HART Ridership up 6% in July 2013!

Another month, another ridership gain for HART!

The numbers are in, and HART had another strong month for ridership in July with 1,181,409 total trips during the month, a 6 percent increase compared to July 2012.

 

"These are exciting times at HART, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to provide dependable service to a growing number of riders each and every month," said HART Chief Operating Officer Katharine Eagan.

Fast facts: 

MetroRapid launched June 10, 2013

• MetroRapid ridership in July was 41,822   
• July 8 saw the greatest ridership throughout the month with 49,332 riders choosing HART 
• Year-to-date (October 2012 - July 2013), bus ridership is up 2.9 percent; an increase of 344,782 trips, compared to the same period last year  
• Average weekday was 44,847; up 3.1 percent over July 2012
• Monthly bus ridership has been on the rise for the last 7 consecutive months 

  

August 2013 Service Changes

Effective Sunday, August 18, HART will make modifications to bus service for MetroRapid North-South and routes 9, 37, and 47LX.

Summary of route modifications:

• MetroRapid North-South: Route permanently moved from Marion Street Transitway to Morgan Street between Marion Transit Center and Kennedy Boulevard and Jackson Street. Minor schedule adjustments. Schedule
• Route 9: 15th Street - Weekday route extended by one-hour to last trip at 8:45 PM (Northbound) and 9:00 PM (Southbound). Schedule
• Route 37: Brandon/Netpark - Weekday route extended by one-hour to last trip at 9:05 PM (Westbound) and 8:05 PM (Eastbound). Schedule 
• Route 47LX: Southshore Limited Express - Minor time changes in first northbound trip in order to provide improved connections at Marion Transit Center. Schedule 

These service changes were made for cost-effectiveness, to streamline route schedules and adjust to ridership trends.

View flier 

For complete information and to view schedules for each modified route, visit www.goHART.org, or call HART Customer Service at 813-254-HART (4278).

 

 

OneBusAway Tampa Arriving August 19!

Real-time schedule info on the go! Starting August 19, the innovative OneBusAway Tampa app from HART puts cool, convenient power at the fingertips of HART bus riders. HART is proud to make Tampa the third city in the nation to adopt this real-time technology, which first debuted in Seattle and New York. The OneBusAway Tampa app provides a suite of tools to deliver real-time bus tracking information to HART riders on the go. Click here for a list of features.   The super user-friendly OneBusAway Tampa is easy to navigate, and it seamlessly interfaces with Web-enabled devices such as computers, tablets, and smart phones. This app uses GPS technology to send up-to-the-minute details on bus arrival information. Available on a number of platfoms Downloading OneBusAway Tampa will be free, easy, and fast. Just tap the "My Location" icon and a map of the Tampa area appears on the screen, plus graphics that show all the active stops. Then tap on the bus icon and its estimated time of arrival is instantly displayed. HART is fully committed to providing the best customer experience with the recent implementation of HART MetroRapid North-South and the upcoming roll out of features like OneBusAway Tampa.      "With an assortment of ways of accessing OneBusAway Tampa, riders will find it extremely convenient and useful," said Philip Hale, HART Chief Executive Officer. That was confirmed by the experience of local resident Dustin Lemke, who has relied on HART for two years to get him around town, volunteered to test the app during HART's pilot program. "The OneBusAway Tampa app really helps me plan my time more wisely," remarked Lemke. "When you can't see the bus and it's running a few minutes late, you start to think you've missed the bus and then will be late for work and think your whole day is ruined. But this app helps keep me calm and knowledgeable about what's going on!" HART partnered with the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida, where the software was developed with funding from the National Center for Transit Research. Georgia Tech evaluated the system for HART too, thanks to funding from the National Center for Transportation Systems Productivity and Management. Visit www.goHART.org this Monday, August 19 for OneBusAway Tampa access/download instructions.

HART Regular Board Meeting 8/07/13 Recap

During its regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 5, the Board unanimously voted to authorize the HART Board Chair Fran Davin to sign an amendment for the creation of the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) endorsing the 2013 membership apportionment plan for submittal to the Governor's office.   

   

The main focus of the meeting was an overview presentation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and a compliance presentation on

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. 

Key points from the meeting include:

• Marco Sandusky, HART Manager of EEO & Compliance Programs updated the board about HART Title VI compliance. As a recipient of federal funding, HART carries out a Title VI Program consisting of Notification, Complaint Procedures, a Limited English Proficiency (LEP) plan, Public Participation, Fixed Facilities Impact analysis, System-wide service standards and policies, Transit Service Monitoring, and Service and Fare Change Analysis. 

• Katharine Eagan, HART Chief Operating Officer updated the board about Operations Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The KPI for on-time performance has been trending upward during FY2013 and is expected to meet KPI targets for the year. Ms. Eagan touched upon factors impacting On-Time performance (OTP) and HART staff efforts on mitigating OTP.

COO Katharine Eagan also formally introduced the new HART Director of Van Operations, Ruthie Reyes Burckard, who assumed the role in July. Van Operations includes services such as HARTPlus, HARTFlex, and Travel Training, and Reyes Burckard will also oversee HART Dispatch and Customer Service Departments.

Ms. Burckard will now oversee HARTFlex and HARTPlus service

Reyes Burckard has been with HART since 2002 and most recently served as the Paratransit and Customer Service Manager. In that role she headed up the Paratransit Eligibility and Customer Service departments while ensuring that HART delivers the highest level of customer service.     

Next Regular Board of Directors Meetings 

HART's First Budget and Regular Board Meeting will take place Monday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m., and Final Budget and Regular Board Meeting will take place Monday, September 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the HART Ybor Office, 1201. E. 7th Ave., in Tampa.