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.
HART SMART AV operating along the Marion Transitway
HART SMART AV, Tampa Bay's first, fully electric automated vehicle pilot, is expanding service hours. The autonomous shuttle, operated by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) and BEEP, an Orlando-based autonomous shuttle service provider, is now operating 6 AM - 7 PM; an additional five hours daily from the initial schedule of 6 AM - 10 AM; 3 PM - 7 PM.
The service expansion is possible due to the recent addition of a second shuttle operating along the route, which allows one of the vehicles to charge while the other is operating.
"The expansion of service hours positions HART SMART AV as a great lunchtime transportation option for downtown workers and residents, who don't want to move their car or search for parking," said Adelee Le Grand, HART Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited to be able to provide all-day service along the corridor".
Funded by the Florida Department of Transportation, and in partnership with BEEP, HART launched the one-year HART SMART AV autonomous vehicle pilot on October 12, 2020. The free shuttle offers first mile, last-mile connection between the TECO Line Streetcar and the Marion Transit Center, along North Marion Street in downtown Tampa.
The driverless shuttle is 100% electric and costs less than $30 per month to charge. HART SMART AV operates without a steering wheel and uses a pre-programmed, fixed route with a combination of localization techniques, involving state-of-the-art sensor technology. The shuttle uses eight sensors on the outside of the vehicle providing a 360-degree view of the environment. An on-board shuttle attendant serves as an ambassador for the riders to learn more about the technology and oversee the high-quality passenger experience.
The route includes four stops at Marion Transit Center's Bay F, Kennedy Boulevard, Washington Street and Whiting Street, with the option for a future stop at Tampa City Hall. The autonomous shuttle will operate at a maximum speed of 15 mph as part of the one-year pilot.
With 2019 fast approaching, many are looking towards the New Year as a fresh start. However, we at HART are looking to continue building on the successes of the past year.
Year in Review
February Service Changes
In 2017, HART "reset" the system network with Mission MAX, establishing a stable foundation for expansion. February 2018 marked a significant step toward HART's five-year goal of ten routes with 15-minute service or better.
Flamingo Fares testing is underway
Flamingo Fares Testing
Our regional transit fare app and smart card payment system took a giant leap in 2018 with the start of public testing! While HART and PSTA have been testing the first generation of the Flamingo Fares app since 2016, this is the first test involving the Flamingo Fares smart card and web-based accounts.
Since the launch of testing in March, thousands of taps have been recorded and the second generation of the Flamingo Fares app is now in the testing phase. Flamingo Fares will fully launch to the public in 2019.
Route 275LX
Summertime typically means a slower pace with vacation-filled offices and schools out. However, summer 2018 saw the launch of HART's FIRST seven-day-a-week inter-county service, the Route 275LX. The new all-day, limited-stop service launched on July 1st, operating between Wesley Chapel and Tampa International Airport, with stops in New Tampa, the University area, and downtown Tampa. The Route 275LX has seen an 83% increase in monthly ridership (10,910 rides in October) since launching in July.
MVP Express
After years of requests for express/shuttle service to local sporting events, HART launched the MVP Express in November! This premium service allows Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans to park at four convenient park-and-ride locations and hop on the MVP Express to Raymond James Stadium. All for only $10 round-trip, per person! The MVP Express is currently a pilot and will be evaluated and possibly expanded to other local sports after the NFL season has ended.
New Era of Transit
Free fares launched on Oct. 7, 2018
Streetcar Fare-Free and Enhanced Service
It's possible no other individual route or transit mode in Tampa Bay has seen as drastic a change as the TECO Line Streetcar System in 2018.
In June, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced a game-changing $2.7 million grant to make the TECO Line Streetcar FARE-FREE with enhanced morning/late night service and increased frequencies for three years. The new service kicked off on October 7 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a fresh new marketing strategy that represents HART's vision for the Streetcar - Free. Fun. Frequent. Totally Tampa!
It has been well received, with ridership up over 120% from last year!
InVision: Tampa Streetcar - Streetcar Extension and Modernization Study
The future looks even brighter as HART is currently partnering with the City of Tampa and FDOT on a study evaluating possible extension alignments and the feasibility of modernizing the current
heritage streetcar system. The City completed the first phase in Spring 2018 by identifying two north/south extension alignment options - a combination of Tampa St./Franklin St. and Florida Ave. The line would stretch through the core of downtown, near HART's main transit hub in Marion Transit Center, and north to Tampa Heights.
In June, the City received approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to enter Project Development phase to select a preferred alternative and refine improvement plans and strategies. The City will submit a Small Starts request for federal funding in September 2019.
Transit Referendum
Yes, we definitely saved the best for last! It's no secret that transportation has been on the minds of most in Hillsborough County for quite some time. The Tampa Bay region as a whole being seen more to put plans on shelves, than pen to paper.
However, that changed on Election Day as voters (overwhelmingly) approved a 1-cent sales taxincrease to support transportation, including a mix of roads, public transportation, pedestrian, cycling, etc.
All of us at HART are incredibly humbled by this level of support and have already released our proposed short-term service improvement plan, which features speeding up the implementation of the first three years of the FY2019-2023 Transit Development Plan to 2019.
HART as an agency in 2017, revisited our infrastructure and established a blueprint for an improved transportation network in Hillsborough County. This strategic plan allowed HART to overhaul its route system and build up that foundation in 2018, as we aligned for the future.
The agency turns 40 in 2019, with the year poised to be HART's most celebrated yet, as we enter a new era of excellence.
