HART Board Elects Councilman Schisler Chair

Councilman Gil Schisler

At its January 5 meeting, the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) Board elected Councilman Gil Schisler as Chair, Director Gary Hartfield as Vice Chair, and Commissioner Gwen Myers as Secretary of the HART Board of Directors for 2026.

“I’m grateful to my fellow Board members for the trust they’ve placed in me to serve as Chair,” said HART Chair Gil Schisler. “Public transportation plays a critical role in strengthening our community, and I look forward to working together to push HART forward, advocate for increased investment, and ensure we’re delivering the reliable service our residents deserve.”

HART Board Service History:

• Councilman Schisler has been a HART Board member since December 2018
• Director Gary Hartfield was appointed to the Board in October 2023.
• Commissioner Gwen Myers was appointed in November 2020.

 

The HART Board is responsible for setting policy and making decisions for the Authority on matters ranging from system operations and service planning to fare structure, finance, and customer service. It is comprised of 14 volunteers who are appointed to represent Hillsborough County (seven seats), the City of Tampa (four seats), the State of Florida (two seats), and the City of Temple Terrace (one seat).

Officers of the HART Board (chair, vice-chair, and secretary) are elected annually.

Hop on HART this School Year with the Youth Pass!

Welcome back, HCPS students!

HART riders ages 6–18 are required to pay the Youth Fare when riding.

The Youth Fare is 50% off the regular fare, offering an affordable way for students to get to school, work, and activities:

• $2 Day Pass
• $32.50 Monthly Pass

Children age 5 and under continue to ride free when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

How to Register for the HART Youth Pass

Eligible riders must register in person at one of our Customer Service locations:

1. Marion Transit Center - 1211 N. Marion Street
   Mon–Fri: 6 AM – 6 PM | Sat: 8 AM – 5 PM
2. University Area Transit Center - 13110 N. 27th Street
   Mon–Fri: 6 AM – 5 PM | Sat: 8 AM – 5 PM

The Youth Fare is only available through Flamingo Fares, HART’s convenient mobile app and smart card system.

Start the school year right — ride smarter, save more!

Visit goHART.org for more info.

HART is Transitioning to Flamingo Fares! Paper Fare Cards are Gone January 5

HART is announcing the official full transition to Flamingo Fares, a faster, more convenient, and more secure way for riders to pay fares across the HART network. Starting January 5, 2025, HART will no longer accept Paper Fare Cards, making way for modern, contactless fare options that simplify the transit experience. New Fare Payment Options Starting January 5, 2025: Flamingo Fares: Tap-and-go payments with a Flamingo smart card or mobile app Contactless debit/credit/pre-paid cards E-wallet options: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay Cash: Exact change will still be accepted for a one-way fare onboard Benefits of Flamingo Fares Convenience: No more paper cards to carry! Simply tap your Flamingo card, mobile phone, or contactless payment card to board. Savings: With daily and monthly fare capping, riders are guaranteed the best value. Easy Refill: Load money onto your Flamingo card or app anytime, either online or at HART Transit Centers. Getting Started with Flamingo Fares: Download the Flamingo Fares App from the App Store or Google Play. Purchase a Flamingo Smart Card at any HART Transit Center or online at FlamingoFares.com. Transfer Any Remaining Balance from your Paper Fare Card to Flamingo Fares before January 5, 2025. “Flamingo Fares brings greater ease, affordability, and flexibility to our riders,” said Sean McCarthy, Chief Operations Officer, HART. “With Flamingo, we’re reducing the need for paper and the cost associated with collecting a paper fare, improving payment security, and enhancing the overall rider experience.” Why wait until January? Join the Flock! Make the switch today and experience a seamless ride with Flamingo Fares. For more information on HART, visit www.goHART.org or contact HART Customer Service at (813) 254-4278.

