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.

Honoring Service and Dedication: A Veteran’s Journey from Military to HART

Nicholas with his grandmother

In honor of Veterans Day, HART proudly recognizes the incredible journey of one of our employees, Nicholas Goulbourne, Director of Maintenance, who served six years in the military, including three years of active duty. 

Originally from Jamaica, he was drawn to military service after 9/11, inspired by a deep sense of duty. As a major in Architectural drafting at St. Petersburg College, he felt compelled to serve after watching the events unfold on 9/11 while practicing his landscaping freehand drawing at his drafting table. His patriotic spirit compelled him to serve, enlisting in the Army, initially without telling his family. He dreamed of joining the infantry and ultimately aspired to special forces. However, his non-US citizen status prevented him from a top-secret security clearance at the time, dashing those dreams. Nicholas joined the US Army Reserve in late 2001, shipping off to basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina in 2002.

Excelling in his aptitude tests, he qualified as an 88-Lima Watercraft Engineer, a demanding military occupation position. Watercraft Engineers are responsible for maintaining, diagnosing, and repairing US Army vessels’ propulsion engines, auxiliary systems, and various mechanical components. The mechanical training was rigorous, particularly managing the intricate mechanics of amphibious landings—skills with an 80% failure rate that demanded discipline and dedication. In December 2002, during a Christmas party at Fort Langley, he received deployment orders, and by January 2003, he was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, serving on the US Army vessel Runnymede. His dedication spanned from 2002 to 2008.

Nicholas as a Mechanic

When his military chapter closed, he sought civilian work that would build on his mechanical skills. The transition to union life and civilian mechanics had challenges, yet his military discipline and resilience carried him forward.

After joining HART, he began as an apprentice since his previous experience was in watercraft engineering, and he needed additional training to work on vehicles with wheels and suspension. His hard work and skill quickly paid off, and he advanced to Mechanic B in less than eight months. He continued to excel, eventually becoming a lead mechanic and then a supervisor in 2015. After five years in that role, he took on increasingly challenging positions, becoming Manager of Technical Services in 2021 and Director of Fleet Maintenance in May 2023. “Discipline, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service,” he says, “are values you never let go of. In the military, you’re used to getting the job done without delay. Civilian work requires a different pace, and adjusting was a big change.”

Reflecting on his time at HART, he feels that transit work is in his DNA. "There’s always something new to learn," he explains. "When you understand the day-to-day operations, you get a deeper respect for the work." The camaraderie he experienced in the military is something he values deeply. "In the military, your battle buddy becomes more valuable to you than yourself. That sense of unity and focus is unmatched."

For him, being a veteran encapsulates all the values he carried from the Army. While he sometimes regrets not finishing his full-time in the military, he’s grateful for the skills and mindset it gave him, which shaped his journey at HART. "The Army gave me a skill set and a foundation that has guided my whole life. 9/11 changed everything for me—I was on track to be an architect, but I chose service. And I wouldn’t change that."

Nicholas Goulbourne, Director of Maintenance

Fee or Free? HART Invites Public Feedback on TECO Line Streetcar Fare Reinstatement

With the funding grant for fare-free service coming to an end, HART - as operator of the TECO Line Streetcar - may need to reinstate fares by January 5, 2025. This discussion comes after the expiration of several Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grants and partnerships, like the City of Tampa, Tampa Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs), and the Tampa Downtown Partnership, that previously covered customer fares.

The five-year FDOT streetcar service agreement of $2.3 million annually expired in 2023. FDOT had agreed to provide an additional 12 months of funding through 2024, totaling $700,000, with a matching contribution from the City of Tampa. This funding is critical to maintaining and improving the streetcar service, a vital component of our public transportation network.

Take our quick survey to submit your feedback.

¿Tarifa o Gratis? Complete nuestra encuesta para enviar sus comentarios sobre un posible cambio de tarifa del tranvía

HART will hold a Public Hearing on the Streetcar Fare Changes: 

• Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024 
• Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
• Location: HART Ybor Administrative Offices (1201 E. 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Tampa, FL 33605) 
• Virtual Option: The public can listen to and view the meeting live via HART’s official YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/harttransit 
• All public comments and survey responses will be afforded equal consideration regardless of the format they are provided.

