HART Operator to Compete on International Stage at Bus ROADeo This Weekend

HART is gearing up to cheer on Operator Guarionex Falero Ramos as he represents Florida at the International Bus ROADeo in Austin, TX, this weekend (April 4-8)!

After securing 1st place overall in the Fixed Route Bus category at the prestigious Florida Triple Crown ROADeo, Guarionex is ready to take on the best bus operators from across the U.S. and Canada. His exceptional performance also earned him 1st place in the Fixed Route Bus Pre-Inspection competition, showcasing his technical expertise and commitment to excellence.

The Florida Triple Crown ROADeo, held in February, put participants to the test with a rigorous driving course, a written exam, and a comprehensive bus pre-inspection. Guarionex’s impressive skills secured his spot on the international stage, and now, it's time for him to compete for top honors in Austin!

“We are incredibly proud of Guarionex for his commitment to driving excellence,” said Scott Drainville, HART CEO. “Guarionex’s achievements at the Florida Triple Crown ROADeo are a testament to his expertise, safety, and service. We’re all rooting for him this weekend at the International Bus ROADeo in Austin!”

HART is dedicated to enhancing public transportation by continuously investing in operator training and professional development. Accomplishments like these showcase the expertise and commitment of our outstanding workforce.

Join us in wishing Guarionex Falero Ramos the best of luck as he represents Florida and HART on the international stage!

HART Operator Wins Third Place from Industry Association!

HART bus operator Jimmy Suarez

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

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

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

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

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

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

Way to represent HART, Jimmy!

HART Operator Receives High Marks from Industry Awards!

Operator Matute won 3rd Place Operator of the Year at FPTA!

Oscar Matute has been awarded 3rd Place Operator of the Year 2017 by the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA)!

A recent recipient of the Million Mile award, Operator Matute has been a HART Operator since September 30, 2002. In that time, he has driven over 1 million miles without an accident, and has received no absence occurrences, miss outs or infractions in more than two years!

We are extremely proud of Operator Matute and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.

FPTA is an association that represents all 37 Florida transit agencies, all of varying sizes and modes. The award is based upon quality of service, attendance, and overall work record. HART operators are truly among the best of the best!

Great job, Oscar!

Assisting Older Americans on National "Dump the Pump" Day!

Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART), Hillsborough County, Aging Services Division, Town 'N Country Senior Center, Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA), Florida's Safe Mobility for Life Coalition (SMFLC), and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) have joined together to create a "Dump the Pump" Day event at the Town 'N Country Senior Center in Tampa. 

The 8th Annual National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 20 is a day to highlight that using public transportation is a great alternative to driving that not only saves money, but is also a reliable and safe transportation option for older adults who no longer drive. Hillsborough County has been identified by the SMFLC as one of the Top 10 Priority Counties based on Five Year Average Crash Frequencies for Aging Road Users 65 Years and Older.

 

"By using public transportation, older adults can gain access to the services that they need in an efficient and safe manner to help them remain independent and active in their community" said Lisa Bacot, Executive Director of FPTA. "This will also help them prepare to transition from driving when it's no longer a safe option."

 

In order to increase the use of public transportation, this event will both encourage and introduce the use of the HART transit system to safely move older adults throughout Hillsborough County. The participants at the senior center will have the opportunity to learn about the available transit services provided to older adults, the benefits of using public transportation, and how these resources can help ease the transition from the driving process. Then, the participants will travel together to the closest bus stop to ride the HART system to a local destination.

 

The event will begin at 10:00 am (with the bus ride occurring at 11:10 am) at the Town 'N Country Senior Center, located at: Hillsborough County, Aging Services Division, Town 'N Country Senior Center 7606 Paula Drive Tampa, FL 33615

HART High-Five to Jerry Goodman!

Congratulations to Jerry Goodman who received runner up for Driver of the Year by the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA). Mr. Goodman was presented the award last week at a special ceremony during FPTA's annual conference, which took place this year in Daytona Beach.

Mr. Goodman has been with HART for 28 years, starting off as a service attendant and then getting behind the wheel a year later.

"My supervisor had come to me at the time about the opportunity to drive the bus," Goodman said. "I thought, well, if I don't like it, I can always go back to being a service attendant." He never went back.

Mr. Goodman is one of a handful of HART employees to reach 2 million miles of safe driving. He marked this milestone earlier this year. On average, it takes about 14 years for a bus operator to reach 1 million miles of driving without a preventable accident.

Working at HART almost since its inception, Mr. Goodman has witnessed its many changes. In fact, he was one of the operators to initiate the streetcar system when it opened in 2002 and drove as a streetcar operator for about five years.

"It seems like HART has become more service-oriented over the years," Mr. Goodman said in summarizing the agency's direction over his time here. "The best part of my job is helping a customer get from Point A to Point B."

On weekdays, customers will find Mr. Goodman operating Routes 5 and 53LX. A native of Tampa and graduate of Plant High School, Mr. Goodman now lives in Brandon with his wife of 35 years.

HART Board Recap: Employee Recognition, Yukon Construction

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.

HART is "4 Transit"! R U...?

With rising gas prices, growing smog concerns and heavier congestion on Bay area roadways, the need for public transportation has only become more apparent. Luckily, Im4Transit.org was launched by the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) to create awareness for Florida public transportation and allow transit supporters' voices to be heard. The "Im 4 Transit" campaign is aimed at recruiting 100,000 pro-transit Floridians.

HART supports this campaign (obviously) and is asking for your support of the campaign by signing up and telling everyone you know about Im4Transit.org. Signing up is easy and when you sign up by June, you are automatically entered to win one of six possible 42" HDTVs.

The most recent winner of the HDTV is actually a HART patron! Maria Melaragno won a 42" HDTV just by saying "Im 4 Transit".
 “Taking the bus to work makes my whole day better. When I drive alone, it’s just me and irritating traffic. When I take the bus, I get to say hello to my neighbors at the bus stop. While riding, I simply relax, read, or chat with my friends on the bus. It’s just a much more pleasant start of the business day.” Maria went on to say that, “Riding the bus saves money, it’s green, and it makes me feel good not to buy so much gasoline”.

Maria showed her support by signing up. Now we're asking you to get on the bus and join Im4Transit.org!

Want to win a IPad 2? The person with the most referrals to Im4Transit.org by 6/30/11, wins one. Receive a $25 Publix gift cards just by getting 50 of your friends, families, co-workers, acquaintances, neighbors, bus-mates, etc. to join. Point being, join and invite everyone you know (or don't know) and be entered to win prizes!''

When joining Im4Transit.org, show your support for HART by selecting "HART" from the drop down menu as the transit agency that you support most!