HART Youth Pass Returns April 1, 2024

Starting April 1, HART riders ages 18 and under are required to pay the Youth Fare to ride. The Youth Fare is 50% off the regular fare ($2 for a day pass and $32.50 for an entire month) on all HART services. 

Youth ages five and under remain free on HART with a parent.

Eligible riders must register for the HART Youth Pass by visiting the Customer Service windows at: 

Marion Transit Center

1211 N. Marion Street | M-F 6AM - 6PM | Sat 8AM - 5PM

University Area Transit Center

13110 N. 27th Street | M-F 6AM - 5PM | Sat 8AM - 5PM

The Youth Fare is exclusively available on Flamingo Fares, HART’s mobile app and smart card payment system.

Councilman Luis Viera Re-elected HART Chair by Board of Directors

Councilman Luis Viera

At its January 8 meeting, the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) Board re-elected Councilman Luis Viera as Chair, Commissioner Michael Owen as Vice-Chair and Director Melanie Williams as Secretary of the HART Board of Directors for 2024.

Councilman Viera remains the HART Chair at a pivotal time for the organization. Chair Viera will serve a 1-year term.

Councilman Viera has been a Board member since February 2020 and has served on the Tampa City Council since 2016.

Councilman Viera is very active in the community. He is the former Chairman of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Diversity Committee and a former Chairman of the City of Tampa Civil Service Board. He is a founder and former President of Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation and previously served on the Board of Tampa Bay Best Buddies, an organization that assists and advocates for persons with special needs and developmental disabilities. He was also the Incoming President of the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association and is a member of the George Edgecomb Bar Association. 

 

The HART Board is responsible for setting policy and making decisions for the Authority on matters ranging from system operations, service planning, fare structure, finance, and customer service. It is made up of 14 volunteers who are appointed to represent Hillsborough County (seven seats), City of Tampa (four seats), State of Florida (two seats) and City of Temple Terrace (one seat). Officers of the HART Board (chair, vice-chair and secretary) are elected annually.

For more information about HART service, visit www.goHART.org.

HART to Implement Service Changes on Sunday, December 10, 2023

HART is implementing service changes to several HART routes on Sunday, December 10, 2023, to improve efficiency and the customer experience.

Service with Routing Changes / Servicio con cambios de ruta: Routes 8 and 9

• Map (English / Spanish)

Minor Schedule Changes / Nuevos horarios: Routes 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 30, 31, 34, 36, 48, and HARTFlex Port Tampa

• Minor time point changes

Service with Reduced Frequency / La frecuencia se está reduciendo: Routes 19, 33

• Route 19 - Frequency reduced to hourly
• Route 33 - Frequency reduced to hourly to improve connections at UATC.

Increased Late Night Service (extra evening trip): Route 33

HART customers can visit goHART.org to view the service changes or contact Customer Service at (813) 254-4278 for more information.

FLAMINGO FLASH SALE - 50% Off HART 31-Day Passes!

Black Friday turns into #FlamingoFriday this week with a special offer on HART 31-Day passes via the Flamingo Fares app!

Flamingo Fares users can use promo code BLKFR31DR on the mobile app for 50% off a HART 31-Day Pass!

Discount passholders can use BLKFR31DD for 50% off a HART 31-Day Discount Pass.

The Flamingo Flash Sale is exclusively available on Flamingo Fares. The promotion is valid from November 24, 2023 - November 27, 2023.

HART Board Appoints Scott Drainville as Permanent CEO

HART CEO Scott Drainville

The HART Board of Directors appointed Scott Drainville as the Authority's new Chief Executive Officer at the November 6, 2023, Board Meeting.

Mr. Drainville has been serving as the HART Interim CEO since April 2023.

  

The decision to promote Mr. Drainville was announced after a vote by the HART Board of Directors to approve his contract as permanent CEO.

