Hop on HART this School Year!

Welcome back, students! Another semester is here. If you're planning on using HART this school year, below is a quick reference guide on connecting to HART and the special fares available from your school.

What is HART?

Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) is the public transportation service provider for Hillsborough County. HART serves Hillsborough County's employees, residents and visitors with bus, and van services. HART also operates the FREE 2.7-mile TECO Line Streetcar System, serving the restaurants, attractions and other entertainment venues of Ybor City, the Channel District and downtown Tampa.

HART Adult Student Fare program:

Schools participating in the HART Adult Student Fare program sell HART fare cards to their students for a 25% discount. Students can purchase a 31-Day Local Adult Student Fare Card for only $48.75 (normally $65) at their respective schools by showing their valid student ID. Please note, the adult student discount is not applicable if the pass is purchased at traditional HART sales outlets.

Click here for a listing of participating schools.

What's a fare card worth, if you can't connect to your school?

Luckily, HART has you covered with multiple routes connecting to over 20 colleges in Hillsborough County. Below, you'll find a listing of some of the schools that HART serves with bus, van, and streetcar services.

University of South Florida (USF)

USF Students ride HART FREE!

The following HART routes serve the USF area:

• MetroRapid (Route 400) - UATC/Fletcher Ave.
• Route 1 - Florida Ave.
• Route 5 - 40th St.
• Route 6 - 56th St.
• Route 9 - 15th St.
• Route 12 - 22nd St.
• Route 33 - Fletcher Ave.
• Route 42 - UATC
• Route 44 - UATC
• Route 45- UATC
• Route 48 - Fowler Ave./56th St./Morris Bridge
• Route 275LX - Bruce B. Downs Blvd./UATC

Students ride FREE on MetroRapid, HART Local, Limited Express and Flex routes with valid student ID. Faculty and staff ride for just 50¢.

For information on the U-Pass program, click here.

Hillsborough Community College (HCC)

We have a number of routes serving the HCC campuses throughout the county:

• Dale Mabry campus - Route(s) 7, 36
• Brandon campus - Route 37
• SouthShore campus - Route 31, HARTFlex South County
• Ybor City campus - Route(s) 5, 9, 12, the FREE TECO Line Streetcar

HCC Semester Pass: HCC students can purchase the HCC Semester Pass, providing over 4 months of unlimited rides on HART for just $110 - roughly 50% off! The Semester Pass can be purchased at all HCC Bookstores or by bringing your HCC Student ID to the Marion Transit Center or University Area Transit Center. The HCC Semester Pass is now a part of Flamingo Fares.

Students can also purchase a 31-Day Local Adult Student Fare Card for $48.75 at the bookstores of HCC's Dale Mabry, Brandon and Ybor City campuses.

 

UT students receive a 25% discount on 31-day passes

University of Tampa (UT)

HART serves UT via the following routes:

• Route 7 - West Tampa/Citrus Park
• Route 10 - Cypress St.
• Route 30 - Town 'N Country/Airport

Plan your school commute with HART

Your best bet is the HART Trip Planner. Simply type in your starting and endpoints, arrival time/date, hit "get directions," and let the planner do the rest.

Real-time HART arrival information and trip planning are also available with the OneBusAway Tampa app!

HART Travel Training 

The first Travel Training ride is FREE!

Need some assistance in getting started? HART Travel Training is a GREAT way to learn the ropes of riding public transportation. The service is FREE with trainers providing step-by-step instructions on how to understand the HART system (reading a map, signage, etc.) and figure out the best route that will take you to your destination.

You can call the HARTinfo line at 813-254-4278 to get started!

Have a GREAT semester!

Unfunded Needs Show Importance of Infrastructure Investment

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.  

HART is Hitting the Reset Button!

FY18 System Redesign outreach by the numbers!

After an exhaustive outreach schedule of over 40 meetings, we are now to the "finish line" of the public input portion of this process, which began back in March.

The Public Hearing for the HART FY2018 system redesign took place at the HART Administrative Office on July 26th, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This was the final opportunity for public comments on the proposal.

HART staff is reviewing comments from the Public Hearing and working on further revisions to the proposal before its final destination.

The HART Board will have the final word on the system redesign proposal at their August 7th meeting. If approved, the proposal would be scheduled for implementation on Sunday, October 8th, 2017.

Public Involvement

79% of respondents wanted more frequent service over better coverage

While the HART Board might have the final say, the public truly shaped the plan.