HART staff will also be at various TECO Line Streetcar Stations to answer questions from Thursday, October 31 to Thursday, November 7. 

Take the survey and view the upcoming outreach schedule at www.tecolinestreetcar.org/fares.

Ride HART Fare-Free on Election Day with Voter Information Card!

Ride HART fare-free on Election Day with your Voter Information Card!

HART is announcing free rides to Hillsborough County polling locations on Election Day. Voters can ride fare-free on all HART services by showing their valid Voter Information Card on November 5, 2024.

Customers are encouraged to prepare for their trip by identifying their polling location, and the specific routes necessary for travel before starting their trip. Customers can use the HART trip planner to map out their route in advance. 

Please check your voting status by visiting the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections website. 

Exercise your right to vote with a free ride on HART. Your voice is important!

HART Service is Temporarily Fare Free to Support Milton Recovery - EXTENDED Through Oct. 28!

UPDATE (10.21.2024) - Fare-free service has been EXTENDED through Monday, October 28, 2024.

HART is pleased to announce that effective immediately, HART Bus, HARTPlus, and HARTFlex will operate fare-free until October 21st, 2024.

This initiative aims to provide transportation services to our community during the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton.

The decision to implement fare-free service is driven by three critical factors:

1. Emergency Transportation: Residents traveling to Emergency Comfort Stations established by the County will also benefit from free transit, enabling access to vital services during this challenging time.
2. Aid for Displaced Residents: Fare-free transit will help displaced residents, ensuring they have the means to move around safely.
3. Support for Students: All school students will have access to fare-free bus trips, ensuring they can attend school without the burden of transportation costs.

With ongoing detours and route adjustments due to hurricane damage, our bus operators are facing increased challenges. Implementing a fare-free policy will simplify operations and allow our drivers to focus on safely transporting all customers, whether they are traveling for education or in need of emergency assistance.

Offering free transit during this extended Hillsborough County State of Emergency is a crucial step in supporting our community. By eliminating transportation costs, HART’s goal is to relieve financial pressure on families and ensure that students can continue their education while providing residents with access to emergency services without additional burden.

HART is committed to serving our community and encourages all residents to take advantage of this fare-free service during these critical recovery efforts.

For more information about routes and schedules, please visit www.goHART.org or contact HART Customer Service at (813) 254-4278.

HART Tropical Storm Debby Update

LATEST HART WEATHER UPDATE (as of 8.5.24; 8:35 a.m.)

8.5.24 @ 8:37 a.m.: HART is running regular service. Due to the inclement weather, please leave to essential trips only. Expect detours and look at OneBusAway Tampa or call Customer Service (813-254-4278) for updated detour information. 

8.4.24 @ 7:51 p.m.: We expect to roll out normal weekday service on Monday. Please visit Bus-Map-Schedules (gohart.org) to see the latest service schedule, following service changes on Sunday, August 4, 2024. The HART team will evaluate roadway conditions before normal service begins. Some routes may be delayed due to localized flooding. If you need to ride HART on Monday, please provide yourself with additional travel time.

8.4.24 @ 1:13 p.m.: HART is currently operating fare-free service to the Emergency Storm Shelter at Erwin Technical College, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa.

8.2.24: HART is still monitoring the tropics for any impacts to service. The Tampa Bay area is now under a Tropical Storm Warning, which means the area will see impacts from a possible Tropical Storm within the next 48 hours. HART will cease service if sustained winds reach 35 mph. 

Click here to learn more about HART service during a storm.

Now is the time to prepare for the storm. Hillsborough County has a great hurricane storm prep resource. 

Riders should continue to monitor HART's In-Transit Blog, Facebook , and Twitter or contact the HART InfoLine at 813-254-4278 for the latest service information.

Customers can visit www.goHART.org for maps, schedules, and more.

HART to Implement Service Changes on Sunday, August 4, 2024

 

HART is implementing service changes to several HART routes on Sunday, August 4, 2024, to improve efficiency and the customer experience.

• Service with Schedule Changes / Cambios en el horario: 
• Routes 1, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 24LX, 25LX, 30, 34, 37, 38, 45, 46, 275LX, and 360LX

• Earlier service / Servicio temprano: Routes 37 and 38

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