            

HART hired Mr. Drainville in 2018 as Deputy Chief of Maintenance, overseeing the Authority's core business in maintenance, facilities, inventory control and the communications/electronics divisions and responsible for directing the overall funding, environmental, design, permitting, construction, and project close-out of capital construction projects. He would go on to serve as Chief of Maintenance and Transportation.

 

“Scott Drainville is a partner with our Board in bringing more transparency to HART, said HART Chair Councilman Luis Viera. "I and our Board of Republicans and Democrats enthusiastically gave Mr. Drainville a unanimous approval for a reason - because he is the right person with the right values and for the right time for HART.”

 

"I appreciate the confidence the Board of Directors has placed in my ability to lead HART," said HART CEO Scott Drainville. "My focus is on bringing stability to the organization and continuing to maximize our resources to deliver the best possible transportation service for Hillsborough County."

      

Mr. Drainville is a native of East Providence, Rhode Island who brings more than thirty years of public transportation and fleet maintenance experience to the organization. He started his career as a diesel technician in the late '80s.

Before coming to HART, Mr. Drainville served as the Director of Transportation and Maintenance for CitiBus located in Lubbock, Texas. He has also held transit leadership positions at the D.C. Circulator in Washington D.C. and served as a Mechanical Foreman with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority for more than eighteen years.

HART Needs Input on Proposed Program of Projects for FY2023

HART receives federal funding annually through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) which is used for operating expenses and capital projects. HART staff has developed a proposed FY 2023 Program of Projects (POP) to utilize this funding. 

A Public Hearing is scheduled for June 1, 2023, from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM; 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM at the Marion Transit Center (1211 N Marion St, Tampa, FL 33602) to give individuals and/or groups the opportunity to present their views and comments regarding HART’s proposed application for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Urbanized Area formula funds.

The public may also provide comment via:

• HART Website - Comments/Suggestions
• Mobile - OneBusAway Tampa app
• Mail - HART, attention to Community Engagement, 1201 E. 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605
• Phone - HART Customer Service (813) 254-4278

HART welcomes all comments on or before June 1, 2023. 

If no material changes are made, this will be the final HART Program of Projects for FY 2023.

HART to Host Second Rider Advisory Committee Open House!

HART is creating a Rider Advisory Committee! Rider input is essential to HART’s success. It helps us make informed decisions to continue providing excellent public transportation that keeps Hillsborough County moving!

Interested applicants can attend an Open House on Wednesday, December 14, 2022; 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM, at the HART Administrative Office - 1201 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, FL.

Open House attendees will learn more about the Rider Advisory Committee and be able to apply to serve on the Committee in person.

"Customer input is invaluable to our organization to ensure that we continue to meet the County's transportation needs," said Adelee Marie Le Grand, HART CEO. "The Rider Advisory Committee will give us a constant pulse on rider sentiment".

For those unable to attend the Open House, the application is available online.

Committee applications can be sent to MorenoY@goHART.org or mail it to HART Community Engagement, 1201 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, FL, 33605. All applications must be received by Wednesday, December 14, 2022.

HART Seeks Input on Proposed March 2023 Service Changes!

HART is proposing service changes throughout the network in March 2023 and is gathering feedback on the plan. HART is proposing the changes to align demand and improve efficiency while operating within our current funding framework.

HART is holding feedback sessions in person at the Marion Transit Center and onboard impacted routes. 

Unable to attend the in-person sessions? The HART Planning team takes you through a virtual walkthrough of the plan.

Click here to view the proposal and outreach opportunities, take a short survey, and submit feedback.

HART Tropical Storm Nicole Service Update

UPDATE - 11/11/22: Service has resumed to a normal Weekday schedule.

11/09/22; 6:09 p.m. - HART will suspend all bus, van, and streetcar service tomorrow, November 10, 2022. For those voluntarily evacuating tonight, Hillsborough County has opened up a shelter at Erwin Technical College. The shelter is served by routes 9, 12, and 34.

The plan is to resume a normal Weekday schedule on Friday, November 11, 2022.

