CUSTOMER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In coordination
with the Hillsborough County Office of Emergency in response to slow the spread
of the coronavirus (COVID-19) HART’s goal is to maintain as much service with
the minimum inconvenience to customers. The top priority is to protect
employees while minimizing inconvenience to customers.
What is HART
doing to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 when using public transit services?
HART is disinfecting
its fleet help reduce the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19. Our enhanced
regimen includes additional disinfecting of frequent touchpoints such as
disinfecting vehicle entry ways, fare boxes, steering wheels, operator seats,
protective shields, modesty panels, stanchion bars, customer seat backs and
hand rails on buses, vans and streetcars. All HART facilities’ surfaces, door
knobs, sinks, faucets, hand rails and other common areas are being disinfected
as well as customer amenities.
The cleaning agents
used in this effort are deemed effective for these purposes and contain
anti-viral components such as bleach/water mixes and other disinfectant sprays.
HART is working in
coordination with the Hillsborough County's Office of Emergency Management, in
support of the public health response to slow the spread of COVID-19.
We are recommending
that all HART employees and customers stay vigilant with good hygiene practices
as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and stay
home if you are sick. On-board signage and announcements have been installed to encourage seat staggering while riding.
We also ask that customers limit use of the HART systems for
trips that are essential and necessary.
Has HART changed service yet?
As of
Wednesday, April 1, 2020,
HART will
temporarily reduce service hours and operate all modes of transit on
a
Sunday service schedule with regular fares, due to closures along routes,
reduced demand for service, and to support Hillsborough County's “Safer-at-Home”
order. HART will also operate service Monday through Friday for Routes 20X,
24LX, 25LX, 31, and 60LX on their regular weekday schedule. There will be
no
HARTFlex service.
- All HART public meetings are cancelled until
April 13, 2020
- TECO Streetcar will have abbreviated operating
hours beginning March 20, 2020.
The abbreviated service hours reflect the
recent shutdown of bars and other entertainment activities, and the limiting of
restaurant hours due to COVID-19.
Temporary
streetcar service hours:
§
Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
§
Saturday - Sunday: 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
How does the current Hillsborough County "Safer-at-Home" order and 9 PM - 5 AM curfew impact HART service?
The curfew currently does not apply to essential workers or essential trips. Public transportation is exempt from the order, as we continue to serve essential workers.
What if a HART vehicle has transported someone with
COVID-19?
If a vehicle has been identified that a suspected or
confirmed case of a patron or HART employee tested positive for COVID-19, the
vehicle will be quarantined and disinfected by HART's HAZMAT vendor, Bio 1. The
vehicle is safe for service 90 minutes after it has been disinfected.
What can I do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
It is recommended that customers travel for emergency or
essential purposes only. If you are sick, we ask you not to ride HART. People
riding on public transit are encouraged to practice social distancing by
allowing enough space from each other. It is recommended for everyone to stay
vigilant with good hygiene practices as outlined by the CDC:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with
unwashed hands
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then
immediately throw it in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze
into your elbow to avoid contaminating your hands.
Is HART limiting the number of riders per
bus?
We are encouraging social distancing to
customers. Staggered seating signs, encouraging riders to sit in
every other row, are posted on all buses. We ask customers who are sick to stay home and to limit their travel
to essential trips.
What is
HART’s service plan to deal with COVID-19?
As of Wednesday, April 1, 2020, HART will
temporarily reduce service hours and operate all modes of transit on a Sunday
service schedule with regular fares, due to closures along routes, reduced
demand for service, and support of the Hillsborough County “Safer-at-Home”
order. HART will also operate service Monday through Friday for Routes 20X,
24LX, 25LX, 31, and 60LX on their regular weekday schedule. There will be no
HARTFlex service.
What if Pandemic
conditions require the complete quarantine of Hillsborough County?
If pandemic
conditions require a complete quarantine of Hillsborough County, all regularly
scheduled bus, paratransit and streetcar service will be discontinued. All
rolling stock and facilities will be properly secured.
Restoration of
service will require up to three (3) days to complete. Restoration will happen
in the reverse order of the service reduction:
- Step 1: Staff requirements will
be assessed.
- Step 2: Operator for all modes
of transit will be contacted by Operations Control Center.
- Step 3: Vehicles will be
inspected for service readiness.
- Step 4: Customer Service
representatives will begin contacting subscription customers for Paratransit
reservations.
- Step 5: Begin service delivery
How will I know when HART reduces service?
Continue to check
www.GoHART.org or call Customer Service
(813)
254-4278 for the latest updates.
Will HART give employees masks to address their fears of
contracting the COVID-19?
HART is providing gloves, facemasks, and sanitizer to service workers daily as supply numbers permit. The CDC recommends everyday
preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as
avoiding touching your eyes or nose, and covering your cough or sneeze with a
tissue. HART is reminding front line employees of these preventive measures.
