Take HART to AirFest 2016!

HART takes you AirFest!

If you love intense aerial maneuvers, along with getting in the cockpit of dozens of new and classic aircraft (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 attending the event, HART and MacDill AFB have partnered to provide transportation for Airfest 2016 in order to minimize event traffic congestion on March 19 and 20. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. Aerial Performances begin at 10:00 a.m.

Here are your HART options for getting to the Fest:

• Route 4 will operate serving Marion Transit Center and the Whiting Street Parking Garage in Downtown
• Route 4 will begin service at 8:00 a.m., southbound service will cease after 3:00 p.m. Northbound service from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Route 36 (6 a.m. - 7 p.m.) will terminate at Britton Plaza. Patrons can board the Route 4 from Britton Plaza to continue to MacDill AFB.
• Additionally, Route 19 will serve Britton Plaza, operating regular route. However, expect major delays.

Please note: MacDill AFB is a high security facility and certain items are prohibited.

What NOT To Bring:

• Firearms (CCW Permits not recognized/honored) NOTE: Off-duty/Retired LEOs must leave firearm in vehicle.
• Replica or toy weapons
• Stun guns, tasers, any electrical discharge devices
• Knives, box cutters, cutting devices (any blade size) NOTE: This includes multi-tools, Swiss army knives, etc.
• Laser pointers
• Sharp objects, sticks or poles of any kind
• Batons and Asps
• Pepper spray, mace or any chemical dispensing device'
• Any type of weapons to include "self-defense" weapons
• Fireworks
• UAVs, drones, or any type of remote controlled vehicles
• Drugs, controlled substances, drug paraphernalia
• Any size coolers. EXCEPTION: small handheld coolers with baby food (formula and food in PLASTIC containers) or medications will be allowed after inspection
• Alcoholic beverages (not purchased at event)
• Food or beverage items (not purchased at event) EXCEPTION: plastic bottled water
• Any glass bottles or glass containers of any kind
• Portable BBQ or cooking devices
• Skates, roller blades, skateboards, scooters, OR HOVERBOARDS
• Bicycles not allowed past the security screening area
• Banners or signs on a pole of any kind
• Clothing with objectionable language or images (profanity, racist, anti-military, anti-government, obscene)
• Costumes or any garment resembling military personnel or law enforcement officers
• Pets (with exception to service dogs)
• Any other items base personnel consider a security or safety risk 

Please leave prohibited items at home as you will be denied boarding and entry to the event. We appreciate your cooperation!

Feel the need... the need for speed, at AirFest 2016. HART Takes You There.

Regional Fare Collection Project Moves Ahead

A new region-wide electronic fare management system will soon streamline the transit ticket-buying process for the whole Tampa Bay region. Riders will buy a card in one county and use it to catch a bus in any of the other seven counties. The solution will not only make it easier for patrons to manage their fares, but it will also speed up boarding times and cut back on time spent counting coins and bills coming out of bus fare boxes. With this long-overdue upgrade fare collection will be simpler, easier for patrons, and will also work seamlessly to provide one common fare media for all public transit passengers throughout the region. Transit agencies in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Citrus, Hernando, Manatee, Pasco, Polk, and Sarasota counties - which make up the Regional Working Group, have been partnering for nearly four years, to create this unified fare collection system to improve regional connectivity. The region-wide fare collection system solution, which allows passengers to purchase fares for travel throughout the entire region on any bus, is one step closer to deployment. For months a partnership coalition of various agencies has cooperated and collaborated to implement forward-looking smart technologies that benefit transit customers and the greater Tampa Bay region. "The Regional Working Group is excited to bring this innovative system to our riders," said Jeff Seward, HART CFO. "It will move our region into the future of transit fare collection and allow our riders an unparalleled, flexible rider experience. The project will provide great value to our region, improve on time performance, and reduce costs." On March 3, the multi-agency Regional Working Group will meet with the technology vendor, INIT Innovations in Transportation, to officially kickoff the final phase of the innovative project. On that day teams and leaders, along with the vendor, will confirm the steps and details and share status reports to set things in motion for the groundbreaking project. The outcome of this effort will provide riders with technology that lets them purchase fares using a convenient mobile device app or reloadable, account based fare card. "INIT is excited to partner with the RWG to deliver a modern fare system that will  provide passengers with better fare options and offer them greater mobility throughout the Tampa bay region", Roland Staib, CEO, INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc., Chesapeake, VA.Within 6 to 8 months of the project kicking off riders will be able to use the mobile app across the Tampa Bay area by showing their purchased fare via the phone to the driver. By the end of the project fares will be validated using the new on-board validators that are to be installed. The new $12 million system will provide seamless and common fare media for passengers throughout the Tampa Bay region and will replace the outdated and less efficient fare collection systems in the area - including the system used by HART for more than 25 years. "With our strong base of out-of-town customers brought in by our nationally acclaimed tourism, the ability to pay fares instantly and mobility via smart phones will be a real game-changer," said Brad Miller, CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. "Soon your vacation will begin the moment you land at the airport by simply downloading the app, hopping aboard, and the next thing you see will be the white sands of Clearwater Beach."

Route of the Week: Route 46

With a diverse service area roughly the size of Rhode Island, Hillsborough County provides a great mix of urban, suburban and rural destinations for our riders. Think about the destinations that you can see and experience with the HART transportation network!

We are switching things up with our first east-west Route of The Week, the Route 46!

The Route 46 provides Weekday and Saturday service from Downtown Tampa to Brandon (Dover). Route 46 operates eastbound from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday and westbound between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday.

City Hall is accessible downtown via Route 46

In March 2014, midday hourly service was restored to The Route 46, while the route was rerouted to Marion Transit Center for greater ease of transfer. The east-end of Route 46 was also extended to Dover Road, to include more of the Brandon area.

Originating in Downtown, the Route 46 serves Tampa City Hall and The Hillsborough County District Courthouse.

Heading east through Ybor City via 4th Street, the Route 46 drops off within a couple blocks of Centro Ybor, The Columbia Restaurant and all that the historic district has to offer!

Spicola Family Pool is located at Desoto Park

Swimmers, skateboarders and joggers may want to jump on The Route 46 to Desoto Park, which features a pool, skate park and jogging track! Route 46 pickup and drop off for Desoto Park is located at S. 26th and E. Stuart streets.

Shop and transfer to the Route 8 at Westfield Brandon Mall

While in Brandon, the Route 46 serves a number of restaurants and other businesses along Causeway Boulevard en-route to Westfield Brandon Mall. Shop from over 250 stores and transfer to the Route 8 at Westfield Brandon Mall.

The Route 46 finally terminates on Dover Road at the Dover Park-n-Ride, which also houses the Route 22X.

From City Hall to Westfield Brandon Mall, HART Takes You There.

Route of the Week: Route 12

Point A to be Point B. HART does that very well.

With a diverse service area roughly the size of Rhode Island, Hillsborough County provides a great mix of urban, suburban and rural destinations for our riders. Think about the destinations that you can see and experience with the HART transportation network!

This week we focus on the Route 12.

The Route 12 provides Weekday, Saturday and Sunday service from Downtown Tampa to the area surrounding The University of South Florida. Service operates northbound from 4:00 a.m. - 12:15 and southbound 5:00 a.m. - midnight, during the week and 6:35 a.m. - 9:35 p.m. on the weekends. The Route 12 is averaging roughly 71,000 monthly rider trips in FY2016.

Operating just west of The University of South Florida, the Route 12 provides a nice mix of things to do (University Mall, Centro Ybor, etc.) and places to see and experience (Copeland Park and Rowlett Park Trails, Sanwa Farmer's Market, Perry Harvey Park).

HART drops off for Erwin Tech. Center at 22nd St./Hillsborough Ave.

Erwin Technical Center, a Hillsborough County public vocational school, is accessible to students and faculty via a Route 12 stop at 22nd Street and Hillsborough Avenue. Starting March 1, Hillsborough County students (ages 18 and under) will be able to catch a ride to Erwin Technical Center (or anywhere else in the HART system) for FREE with their Hillsborough County School or HART Youth ID. The HART STAY-cation promotion ends June 10.