At the March workshops, we asked riders to choose between better coverage (shorter walk to the bus stop) vs. higher frequency (buses come more often). Overwhelmingly (79%), the public choose higher frequency. We based the current proposal on that principle.

Roughly 80% of HART riders will see improvement in overall travel times:

Higher Frequency

• MetroRapid - Service increased to every 12 minutes  
• Route 1 - Weekday service increased to every 15 minutes
• Route 12 - Weekday service increased to every 15 minutes (FY19)
• Route 14 - Weekday service increased to every 30 minutes
• Route 16 - Weekday service increased to every 30 minutes (FY19)
• Route 34 - Weekday service increased to every 20 minutes (FY19)

Expanded Service

• MetroRapid - Saturday and Sunday service added
• Route 9 - Earlier weekend service
• Route 14 - Sunday service added
• Route 16 - Sunday service added 
• Route 32 - Service extended to Tampa International Airport
• Route 46 - Sunday service added; service extended to Brandon Regional Hospital

New Connections

• Route 60LX - All-day, hourly, limited stop service between Northwest Transfer Center, Tampa International Airport, Downtown Tampa, and Westfield Brandon
  
• Route 275LX - All-day, hourly, limited stop weekday service between UATC, Downtown Tampa, and Tampa International Airport (FY19)
• Route 360LX - All-day, hourly, limited stop service between Westfield Brandon, Downtown Tampa, Britton Plaza, and MacDill AFB

Route 60LX and 360LX will be "staggered" from Westfield Brandon Mall, providing 30 minute service between Brandon and Downtown Tampa.

Bringing a massive system redesign to the public has not been easy. After countless meetings, and sifting through public comments, we realized there were areas where the proposal fell short.

We've heard you and now have revisions to our initial system redesign proposal.

 Proposal Revisions

Revisions from the initial FY18 System Redesign Proposal

• MetroRapid - Route 33 will operate portion of previous MetroRapid service between UATC and the Hidden River / Telecom Park area
• Route 36 - Route would travel Himes Ave. between Busch Blvd. and MLK Jr. Blvd. and then travel Lois Ave./ Tampa Bay Blvd. to connect to Route 7 at HCC Dale Mabry campus
• Route 39 - Would only use the 50th St./ Puritan Rd./ Sligh Ave. segment
• Route 42 - New route would travel Skipper Rd./ Bearss Ave., as well as, take place of Route 45 from Yukon to UATC, via 15th St.
• Route 45 - Route would end at Yukon with 42 covering Yukon to UATC

Click here to view a map of the initial revisions to the system redesign proposal.

Following feedback at the Public Hearing, we are working on further revisions and will make those public ASAP.

Please note: Due to expected overflow, the August 7th HART Board meeting is being moved to County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602.

HART hits the “reset” button on our network in October. We hope to see you on board!

Route of the Week: MetroRapid

MetroRapid N-S is $2.00 one-way; $4.00 all-day

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!

The blog goes GREEN this week, as MetroRapid North-South is our featured Route of the Week!

Launched in 2013, MetroRapid was the first public transit service of its kind in Florida. The service features fewer stops, high frequency, and advanced technology, such as Transit Signal Priority, to help travelers get to their destinations quickly and conveniently. MetroRapid also features new, modern stations with off-board vending and bike racks.

MetroRapid operates every 15 minutes between Marion Transit Center and University Area Transit Center, with service every 30 minutes out to the Hidden River Regional Park-n-Ride. Riders can catch the lime green service Monday-Friday from 5:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

One of the best parts about the service? It is priced the SAME as local fixed-route service - $2.00 one-way; $4.00 for an all-day pass!

USF Riverfront Park houses a ropes course

University of South Florida (USF) students will LOVE that MetroRapid is included in the HART U-Pass program, where USF students ride FREE with their valid student ID! MetroRapid serves the Tampa campus with 4 stations along Fletcher Ave. The Claw at USF and Lettuce Lake Park are served by these stops as well. MetroRapid North-South also provides a valuable connection to the USF Riverfront Park, where Students and Alumni can kayak, play disc golf, etc.

Hungry from the Ropes Course and disc golf? MetroRapid serves Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, The Mermaid Tavern, and two local landmarks, in the original Taco Bus, and Three Coins Diner. Comfort food, traditional Mexican, and more, just a short ride away.

