HART to Implement Service Changes June 7

HART will implement service changes on Sunday, June 7, 2026, to improve frequency on a high-ridership route, support better on-time performance, and enhance the customer experience.

These changes are the result of HART’s year-long Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA), which reviewed the transit system based on current market conditions and input from customers, employees, and stakeholders. 

Frequency Improvements

Route 38 – Mango/Brandon
Route 38 will now operate every 30 minutes on weekdays.

Schedules Changes

Schedule adjustments will be made to Routes 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 30, 33, 37, 38, 45, 46, 48, and 360LX.

Route 46 – Brandon Blvd.
The last westbound trip, previously scheduled at 10:45 p.m. to Brandon Mall, will be removed on weekdays and weekends. The last westbound trip will now be 9:51 p.m. There are no routing changes.

Route 360LX – Brandon/South Tampa
Route 360LX will begin service one hour earlier on weekdays. The first westbound trip from J.C. Handly Park Park-n-Ride will depart at 5:15 a.m. There are no routing changes.

Service Elimination

Routes 24LX and 25LX will no longer be in service. Customers may use Route 360LX as an alternative from J.C. Handly Park-n-Ride to Downtown Tampa and MacDill Air Force Base, with weekday service approximately every hour from 5:15 a.m. to 10 p.m. Enterprise Vanpool is also available.

Note: Route 24LX and 25LX bus stops with white bags will remain in service until Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Route 24LX/25LX & 360LX map

HARTFlex South County will no longer be in service. Eligible customers may use Sunshine Line, a Hillsborough County door-to-door transportation service for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents who do not have other transportation options.

Note: HARTFlex South County bus stops with white bags will remain in service until Sunday, June 7, 2026.

HARTFlex South County and Route 31 map

Resources from the elimination of Routes 24LX, 25LX, and HARTFlex South County will be reinvested to improve weekday frequency on Route 38, which serves Mango and Brandon, increasing service from hourly to every 30 minutes.

HART is also evaluating opportunities to apply these resources to additional improvements in future service changes.

Routing Changes

Route 5 – 40th St. and Route 12 – 22nd St. will turn left from Palm Avenue to 22nd Street for northbound trips in Ybor City.

Route 5 & 12 map

HART Partners with Transit App for Real-time Travel Information

HART is excited to announce a new customer benefit: free access to Transit Royale, the premium service available in the Transit app!

HART recently transitioned to the Transit App for customer-facing real-time travel information. The agency previously developed OneBusAway Tampa, the agency's longtime real-time information application.

The upgrade provides expanded route maps, full departure schedules, real-time vehicle tracking, and step-by-step trip guidance—all at no cost.

“We’re always looking to improve the customer experience,” said HART CEO Scott Drainville. “By offering Transit Royale for free, we’re giving customers the best tools to plan their trips with confidence and provide immediate feedback on the go.”

Starting immediately, HART riders using the Transit app will receive a notification unlocking premium features, including:

• Full HART route maps and schedules
• Expanded real-time departure info
• The GO feature for trip guidance and customization
• Personalized themes and favorite place markers

Riders can also switch the app’s theme to match HART’s branding for a localized, ad-free experience.

This initiative is part of HART’s ongoing commitment to enhancing GPS tracking, expanding digital tools, and improving service accessibility.

New to Transit App? There is a great online resource to answer all of your Transit App questions!

Download the Transit app today or visit goHART.org to learn more!

HART Awarded $23.4 Million USDOT RAISE Grant

HART Maintenance Conceptual Master Plan

HART is excited to announce an award of $23,356,950 through the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. The grant is the largest funding award in HART's history and will support Phase 1 of the Maintenance Site Remediation and Facility Modernization Project. Phase 1 of the Maintenance Site Remediation and Facility Modernization Project focuses on redeveloping a heavy maintenance facility site to meet the current and future needs of the HART fleet and operations and advances the agency’s mission to provide safe, efficient, and sustainable public transportation throughout Hillsborough County. Key components of Phase 1 include: Stormwater Remediation: Implementing stormwater management solutions to enhance environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance. Transit Vehicle Service Lane: Constructing a state-of-the-art service lane to improve the efficiency of vehicle maintenance and operations. Security Enhancements: Installing perimeter security fencing to ensure the safety and security of HART assets and personnel. The site remediation and modernization project lays the foundation for a modernized facility capable of supporting a fleet of up to 250 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Plans for the site include accommodating low-emission vehicles powered by CNG and/or hydrogen fuel, aligning with HART’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. “The RAISE grant funding is crucial and will enable HART to modernize our facilities and enhance operational efficiency, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable transit system,” said HART CEO Scott Drainville. “We thank the Department of Transportation for recognizing the importance of this project and supporting HART’s vision for the future of public transportation in our region.” The RAISE program is a highly competitive grant initiative that supports transportation infrastructure projects with significant local and regional impacts. Over 200 projects of merit competed for this funding, with a total cost of all projects at over $2.3 billion. The grant award underscores the importance of investing in transit infrastructure to drive economic growth, enhance mobility, and improve resident's quality of life. “Hillsborough commuters deserve modern, clean transit to get them where they need to go on time. Now, thanks to the historic federal Infrastructure Law, HART can modernize its operations with a $23,256,950 grant for clean buses and vehicles that are low-cost, low-maintenance, and better for our health. The HART fleet will be serviced at a new and improved resilient service center to benefit everyone in Tampa and Hillsborough County. I’m thrilled that federal infrastructure investments and RAISE Grants are saving local taxpayers money at a time they need it.”

