HART Celebrates National Transit Employee Appreciation Day!

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) is proudly celebrating National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, which honors the over 750 dedicated operators, mechanics, dispatchers, customer service representatives, and administrative staff who Keep Hillsborough County Moving every day!

From safely transporting thousands of daily riders to ensuring our vehicles are in top condition and supporting seamless operations behind the scenes, HART employees play a vital role in making public transit reliable, accessible, and welcoming. Their hard work and commitment fuel the essential service that many residents rely on to get to work, school, medical appointments, and more.

“Our team is the best in the industry,” said HART CEO Scott Drainville. “Their professionalism, compassion, and resilience — especially during challenging times — make a meaningful difference in the lives of our customers and the community. Today, and every day, we’re incredibly grateful for their dedication and service.”

HART takes pride in employing a diverse workforce, with a strong focus on hiring veterans. Among our dedicated team are several multi-generational families — a true reflection of our employees' lasting commitment to public service and the supportive, family-oriented culture that defines our organization.

Employee appreciation banners are displayed throughout HART facilities, and we’ll feature employees on our social media channels throughout the day. As a further gesture of appreciation, a small employee event is scheduled for Friday.

Riders are encouraged to join in by sharing their thanks on social media using #ThankYouHART or by simply thanking their operator during their ride on Tuesday.

As we look to the future, HART is dedicated to supporting and empowering our workforce. From continuous training opportunities to wellness programs, HART values investing in the people who move Hillsborough County.

HART and the TECO Line Streetcar carried 13,395,722 customer trips in FY2024.

HART and State Legislators Partner on Proposed Changes to Protect Transit Employees

Safety barriers like this would be required on all transit vehicles throughout the State of Florida

HART is leading a statewide initiative to implement new legislation addressing the growing trend of violence transit employees and other uniformed public servants face in Florida. HART is proud to partner with State Senator Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) and State Representative Michael Beltran (R-Tampa) who just filed the "Uniformed Public Servant Protection Act" for the 2020 session. SB 1416 and HB 951 both seek to curb violent threats against uniformed public servants in the workplace.

Sen. Perry and Rep. Beltran are spearheading the legislation which would require all Florida transit agencies and the State itself to make specific changes to enhance public safety and further protect uniformed public servants.

"As Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, I felt compelled to address the recent acts of violence and threats of violence against uniformed public servants," said Sen. Perry. "By increasing the penalty for assault against transit workers and other public servants, as well comprehensive training and protective barriers on public transport, we are demonstrating our commitment to public safety throughout our state."

HART is leading the way by implementing three of these changes and advocating for a fourth to protect transit employees. The leadership of Rep. Beltran and Sen. Perry to make all of these changes uniform across our state takes this public safety movement to a new level. The legislation proposes four changes:

• require the installation of protective barriers on public transit;
• require the posting of the maximum penalty for assaulting a transit worker;
• require mandatory training for drivers to defuse and de-escalate potentially violent situations; 
• increase the current enhancement for assault against a uniformed public servant (transit workers, law enforcement and other first responders) from a 1st-degree misdemeanor to a 3rd-degree felony.

"Over the past seven months, one HART bus driver in Tampa has been murdered and another violently attacked, while operating public transit buses," said Rep. Beltran who is also a key member of the Hillsborough County delegation. "I filed this legislation in an effort to help keep people safe through tougher penalties for threats of violence, protective barriers for drivers, and increased training to help defuse potential threats."

The proposed legislation mirrors the Amalgamated Transit Union's (ATU) push for similar changes on the national level with HR 1139.

Board Recap: HART Board Approves FY2014 Budget

The HART Board unanimously voted to adopt the fiscal year 2014 budget and a millage rate of .5000. The vote followed the final budget public hearing, held Monday night at the HART Administrative Office in Ybor City.

All action items on the agenda were approved, including the fiscal year 2014 budget, the levying of ad valorem taxes, and a millage rate of .5000 for 2014. The 2014 budget includes an operating budget of $63,668,388 and a capital budget of $22.7 million.



FY2014-2023 TDP

HART's 10-year FY2014-FY2023 Transit Development Plan (TDP) was also approved. HART is required to submit a TDP to the Florida Department of Transportation to be eligible for State Block Grant funding, of which HART hopes to receive more than $4 million within the next fiscal year.

FY2014 budget goals were established based on the reality of available resources, providing a stable foundation for the next five years.   
 
Primary Goals: 

• Maintain current service levels - support continued increases in ridership.
• Provide enhancements to selected current services
• Review the ability to provide Saturday, expanded weekday, midnight, and Sunday service to several key routes
• Enhance routes when enhancement does not require additional buses

Thanks to a continued internal cost-cutting effort, HART staff managed to trim expenses and save $1.2 million to be reinvested into HART services.

• Focus on internal support Level of Service scenarios
• Perform an aggressive expenditure review
• Reinvestment of savings, to add $1.2 million of enhancements to current non-peak hour service (enhancements to 8 routes)

Despite increased needs and only slight increases in revenue, HART's FY2014 proposed budget accomplishes several significant value-adding goals.    

• Maintain current bus and paratransit service levels
• Add more than 16,000 hours of service enhancements to 8 routes
• Teamster bargaining step increases, ATU increases, and non-bargaining cost of living wage adjustments of four percent

In another vote, the HART Board of Directors reversed a previous decision and reaffirmed HART's ongoing commitment to the values of diversity and inclusivity by permitting advertising by the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL).