HART Awarded $32 Million FTA Grant for CNG Buses

Historic News for HART!

We’re proud to announce that HART has been awarded $32 million through the FTA’s Low or No Emission and Bus & Bus Facilities Program — the largest federal grant in HART’s history, the largest in Florida, and one of the top awards in the entire nation this funding cycle.

This investment will allow us to:

• Replace 33 aging diesel buses averaging 688,000 miles — well beyond their useful life
• Reduce annual maintenance costs by over $1 million
• Improve reliability, on-time performance, and reduce service interruptions
• Cut harmful emissions across Hillsborough County
• Expand technician training and apprenticeship programs to strengthen our workforce

With this award, HART is now positioned to become Florida’s first transit agency with a 100% low-emission CNG fixed-route fleet — a major milestone in our Fleet Transition Plan and a big step toward cleaner, more reliable mobility for our community.

This isn’t just an investment in buses. It’s an investment in our riders, our employees, and the future of transportation in Hillsborough County.

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Statement from HART CEO Scott Drainville

“Today’s announcement represents a major step forward for reliable transit in Hillsborough County. This investment will help us improve service for riders, reduce costly breakdowns, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and continue transitioning our fleet to cleaner, low-emission technology. 

We are profoundly grateful to the more than two dozen partners who stood with us—elected leaders, community advocates, educational institutions, businesses, and industry. Their voices made clear that modern, reliable transit is essential to our region’s growth.”

Statement from Congresswoman Kathy Castor

“This grant is a big win for our Tampa Bay neighbors. Reliable, accessible transit is essential to a healthy local economy—helping people get to work, school, medical care, and the grocery store without added stress,” said Rep. Kathy Castor. “With these new investments to modernize HART’s fleet and expand mobility options, we’re opening the door to more job opportunities, supporting local businesses and ensuring families across Hillsborough County can move around safely and affordably. I’m proud to help secure these federal resources so every neighbor—regardless of zip code—has the freedom to move, connect and thrive in our community.”

Statement from Congresswoman Laurel Lee

“This federal investment is a significant step forward for transit in Hillsborough County. With the addition of 33 new CNG buses, HART will be able to improve reliability, lower operating costs, and better serve the riders who depend on these routes every day. I was proud to support HART’s application and am grateful to Secretary Duffy and Administrator Molinaro for prioritizing this project. These upgrades will make a real difference for families, workers, and students across our community.” 

Statement from HART Chair/Councilman Luis Viera


“This $32 million grant for HART is a huge leap forward thanks to our federal partners. HART provides such a pivotal lifeline for our working families – our seniors, those with disabilities, our veterans and so many others. I am so thankful for the work ethic, tenacity and determination of our Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who always champions transit. This grant allows us to move forward in a manner that is productive and is consistent with sustainability.”

HART Awarded Transit-Oriented Development Grant for Streetcar and Bus Rapid Transit Projects

Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) is pleased to announce the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the agency with a Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning grant totaling $300,000 to plan for TOD at four proposed stations along the planned TECO Line Streetcar extension and HART's bus rapid transit line that will link downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the award of approximately $11 million to 20 projects in 12 states to support comprehensive planning efforts to improve access to public transportation. Funding through FTA's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning grants will help organizations plan for transportation projects that connect communities and improve access to transit and affordable housing. 

"Transit-oriented development offers easier, more affordable access to jobs, health care, school, shopping, and other daily needs," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "We're pleased to award this funding to help more communities develop around transit in a way that reduces pollution, increases economic opportunity, and contributes to affordable housing."

For those interested in the TOD planning process, HART is holding the second of two Public Design Charrettes on February 12, 2022, from 10 AM - 2:30 PM at the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, 2005 N Lamar Ave. The purpose of the charrette is to share information about the HART TOD Pilot Project, explore strategies to guide land use and development, and share ideas for the community's future. 

HART TOD Pilot

For more information on the HART TOD Pilot Project, visit www.goHARTTOD.org.

For more information on HART and the TECO Line Streetcar, visit www.goHART.org. 

HART Applies for FTA Funding to Support Cross Bay Ferry Service

HART has applied for grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to support the Cross Bay Ferry service.

The Cross Bay Ferry is a regional, seasonal ferry that started transporting riders in 2014 from Tampa to St. Petersburg.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to apply for a federal grant that would help us to increase the capacity of our current ferry service and set us up for expanded service connecting communities around the Bay. I have been a supporter of the ferry since day one, and I am thrilled that we are now taking action to expand the ferry into a year-round, premium regional transit system connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg with South Hillsborough County," said HART Board Chair and Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith.

In addition to the funding identified in the interlocal agreement, Hillsborough County has established $1 million dollars of matching funds in its fiscal year 2022 budget in support of the project.

“The Cross Bay Ferry ridership has already exceeded all expectations. With this grant, we can move to year-round, permanent service and use our waterways for wonderful, congestion-proof transit in Tampa Bay," said Hillsborough County Commissioner and HART Board member Pat Kemp.

