon

Click here for a map of the UT service area.

Everest University:

HART serves Everest University with routes 34, 36.

Click here for a map of the Everest University service area.

Barry University:

Routes 7, 16 connected to Barry University.

Click here for a map of the Barry University service area.

Sanford Brown University:

HART connects to Sanford Brown via routes 6, 15, 32, 34, 37, 39, 41, 57

Click here for a map of the Sanford Brown University service area.

Ultimate Medical Academy:

HART connects to the Ultimate Medical Academy via routes 1, 9, 14, 39.

Click here for a map of the Ultimate Medical Academy service area.

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. Bookmark the Trip Planner for easier access later. Can't get to our website, and need immediate assistance? 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 school year!

Getting there, with HART!

2011-08-19T11:50:00.030-04:00

In town for the day? Staying for a weekend? Live here? Tampa has a number of things to do for visitors and residents alike.

Traveling with kids? Discounted passes for 17 and under on HART and the TECO Line Streetcar mean the fun doesn't have to end just because school's starting back up.

Use HART to get to the following Tampa attractions and avoid the costs and hassles of parking:

Adventure Island - Route 5
Busch Gardens - Routes 5, 18, 39
Centro Ybor - Route 8, TECO Line Streetcar
Channelside Bay Plaza - TECO Line Streetcar, In-Town Trolley Green Line
Florida Aquarium - Route 8 and the TECO Line Streetcar
Glazer's Children Museum - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolley Green and Purple Line
Henry B. Plant Museum - Route 30
International Plaza - 15, 30, 59LX
Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) - Route 6
Port of Tampa Cruise Terminal - TECO Line Streetcar, In-Town Trolley Green Line
Raymond James Stadium - Routes 7, 32 36, 4
St. Pete Times Forum - Route 8, In-Town Trolley Green and Purple Line, TECO Line Streetcar
David A. Straz Jr. Center - In-Town Trolley Green Line, TECO Line Streetcar
Tampa Convention Center - Route 4, In-Town Trolley Green Line and Purple Line, TECO Line Streetcar
Tampa Bay History Center - Route 8, TECO Line Streetcar, In-Town Trolley Green Line
Tampa Museum of Art - Routes 7, 10, In-Town Trolley Green Line
University of South Florida - Routes 5, 6, 18, 57
Westshore Plaza - Routes 5, 30, 45, 89
Yacht Starship Cruises - TECO Line Streetcar, In-Town Trolley Green Line
Ybor Museum State Park - Route 8, TECO Line Streetcar

All day HART passes begin as low as $1.85 for children and $3.75 for adults. For more information on HART fares, click here.

Getting around downtown?

Getting around downtown is easier than ever with the In-Town Trolley. The In-Town Trolley is a rubber-wheeled "trolley-bus" made to replicate old-time streetcars/trams. The In-Town Trolley costs only 25¢, and covers most of the downtown Tampa attractions. The Purple Line runs during weekdays and the Green Line runs on weekends. Both lines operate on 15 minute frequencies.

Click here for Purple and Green In-Town Trolley operating hours.

The TECO Line Streetcar offers a unique opportunity to take a ride through Tampa's past, while also serving the majority of the attractions listed above.

Things to know about the TECO Line Streetcar

The 2.7 mile streetcar line runs every 20 minutes (exceptions apply) on rails that connect Ybor City, Channelside and Downtown Tampa. It operates 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday service begins at noon and runs until 8 p.m.

A "family pass" was recently introduced and costs only $12. The pass includes all day rides for up to 2 adults and 3 children, or 1 adult and 4 children! Please note that Streetcar Motormen do not provide change.

Click here, for HART maps and schedules.

For TECO Line Streetcar fares, maps and schedules, visit www.TECOlinestreetcar.org.

Enjoy your day(s) in Tampa with HART!

It's Mapnificent!

2011-08-18T14:40:00.018-04:00

Want to see how far you can go from your location in a certain amount of time on HART? There's now an app for that!

HART released our General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), or scheduling data, about a month ago and we now have the first "app" created using the data.

Mapnificent.

Mapnificent is a free web-based application that utilizes HART scheduling data (times, stops, frequencies, etc.) to formulate and display the results over Google Maps. You can drag the pin around for different locations, use the slider for different maximum times, and go to settings to choose times and days of week. You can also drag the pin around to find the half way meeting point between friends living across town.

Mapnificent was created by a 23-year-old graduate student named Stefan Wehrmeyer, a graduate student in Germany. "I hope people use it to find the best place to live, work and meet, said Wehrmeyer on his blog. "That they discover new things about their public transport system."

If you would like a more in depth look of the functionality of Mapnificent, please watch the video below. Wehrmeyer gives a great tutorial on using Mapnificent to accomplish a number of tasks.

Mapnificent from Stefan Wehrmeyer on Vimeo.

Mapnificent is now live in Tampa and can be found by going to www.mapnificent.net/tampa

Reminder: HART does not endorse any 3rd party applications, including Mapnificent . However, we do support providing our patrons with options, and having our data open for public consumption and ingenuity.

If you are interested in developing a 3rd party application, please visit the HART Developer's page located here.

HART: Working 24/7 to Serve You!

2011-08-16T14:10:00.010-04:00

Ever wonder how HART maintains over 200+ fleet vehicles? Buses begin rolling out for service shortly before 4 a.m. and when the lights go down on the city, and the last bus rolls in around 1:30 a.m.,the overnight maintenance crew comes out.

Fifty employees clock in to help get the over 200 vehicles ready for service the next day. Cleaning begins around 7 p.m., while mechanics work on the fleet at all times of the day. The maintenance facility is alive almost 24/7, with only three hours of down time in between Saturday night and Sunday morning. We're out of breathe just thinking about it...

Click on the video below for a greater look at our overnight maintenance crew.

Don't Get Caught in the Storm! Plan Ahead

2011-08-11T13:05:00.007-04:00

With two tropical waves rolling off the coast of Africa, and the recent severe weather with local flooding, the weather season is starting to pick up. It's a great reminder of the importance of having a severe weather plan BEFORE a storm hits. Unlike earthquakes or tornadoes, which can happen in an instant, hurricanes tend to give a lot of warning.

Know your plan

Normal HART service will cease once the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center instructs HART to begin operation of emergency evacuation service, after shelters have opened. Our emergency routes are designed simply to move people from low-lying areas to higher ground. Because of this, if a major storm threatens our area, you should plan for the possibility of service interruptions.

To minimize inconvenience to our customers, we will announce the need to interrupt service as early in the day as possible, and will work to restore service just as soon as it is safe to do so. The main thing for you is to be prepared and have a plan. Don't wait until the last minute to make arrangements or you may find yourself stranded.

Last September, we told you on our blog what to include in your hurricane plan and a quick run down of the emergency evacuation service. If you're interested, you can find that here.

HART emergency evacuation service is not limited to hurricane evacuation. The EOC can call on HART as an official evacuation partner of Hillsborough County to implement evacuation service in any emergency evacuation situation in which it is safe to carry out service.

For more detailed information on the service and service plans in case of emergency, please click here.