Work in Hidden River/Telecom Park area? MetroRapid serves both corporate centers with 9 stops, including our Hidden River Regional Park-n-Ride. The Park-n-Ride lot provides FREE parking for Pasco County/New Tampa (among others) commuters heading to work in Downtown Tampa. MetroRapid provides a roughly 15% travel-times savings along the corridor.

Interesting in commuting to Downtown via MetroRapid? Ask your employer if they participate in our Corporate Transit Program! Federal law entitles all U.S. employers to a completely tax-deductible business expense of up to $255 per employee per month toward the cost of using public transportation. Call 813-384-6434 to inquire about participating.

From kayaking, to studying, HART Takes You There.

MetroRapid N-S operates between Marion Transit Center and Hidden River Regional Park-n-Ride

Route of the Week: Route 2

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!

This week, we take a trip down Nebraska Ave. along the Route 2!

Route 2 was one of the 1st routes to extend to midnight/weekend

Route 2 operates from Downtown Tampa to the University of South Florida area via Nebraska Ave. The route provides Monday-Sunday service with weekday hours from 4:25 a.m. - 12:15 a.m. and weekend hours from 5:15 a.m. - 12:15 a.m.

The More You Know. The Route 2 corridor has historically been known for its transit roots. Service along the corridor dates back to the old Tampa Bus Company and before that, streetcars operated throughout the area. Fast forward over 50 years, and route 2 was actually the first HART route to go over 1 million annual passengers.

Operating along one of Tampa's oldest corridors, Route 2 serves a number of historical sites, including: Union Station (with connections to Amtrak,) the Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library, Centro Asturiano De Tampa, Perry Harvey, Sr. Park (recently remodeled), the Sulphur Springs Pool and the Tampa Greyhound Track.

Taco Bus is only a short walk from the Route 2!

Nebraska Ave. has grown steadily over the years as a hot spot, beginning with Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe's inception in 2009. Other destinations in the area along Route 2 include: The Mermaid Tavern, Southern Brewing and Winemaking and of course Taco Bus (no relation).

The Route 2 terminates northbound at the University Area Transit Center, with connections to 12 different routes, including MetroRapid N-S and the USF Bull Runner.

From a Bull Runner bus, to Taco Bus, HART Takes You There.

Route 2 destinations

HART sees big ridership growth in December

HART ridership continued to be strong in December with 1.27 million boardings, an increase of 5.7 percent from last year. Fiscal year to date ridership is 4.1 percent ahead of the same period last year with HART on track to exceed over 15 million boardings in FY2015. All this, while gas prices are the lowest in six years! The most recent ridership report shows total passenger trips for December reached 1,272,735. That's 69,006 more riders choosing HART to get around Hillsborough County in December 2014 compared to the same month last year. 2014 was a critical year for HART with record ridership, further recognition of its innovative transit system and new community partnerships. Ridership gains and system improvements continue to be fueled by efforts to position HART as a better way to travel around Hillsborough County.   "Just as our current passengers are using our service more, we continue to attract new passengers with service and amenities that are increasingly relevant and attractive," said HART Chief Executive Officer Katharine Eagan. "Public transit in Hillsborough County continues to improve, and I encourage people who haven't been on a bus lately to give it a try."     Fast facts:  December 3 saw the greatest daily ridership throughout the month with 58,662 riders picking HART!  14 days exceeded 50,000 riders. MetroRapid ridership was 49,584 up 8.3 percent from December 2013 and up 2.8 percent (149,506) for the year. Year-to-date (FY2014 vs. FY2015), bus ridership is up 4.1 percent; an increase of 155,170 trips compared to the same period last year.   The following routes are our highest percentage gainers so far in FY2015,* showing that added investment in public transit pays off with more riders:    Route 46 (Downtown Tampa/Brandon via Causeway Blvd.): +140.5 percent increase (Removed from Davis Islands and extended in Brandon to Dover Rd. + midday service added.)  Route 57 (UATC/Temple Terrace/Netp@rk Transfer Center via Temple Temple Terrace): +25.4 percent increase (Saturday service added) Route 37 (Brandon/Netp@rk Transfer Center via Grand Regency Plaza): +17.5 percent increase (Sunday service added) Route 6 (Downtown Tampa to University Area Transit Center via 56th St.): +14.6 percent increase (Frequency increased in the midday from 30 to 20 minutes) (*Each of these routes were enhanced in FY2014.) For all-things HART, including OneBusAway, Real-time Arrival Information via Text Message, trip planning, schedules, maps and fares, just visit www.goHART.org.