Regional collaboration to support the Cross Bay Ferry includes letters from local, State and Federal representatives.

"The City of Tampa is excited to work with our partners at HART and Hillsborough County to take steps toward new transit solutions in Tampa Bay. Our waterways are a natural opportunity to connect people, jobs, and communities," said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

The FTA grant application process for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program 5307(h) FY 2021 was posted on August 6th and closed on October 5th, 2021.

To learn more about the FTA Passenger Ferry Grant Program click here: FTA Passenger Ferry Grant

"The hard-working team at HART and in Hillsborough County, along with our partners at HMS Ferries, have put together a really competitive grant application, and I have high hopes that we will be awarded this grant," said Chair Smith.

The project is backed by the following leaders who have submitted support letters:

• The Honorable Charlie Crist, U.S. Congressman District 13
• The Honorable Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Representative District 12
• The Honorable Kathy Castor, U.S. Representative District 14
• The Honorable Vern Buchanan, U.S. Representative District 16
• Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
• Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Chair, Pat Kemp
• City of Tampa Mayor, Jane Castor
• City of St. Petersburg Mayor, Rick Kriseman
• City of St. Petersburg Chair, Ed Montanari
• Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization
• Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
• St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
• Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
• Hornblower Group DBA HMS Ferries

HART Awarded Grant to Combat Human Trafficking

An example of FTA's human trafficking awareness campaign

HART is pleased to announce the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded HART with a Human Trafficking Awareness & Public Safety Initiative Grant totaling $100,240. The grant will be used to conduct a public awareness campaign about human trafficking leading up to Super Bowl LV being held in Tampa in 2021.

The public awareness campaign will include educational materials for the public and provide critical training for HART employees in recognizing and reporting human trafficking.

"Human trafficking is an unfortunate reality of society today," said Carolyn House Stewart, Interim HART CEO. "HART looks forward to utilizing this grant to train our employees, many of whom interact with hundreds of people daily, to help recognize the signs of human trafficking and create more awareness about the issue."

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, affecting millions of adults and children in the United States and worldwide. Traffickers move their victims on all modes of transportation, and sometimes use public transit due to its low cost, greater anonymity in buying fare cards, and less direct interaction with government or transit officials.

In total, $5.4 million in grants were selected as part of FTA's Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative.

Tampa Receives Federal Grant for Transit Employment Training

This week, Tampa was awarded $234,281 from the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program to implement "Meeting Today's and Tomorrow's Job Needs in Mass Transit," a recruitment and training partnership between the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC of Tampa) and HART. This project will recruit, train and employ up to 30 people in the transit industry, including transit operations and maintenance workers. The CDC will partner with HART "We are excited about the partnership which will help solve a skills training void in the community," stated Ernest Coney Jr., CEO of the CDC of Tampa.  "The partnership will result in livable wage jobs and career paths that will continue to transform Tampa/ Hillsborough into a vibrant and strong community." The CDC of Tampa is the direct recipient of the grant, and is one of 17 organizations in 12 states to share $7 million from the FTA Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program. The purpose of the grant is to help local public transit agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations and Native American tribes train a future generation of transit professionals, with particular emphasis on promoting training opportunities in emerging technologies and encouraging young people to pursue careers in public transportation. "HART will soon begin using new technologies and advanced practices -- such as transit signal priority and compressed natural gas vehicles -- to keep our local public transit system modern and environmentally sustainable," HART CEO Philip Hale said. "This federal grant will fund a partnership project between HART and the CDC of Tampa that will provide the type of advanced training needed to develop highly qualified candidates to serve the future of public transit." Training for jobs such as mechanics will be provided The CDC of Tampa will provide enrolled candidates with certification-based transit training, job placement services and case management services. HART will work with the CDC of Tampa in developing benchmark standards for training; provide access to training staff and facilities; and assist with the CDC of Tampa's training compliance standard.

Art in Transit

Mass transit has always been about connecting people to their community.  It's through this basic belief, that mass transit and the arts have always shared commonalities.

We recently stumbled upon a blog with some of the most beautiful buildings in Europe and they're not what you might expect (castles, cathedrals, etc.). The Traveling Canucks blog has Europe's Top 10 Most Fascinating Train Stations.

Unlike America, where the car is king, rail rules the road in Europe. These 10 train stations are great examples of art in transit - beautiful architectural wonders that also double as transit hubs and epicenters of hustle and bustle; interaction.

The Federal Transit Administration understands this connection and encourages the inclusion of art in transit facilities by stating,

"The visual quality of the nation’s mass transit systems has a profound impact on transit patrons and the community at large. Good design and art can improve the appearance and safety of a facility, give vibrancy to its public spaces and make patrons feel welcome.”

HART kept this vision in mind with some of our own HART art:

Whiting Station

 

 

















Marion Transit Center

 
































Dick Greco Plaza

We have nowhere near the long history of Europe's fine facilities... but we're painting our own masterpiece, with each stroke a step closer.

Have you been to any of the Top 10 European train stations listed on the blog? Are they as amazing as they photograph?