Service to New York is accessible via Amtrak's Silver Star

Interested in riding the rails? The Route 12 provides convenient service to Union Station, where riders can catch Amtrak's Silver Star, with service to New York, Miami and a number of destinations in between. Connections to The TECO Line Streetcar are available at Nuccio Parkway and 7th Ave, walking distance to Cadrecha Plaza Station.

As with a number of routes, the Route 12 connects to 28 different routes at Marion Transit Center, located at 1211 N. Marion St. in downtown Tampa. Intercity service to Miami, Tallahassee, etc. is also available via Megabus and RedCoach connections at Marion Transit Center.

From attractions, to education, HART Takes You There.

Route of the Week: Route 5

Have you ever really thought about the destinations that you can see and experience with the HART transportation network? With a diverse service area roughly the size of Rhode Island, Hillsborough County provides a great mix of urban, suburban and rural destinations for our riders.

Over the coming weeks, we're going to take a look at the places you can go with HART.

Route 5 offers service from The USF area to downtown Tampa

Up first is the Route 5. The Route 5 provides Weekday, Saturday and Sunday service from Downtown Tampa to the area surrounding The University of South Florida. Service operates from 5 a.m. - midnight during the week and roughly 6:35 a.m. - 9:35 p.m. on the weekends.

Hugging the USF area, the Route 5 is a great way for students, faculty and residents living in the area to get downtown with stops at some of Tampa's biggest attractions. Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, and all that Ybor City has to offer is available via a quick trip on the Route 5.

Connection to The James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital may be of particular interest to Veterans in the area. 

 

Interested in a trip beyond City of Tampa limits? The Route 5 connects to 28 different routes at Marion Transit Center, located at 1211 N. Marion St. in downtown Tampa. Intercity service to Miami, Tallahassee, etc. is also available via Megabus and RedCoach connections at Marion Transit Center.

From attractions, to checkups, HART Takes You There.

Wi-Fi Coming to HART Vehicles!

Free Wi-Fi will soon be available on HART vehicles

HART riders will soon be able to get more out of their commute with free Wi-Fi on all fixed-route buses. In April, you will be able to send emails, check the latest travel updates or even crush some candy without eating into your mobile data on board our buses! Starting Monday, April 4, bus passengers will be able to use high speed Wi-Fi free of charge on HART to browse the Internet, watch movies, listen to music and more.

Beginning Monday, February 15, Wi-Fi hardware will start to be installed on the HART system in phases with 6 buses being upgraded every day. Installers will be working during the evening and overnight hours to ensure that installation will not inconvenience passengers. Ultimately, this roll-out of Wi-Fi technology will be the foundation of the upcoming smart card program, where passengers will be able to use their smart phones and dedicated account based cards to travel not only the HART system, but throughout the Tampa Bay region. 

It's another way that HART keeps pace with your busy life. You can be productive and keep in touch, yet arrive at your destination safely. The expansion of Wi-Fi is yet another reason for choosing to ride the bus whether someone is going to work, to school or to the store. 

If you have any questions or comments about our Wi-Fi service, please contact Customer Service at (813) 254-HART (4278).

 

** Please note that the Wi-Fi signal is shared with other customers, so at busy times, your connection may be slower than normal.**

Farmer's Market Coming to netp@rk Transfer Center!

Florida Urban Organics will offer fruit, veggies and prepared foods

Americans are increasingly on the go, with the convenience of fast food, typically outweighing the more health conscience choice of fresh vegetables and a home cooked meal.

With that in mind, HART is partnering with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) and local farmers at Florida Urban Organics for a first-of-its kind Farmer's Market at netp@rk Transfer Center.

The pilot program will allow transit riders and the general public to choose the healthy option, while not having to deviate from their normal routine.

From February through April 2016, transit riders and the general public will have an opportunity to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables and prepared foods at a Farmer's market located at the netp@ark Transfer Center. The pilot program will offer the community a farmer's market on the second Wednesday of each month, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition, to the fresh produce offering, KTBB will host an information table that will provide the public with brochures and pamphlets on the benefits of healthy eating and nutrition, healthy recipes ideas, wellness and smoking cessation.

For consumers on the go, the Farmer's market at the netp@ark transfer center is an ideal solution for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables, while also supporting a local business.

HART and KTTB will monitor and evaluate the success of this pilot program closely, with a look at possibly extending the program in the future.