Storm Season is Here! HART Ready to Operate Emergency Service

In the event of a declared emergency, the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) will operate its Emergency Evacuation Service at the direction of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

The Emergency Service level is a modified service designed to assist residents in safely reaching designated evacuation shelters. HART buses will transport passengers to four key transfer centers: Netpark, Northwest, Yukon, and the University Area Transit Center. From these locations, Hillsborough County Public Schools will provide transportation to county-approved evacuation shelters.

In low-lying areas, residents in need of transportation to a designated transit center can request HART’s on-demand zone service by calling (813) 254-4278. This service connects individuals to the nearest transit center, where they can then transfer to routes serving designated evacuation meeting points, if necessary.

Emergency Evacuation Service concludes once sustained winds reach 35 mph or if road conditions become unsafe for continued operations. HART urges the public to monitor local news outlets for real-time updates.

Both the Emergency Evacuation and on-demand zone services are free of charge.

“Preparedness is key when severe weather approaches, and HART stands ready to serve our community when called upon,” said Richard Campbell, HART Chief Safety Officer. “As we saw last hurricane season, our team is committed to providing safe and reliable transportation to help residents reach shelter and stay out of harm’s way.”

All HART buses are ADA-accessible and equipped to accommodate up to two wheelchairs per vehicle, ensuring inclusive transportation for all residents.

Residents are encouraged to review the Emergency Service maps and schedules in advance by visiting www.goHART.org.

HART Service is Temporarily Fare Free to Support Milton Recovery - EXTENDED Through Oct. 28!

UPDATE (10.21.2024) - Fare-free service has been EXTENDED through Monday, October 28, 2024.

HART is pleased to announce that effective immediately, HART Bus, HARTPlus, and HARTFlex will operate fare-free until October 21st, 2024.

This initiative aims to provide transportation services to our community during the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton.

The decision to implement fare-free service is driven by three critical factors:

1. Emergency Transportation: Residents traveling to Emergency Comfort Stations established by the County will also benefit from free transit, enabling access to vital services during this challenging time.
2. Aid for Displaced Residents: Fare-free transit will help displaced residents, ensuring they have the means to move around safely.
3. Support for Students: All school students will have access to fare-free bus trips, ensuring they can attend school without the burden of transportation costs.

With ongoing detours and route adjustments due to hurricane damage, our bus operators are facing increased challenges. Implementing a fare-free policy will simplify operations and allow our drivers to focus on safely transporting all customers, whether they are traveling for education or in need of emergency assistance.

Offering free transit during this extended Hillsborough County State of Emergency is a crucial step in supporting our community. By eliminating transportation costs, HART’s goal is to relieve financial pressure on families and ensure that students can continue their education while providing residents with access to emergency services without additional burden.

HART is committed to serving our community and encourages all residents to take advantage of this fare-free service during these critical recovery efforts.

For more information about routes and schedules, please visit www.goHART.org or contact HART Customer Service at (813) 254-4278.

HART Tropical Storm Debby Update

LATEST HART WEATHER UPDATE (as of 8.5.24; 8:35 a.m.)

8.5.24 @ 8:37 a.m.: HART is running regular service. Due to the inclement weather, please leave to essential trips only. Expect detours and look at OneBusAway Tampa or call Customer Service (813-254-4278) for updated detour information. 

8.4.24 @ 7:51 p.m.: We expect to roll out normal weekday service on Monday. Please visit Bus-Map-Schedules (gohart.org) to see the latest service schedule, following service changes on Sunday, August 4, 2024. The HART team will evaluate roadway conditions before normal service begins. Some routes may be delayed due to localized flooding. If you need to ride HART on Monday, please provide yourself with additional travel time.

8.4.24 @ 1:13 p.m.: HART is currently operating fare-free service to the Emergency Storm Shelter at Erwin Technical College, 2010 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa.

8.2.24: HART is still monitoring the tropics for any impacts to service. The Tampa Bay area is now under a Tropical Storm Warning, which means the area will see impacts from a possible Tropical Storm within the next 48 hours. HART will cease service if sustained winds reach 35 mph. 

Click here to learn more about HART service during a storm.

Now is the time to prepare for the storm. Hillsborough County has a great hurricane storm prep resource. 

Riders should continue to monitor HART's In-Transit Blog, Facebook , and Twitter or contact the HART InfoLine at 813-254-4278 for the latest service information.

Customers can visit www.goHART.org for maps, schedules, and more.

HART Hurricane Idalia Update

 

LATEST HART HURRICANE IDALIA NEWS

HART) is returning to regular weekday service on HART buses (local, limited express), vans (HARTFlex and HARTPlus) and the TECO Line Streetcar on Thursday, August 31, 2023.

Customers should be advised that select trips may be delayed, due to operator staffing level and possible road detours.

The TECO Line Streetcar System will operate from 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.

HART Retail Sales windows at Transit Centers will be open regular hours (6 a.m. - 6 p.m.) and Customer Service is currently closed but will be available Thursday from 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. Customers can call 813-254-4278 with any questions or concerns or to book HARTPlus paratransit reservations.

Riders should continue to monitor HART's In-Transit Blog, Facebook and Twitter or contact the HART InfoLine at 813-254-4278 for the latest service information.

Customers can visit www.goHART.org for maps, schedules and more.

CURRENT SERVICE STATUS - 8.30.23

HART to Suspend All Service on Wednesday, August 30, 2023

For the safety of our riders and employees, the HART plans to cease all bus, van, and streetcar service on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

With potential overnight impacts to the Tampa Bay area from Hurricane Idalia, HART staff will spend Wednesday conducting damage assessment, moving buses back to the Operations Center from higher ground, checking routes for debris, etc.