Impact of Friday Evening Storm on HART Facility

Following a severe weather event that recently went through our area Friday evening, HART faced significant challenges in ensuring the continuity of transit services for several hours. The HART Transit Operations Facility lost all power, which included vital infrastructure such as the generator, radio tower communications and data-center information systems.

Emergency work on HART's main generator

The effects of these high-impact, pop-up weather events underscore the urgent need for support to harden our transit operations infrastructure. To address these challenges effectively, HART is actively pursuing a US Department of Transportation (US DOT) RAISE Grant, requesting $23.4 million. This grant is crucial for HART to begin addressing our facility needs and improve the resilience of infrastructure for current and future weather and climate risks.

"We are at a critical juncture in maintaining the operational readiness of our transit services when strong-impact storms affect our Operations & Heavy Maintenance Facility," said Kemly Jimenez Green, HART Director of Communications. The support from a US DOT RAISE Grant will play a pivotal role addressing infrastructure and bolstering our resilience against future disruptions."

HART’s RAISE grant application (The Project) seeks funding specifically for the first phase of the site remediation and modernization, which will be followed by the demolition and rebuilding of the 45-year-old heavy maintenance facility. The Project will improve the safety of the traveling public through improved routine maintenance of the buses as well as safer facilities for HART staff. The Project will address environmental sustainability through the provision of nature-based solutions for stormwater remediation and improving resilience of infrastructure for current and future weather and climate risks.

HART has remained committed to providing reliable transit services to our community despite these challenges. Thanks to highly skilled Controllers, Transit Supervisors, Bus Operators, and Paratransit Drivers – HART continued to deliver service out on the roads –avoiding any systemic customer disruptions Friday evening.

HART values the ongoing support and collaboration of our community partners and stakeholders, especially Tampa Electric for restoring power to HART as quickly as possible. This allowed HART to service and maintain vehicles overnight and resume transit operations this morning for all our customers.

Flooding in the inventory room

HART Honors Military with Free Rides on Veterans Day

In appreciation for the contributions of the men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces, the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) is offering free rides to U.S. military veterans on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11, 2023.      

HART extends this invitation to ride to all members of the armed services, both active and retired, as well as to their family members or dependents. Riders are asked to show a valid military or veteran ID card when boarding any HART bus to qualify for a free ride.

"This is a token of our gratitude to all veterans, the silent heroes, who have dedicated their lives to protecting our freedoms," said Scott Drainville, HART CEO. "We also recognize the veterans within HART who have served across various branches of the armed forces and who work diligently to carry out the Agency's mission."

  

HART is proud to actively hire veterans, who constitute a vital part of our HART team. The HART organizational family currently includes more than 60 employees who are veterans, each with a special story of bravery and sacrifice.

Almost 13% of the HART current workforce consists of veterans who serve across several departments and specialities including vehicle operations, vehicle maintenance, revenue planning, safety/security, customer service, and information technology.

Hiring former military personnel brings to our team a unique blend of qualities that are essential for success in any organization: discipline, dedication, leadership, and a strong sense of duty. Their unwavering commitment to their mission and the ability to work effectively under pressure make them an invaluable asset to Team HART.

Veterans Day Service

HART service will operate on a regular Saturday service schedule for Veterans Day. The TECO Line Streetcar System will operate on a Saturday service schedule from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

HART Customer Service will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can be reached by calling (813) 254-4278 or TDD (813) 626-9158. HART Customer Service Centers at the University Area Transit Center and the Marion Transit Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other HART offices will be closed.

HART Board Appoints Scott Drainville as Permanent CEO

HART CEO Scott Drainville

The HART Board of Directors appointed Scott Drainville as the Authority's new Chief Executive Officer at the November 6, 2023, Board Meeting.

Mr. Drainville has been serving as the HART Interim CEO since April 2023.

  

The decision to promote Mr. Drainville was announced after a vote by the HART Board of Directors to approve his contract as permanent CEO.