We look forward to seeing you on board one of our buses, vans, or streetcars in the New Year!
HART has been
awarded $2.7 million in grant funding from the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) that will support extending TECO Line Streetcar service
hours, increasing frequency, and providing free rides to customers for the next
three years.
"We want to first thank FDOT District Seven Secretary
David Gwynn and his team for their continued support of HART. This funding will
be a major step forward for HART to be able to continue delivering essential
TECO Line Streetcar service for the City of Tampa," said HART Interim CEO,
Jeff Seward. "Enhanced streetcar service will better connect downtown
Tampa and historic Ybor City, giving residents and tourists another commuter
option, as they travel around downtown for business or leisure."
Streetcar service effective October 07, 2018
On October 7, 2018, the $2.7 million grant allowed HART to increase Streetcar
service from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes from 7 AM - 7 PM on weekdays and provide extended service
hours throughout the week. The increased streetcar service will improve mobility and access by
affording residents access to additional job opportunities, and provide
enhanced connectivity in downtown, the Channel District, and Ybor City.
The enhanced streetcar service will accomplish multiple
goals; however, the primary objective is to add another mobility and
connectivity option for residents, employees, and visitors in downtown Tampa
and the city at large. With planned extensions, the Streetcar will also create
a vital connection between downtown and neighborhoods and further spread the
vibrancy and development that is currently being seen in the downtown area. The
Streetcar Extension Study from Downtown Tampa to Tampa Heights, also funded by
FDOT, is currently in project development to pursue federal funding.
"This grant funding gives the TECO Line Streetcar
System the opportunity to be a more viable transportation option for residents
and tourists in Tampa. As wait lists for downtown parking increase, and Water
Street construction gets underway, the TECO Line Streetcar becomes an
invaluable travel option for those living and working in downtown and historic
Ybor City. This could be a game changer for transportation in downtown
Tampa." said Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. (THS) President Michael
English.
The FDOT grant will help boost ridership and increase
efficiency of the TECO Line Streetcar System, providing greater opportunity for
the Authority to provide a commuter service that meets the growing needs of
Tampa's downtown community.
HART requires a new, fully functional, state of the art
maintenance facility.
It feels as if Americans are collectively holding our breath
when it comes to our infrastructure: Slamming into a pothole, or driving over a
deficient bridge, or the sheer number of automobiles on our roads causing
traffic congestion are all infrastructure repair issues. The majority of our
citizens are in suspense, pondering if another infrastructure tragedy might
happen or if we will be unscathed one more day.
None of this is new. Our nation's infrastructure has been in
a slow-motion decline, right before our eyes, for decades.
HART shares similar infrastructure stumbling blocks as other transit systems across
the country, which can create tremendous obstacles for the Authority as we plan
for future growth. Some of these challenges include maintaining our maintenance
facility, busways, streetcar system, and updating our bus fleet to name a few.
The high cost of maintaining our infrastructure comes at the
expense of expansion to meet the real demand for public transportation in
Hillsborough County. How to strike a balance between high capital costs for
infrastructure repair and the need for service expansion remains a primary
concern. The answer is an investment in safety measures and modernization, as
well as,
identifying long-term sustainable and reliable funding sources.
Our
transit system needs a viable and reliable long-term capital funding source.
What could increased capital investment in our county fund? According to the
American Public Transportation Association (APTA), every billion dollars
invested in public transportation supports and creates more than 50,000 jobs.
Another excellent example of the impact public transportation has on our
economy is for every $1 spent on public transit, $4 is pumped back into the
economy. Returns like that are priceless.
For HART employees and customers in Hillsborough County,
these dollars could fund:
Heavy Maintenance Facility - HART is
requesting $10 million to construct a new maintenance facility to replace the
existing maintenance building. The project would consist of a service area with
bus lifts and other heavy maintenance equipment, storm-water treatment, canopied
fuel island, wash facility, restrooms, break rooms, electronic shop, classrooms,
maintenance offices and support area. This new facility would support HART's
approach to modern, efficient transit maintenance service.
HART MetroRapid BRT Study - HART's
Bus Rapid Transit design/engineering study of the Nebraska Avenue MetroRapid
corridor, the Fowler Avenue corridor, and the Florida Avenue corridor. FDOT has
dedicated $2.5 million in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to work
with HART and local stakeholders to fund a design/engineering study of these
important corridors. Enhancing MetroRapid to adopt many of the attributes of
BRT service will expand the potential market and increase the chances for a
Small Starts/grant for the East-West line. This project could potentially
qualify for the FTA Small Starts funding.
TECO Line
Streetcar System Extension - The proposed extension would extend the existing 2.7-mile
streetcar line. The two preferred routes would travel an additional 1.3 miles
from E Whiting Street north to E Palm Avenue.This project would open up the
possibilities for further economic development and Transit-Oriented Development
(TOD) along the proposed line.
HART requires a new, fully functional, state of the art
maintenance facility.
The demand for transit growth in Hillsborough County is
evident - we see it monthly at our Board of Directors meetings as countless
numbers of residents and organizations approach us with requests for new and
expanded service. Customers want to experience shorter trip times, higher
frequency, fewer hassles while commuting; which are improvements HART recently
implemented during our Mission MAX system redesign.
If we want a modern, safe, reliable transit system, we need
to act now. The Tampa region deserves world-class infrastructure, and our
stakeholders deserve nothing less. Let's use our collective voice to
send a message to our elected leaders to close the infrastructure investment
gap and demand that sustainable, long-term funding for transit is a
priority.