Stay tuned to HART's social channels for the latest!

HART Hurricane Ian Service Update

CURRENT SERVICE STATUS

HART has resumed regular fixed-routes and Paratransit services effective today, September 30. However, please expect some delays. 

The TECO Line Streetcar will resume service at 3 p.m. today.

For more information, contact HART Customer Service at (813) 254-4278.

HART Launches Rider Advisory Committee - Public Invited to Open House!

HART is creating a Rider Advisory Committee! Rider input is essential to HART’s success. It helps us make informed decisions to continue providing excellent public transportation that keeps Hillsborough County moving!

Interested applicants can attend an Open House on Thursday, August 11, 2022; 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM, at the HART Administrative Office - 1201 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, FL.

Open House attendees will learn more about the Rider Advisory Committee and be able to apply to serve on the Committee in person.

"Customer input is invaluable to our organization to ensure that we continue to meet the County's transportation needs," said Adelee Marie Le Grand, HART CEO. "The Rider Advisory Committee will give us a constant pulse on rider sentiment".

For those unable to attend the Open House, the application is available online.

Committee applications can be sent to MorenoY@goHART.org or mail it to HART Community Engagement, 1201 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, FL, 33605. All applications must be received by Friday, September 2, 2022.

HART Requests Public Input on Bus Rapid Transit Study!

HART needs public input on the HART Tampa Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study, evaluating rapid bus service along Florida, Nebraska and/or Fowler avenues, between USF and downtown Tampa. HART has released a short survey to understand how respondents travel in the study area and the types of improvements they would like to see.

The study's objectives are: 

1. to improve safety on these routes
2. to improve connectivity for east-west routes within this corridor
3. to improve local transit access on these roads, including bike/pedestrian access

The public survey is available online in both English and Spanish.

For more information on the HART Tampa Arterial BRT Study, click here.

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

Michael O' Connell's "Soundwaves"

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

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

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

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

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

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

The winning artist will receive:

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

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

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

ART on HART program sponsors:

HART Schedule Colors Are Changing!

HART blue schedule leaflets are back!

You may have noticed a mix of green and blue route schedules in the racks at HART Customer Service Centers, or on board the bus. Good eye!

HART schedule leaflets transitioned to green in 2017 to promote awareness of Mission MAX, our system network redesign. The vivid green was designed for easy comprehension of a route change.

With a little over a year since the implementation of Mission MAX, the "HART blue" schedules are now available. Implementation will be conducted in phases.

Green schedules: Routes with no recent service changes, will be on display at all HART locations and on buses, while supplies last.

Blue schedules: Routes with recent service changes are now blue.

Be in the know, while on the go!

Contact CustomerService@goHART.org, or call 813-254-4278 with any questions.

Interested in Regional Transit? Take the New Survey!

The team creating the Regional Transit Feasibility Plan is rolling out an online survey this week to obtain additional public input on the draft plan while hearing more about how residents would use transit.

The survey includes questions about respondents’ transit preferences. It also asks for feedback on the team’s technical recommendations, released earlier this year, regarding a proposed “catalyst project” and the regional vision.

The draft catalyst project is a 41-mile rubber tire transit concept that would run from Wesley Chapel in Pasco County, to downtown St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, while connecting the University of South Florida area, downtown Tampa, Westshore, and the Greater Gateway/Carillon area along Interstate 275. Urban passenger rail is also a high performing recommendation, using an existing CSX rail line that runs between downtown Tampa and USF. Feedback is being sought on both projects in the online survey.

Identifying the “catalyst project” is not an all-or-nothing proposition - it’s the first of many steps in building the regional transit vision for Tampa Bay. The online survey is available now through the end of summer. The draft plan will be modified after incorporating feedback from the public with the final expected in the fall, allowing the region to move towards engineering, design, and implementation.

For more information on the Regional Transit Feasibility Plan, visit www.TBRegionalTransit.com.