            

HART hired Mr. Drainville in 2018 as Deputy Chief of Maintenance, overseeing the Authority's core business in maintenance, facilities, inventory control and the communications/electronics divisions and responsible for directing the overall funding, environmental, design, permitting, construction, and project close-out of capital construction projects. He would go on to serve as Chief of Maintenance and Transportation.

 

“Scott Drainville is a partner with our Board in bringing more transparency to HART, said HART Chair Councilman Luis Viera. "I and our Board of Republicans and Democrats enthusiastically gave Mr. Drainville a unanimous approval for a reason - because he is the right person with the right values and for the right time for HART.”

 

"I appreciate the confidence the Board of Directors has placed in my ability to lead HART," said HART CEO Scott Drainville. "My focus is on bringing stability to the organization and continuing to maximize our resources to deliver the best possible transportation service for Hillsborough County."

      

Mr. Drainville is a native of East Providence, Rhode Island who brings more than thirty years of public transportation and fleet maintenance experience to the organization. He started his career as a diesel technician in the late '80s.

Before coming to HART, Mr. Drainville served as the Director of Transportation and Maintenance for CitiBus located in Lubbock, Texas. He has also held transit leadership positions at the D.C. Circulator in Washington D.C. and served as a Mechanical Foreman with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority for more than eighteen years.

HART to Implement Service Changes on Sunday, May 14, 2023

HART is implementing service changes to several HART routes on Sunday, May 14, 2023, to improve the customer experience.

The biggest change in service will be the introduction of HARTFlex to three new areas - Port Tampa (replacing Route 17), East Fletcher (replacing the Hidden River portion of Route 33), and Brandon (replacing the Route 46). Initially, the services will operate like a normal fixed-route service, but in the near future (most likely the end of summer), HARTFlex customers will be able to book via an app (like Uber/Lyft) on-demand HART stop to stop trips. The ultimate goal will be to provide the ability for point-to-point trips within the zone!

New HARTFlex Service

• HARTFlex Port Tampa (former Route 17)
• HARTFlex East Fletcher (former Route 33 - Hidden River portion)
• HARTFlex Brandon (former Route 46)

Minor Route and Schedule Changes

• Route 7
• Route 32
• Route 45
• Route 360LX
• HARTFlex South County

Service with Only Schedule Changes

• Route 1
• Route 5 (improved frequency)
• Route 6
• Route 10
• Route 12
• Route 16
• Route 19 (improved frequency)
• Route 32 (improved frequency)
• Route 33
• Route 34
• Route 36
• Route 39
• Route 42
• Route 45
• Route 400 (MetroRapid)

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

Route of the Week: Route 16

With a diverse service area roughly the size of Rhode Island, Hillsborough County provides a great mix of urban, suburban and rural destinations for our riders. Think about the destinations that you can see and experience with the HART transportation network!

New week and a new route featured! This week is the Route 16.

Route 16 operates between Northwest Transfer Center (Town 'n Country), and Yukon Transfer Center (Sulphur Springs) via Waters Ave. Service operates Monday-Saturday from 5:30 a.m. - 7:40 p.m.

At roughly 8.25 miles in length, the Route 16 is one of the shortest routes in the HART system.

The eastbound trip begins at Northwest Transfer Center, with connections to Routes 30, 34, 39, 61lX, HARTFlex Town 'N Country, and The North County Connector, operated by PSTA. The route is fairly direct, with the majority of the route being a straight line down Waters Ave.
  
Some highlights of Route 16 include: 

AMC Veterans 24 - Large movie complex that features IMAX movies, as well as, new Hollywood blockbusters and indie films. AMC Veterans 24 is a short walk from the Route 16 stop at Waters Ave. and Anderson Rd.

Woodland Corporate Center - A large 25-building complex with over 1,000,000 square feet of office space. Occupants include Aetna, American Express, Hilton Hotels, Sprint and Verizon. Pick up Route 16 on Waters Ave. and Woodland Corporate Blvd.

Keiser University - Non-profit college offering Specialists, Associate, Bachelors' and Graduate Degrees in a range of fields from Accounting to Health Services Administration. As part of the HART Adult Student Fare program, Keiser University students receive 25% off the regular price of a 31-day pass! Keiser University is accessible via Route 16 at Waters Ave. at Savarese Blvd.

A bunch of chain restaurants call Waters Ave. home, however it also features the original Yummy House. Known for their traditional no frills Cantonese cooking, Yummy House is consistently named one of Tampa Bay's best Chinese Restaurants. The Route 16 stop is directly in front of the restaurant at Waters Ave. and Saulray St.

Hop on board and join the roughly 267k riders that rode Route 16 in FY2015!

Route 16 terminates eastbound at Yukon Transfer Center, with connections to Routes 1, 9, 14, 16, and 39.

From corporate offices to Cantonese cooking, HART Takes You There.

Route 16 operates between Northwest Transfer Center and Yukon Transfer Center