Riders should continue to monitor HART's In-Transit Blog, Facebook and Twitter or contact the HART InfoLine at 813-254-4278 for the latest service information. Customer Service Centers are CLOSED on Tuesday.

Be Prepared this Hurricane Season!

HART provides Emergency Evacuation Service

With the Atlantic hurricane season officially beginning on June 1st, it's a great reminder of the importance of having a severe weather plan BEFORE a storm hits. Unlike earthquakes or tornadoes, which can happen in an instant, hurricanes tend to provide a lot of warning.

HART buses run special evacuation routes for people who need transportation to shelters. HART and the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) urge you to make arrangements now for the safety of your family, should a storm force you from your home.

HART Emergency Evacuation service is not limited to hurricane evacuation, however. The EOC can call on HART as an official evacuation partner of Hillsborough County to implement service in an emergency evacuation situation, providing it is safe to do so.

Know your plan

Map of Hillsborough County Evacuation Routes

For the safety of our riders and employees, regular HART service will cease if sustained winds reach 39 mph. HART was forced to cease service prior to Tropical Storm Elsa last year.

HART service will also cease if the EOC instructs HART to begin operation of Emergency Evacuation service after shelters have opened.

Our emergency routes are designed to transport people from low-lying areas to higher ground.

Because of this, if a major storm threatens our area, you should plan for the possibility of service interruptions.

To minimize inconvenience to our customers, we will announce the need to interrupt service as early in the day as possible and will work to restore service just as soon as it is safe to do so.

The primary goal is to be prepared and have a plan. Don't wait until the last minute to make arrangements or you may find yourself stranded.

For more detailed information on the service and service plans in case of emergency, please click here.

For information on Hillsborough County shelters, weather alerts, etc. please visit Hillsborough County Emergency Management page.

HART is Prepared for a Storm. Are You?

HART operates Evacuation service. Know your route!

As Floridians, we are all aware of the threat of hurricanes from June-November. It's a part of the "charm" of living in the Sunshine State!

Should a hurricane threaten the Tampa Bay area, it is vital that residents heed any warnings and prepare for the worst of the storm.

Just as residents and their families need to prepare, so does HART. Have you ever wondered how an organization with over 800 employees and 200+ vehicles plans for a major storm?

Let's take a look at what it takes to prep the HART network for a major hurricane.

Should a storm threaten the Tampa Bay area, the Hillsborough Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated. Once activated, a HART representative will be located at the center to keep the agency abreast of storm developments and coordinate evacuation service.

When instructed by the EOC, HART will cease normal service and begin Emergency Evacuation service to move residents from lower ground to higher ground. For the safety of our riders and employees, normal HART service will cease once the EOC and HART Emergency Management determine that conditions are unsafe to continue service. 

When word is received that landfall is eminent in Tampa Bay within 72 hours, our volunteer Emergency Response Team (ERT) will activate.

The organization then begins the process of securing HART facilities. This includes:

• Securing windows and outside objects
• Shutting off water, electricity, gas, etc.
• Disconnecting computerized equipment and covering with plastic sheeting
• Backing up computer data to multiple sources
• Ensuring all vehicles are fueled

If a hurricane threatens, HART will relocate vehicles to higher ground

If the Tampa Bay area is forecasted to take a direct hit from a Category 3 or greater storm, HART may split the vehicle fleet up. You may have seen something similar in Houston, when Harvey hit. Our designated locations are the Hidden River Park-n-Ride lot and the University of South Florida. The remainder would remain at the 21st Avenue Operations Facility.

The TECO Line Streetcar System will house the fleet in the Ybor Streetcar Barn. However, depending on the severity of the storm, streetcars may be moved to an off-site storage location on the bed of a tow truck.

Following the passing of the storm, three phases will occur:

1. Recovery - Damage assessment for facilities, vehicles, and other property
2. Communication - Call back/contacting HART personnel
3. Restoration - Delivery of service

HART will work to the best of our ability to get the network back up and get back to our daily job of moving Hillsborough County!

Rest assured though, HART is prepared for a storm. Make sure you are too!

Don't Get Caught in the Storm! Plan Ahead

HART provides Emergency Evacuation Service

With Tropical Storm-force winds possible in the next 48 hours, it's a great reminder of the importance of having a severe weather plan BEFORE a storm hits. Unlike earthquakes or tornadoes, which can happen in an instant, hurricanes tend to give a lot of warning.

Know your plan

For the safety of our riders and employees, normal HART service will cease if sustained winds reach 39 mph. HART is working closely with the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).


HART service will also cease if the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) instructs HART to begin operation of Emergency Evacuation service, after shelters have opened. Our emergency routes are designed simply to move people from low-lying areas to higher ground. Because of this, if a major storm threatens our area, you should plan for the possibility of service interruptions.

To minimize inconvenience to our customers, we will announce the need to interrupt service as early in the day as possible, and will work to restore service just as soon as it is safe to do so. The main thing for you is to be prepared and have a plan. Don't wait until the last minute to make arrangements or you may find yourself stranded.

Know your evacuation route ahead of time!

HART Emergency Evacuation service is not limited to hurricane evacuation. The EOC can call on HART as an official evacuation partner of Hillsborough County to implement evacuation service in any emergency evacuation situation in which it is safe to carry out service.

For more detailed information on the service and service plans in case of emergency, please click here.

Moving You to Safety...

Did you know that HART is an official Hurricane Evacuation Partner for Hillsborough County?  Learn how HART is here for Hillsborough County residents should a hurricane threaten.


















For more information on HART Emergency Evacuation Service, click here.