HART Operator Wins Third Place from Industry Association!

HART bus operator Jimmy Suarez

Jimmy Suarez, a 15-year bus operator at HART, is being honored with the distinction of third place Operator of the Year by the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA).

Suarez's nomination and win celebrates his exemplary customer service and impeccable safety record, including 14 consecutive years of safe driving, and more than 1.5 million miles behind the wheel.

"I have been doing this for a long time. I take pride in my driving and taking care of my customers," said Suarez. "I take my job very seriously because I have a responsibility to protect my customers. When I notice a new customer boarding my bus, I consider them a new family member. I do my best to make them feel comfortable and give them a good experience with HART."

The award is presented annually to operators whose service has "enriched and enhanced" public transportation in the community.

Recently, Suarez was honored with the Million Mile Award and has received numerous rider commendations. He is known for his enthusiastic attitude, excellent driving skills, good judgment, and first-class customer service to our passengers.

"It is dedicated professionals like Jimmy Suarez, and our Million Miles honorees who make it possible for HART to receive accolades from our peers for our hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence, said HART Interim CEO, Jeff Seward. "We could not be more proud of our outstanding bus operators, and are grateful for the loyalty and focus they bring to their work each day."

Way to represent HART, Jimmy!

HART Partners with CREW Tampa Bay for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

HART and the Crew Tampa are partnering to create awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to help fight Breast Cancer, HART is partnering with the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Tampa Bay to shine a light on Breast Cancer Awareness.

HART is using the TECO Line Streetcar System uniquely to garner the attention of the downtown core this month. 

HART goes PINK in October!

For launch, HART is transforming a streetcar pink as a means to bring attention to Breast Cancer. The uniquely designed pink streetcar, affectionately coined as " Pinkee" will be an attention-getting transportation mode that will hopefully not only attract, but will also help raise the consciousness of the community about the disease and support the CITY IN PINK campaign during October.

In addition to the pink streetcar, HART plans to illuminate the administrative building in Ybor City and the streetcar stations with pink lights.

"We are proud to partner with Crew Tampa Bay on this important issue," said HART Interim CEO Jeff Seward. "We all know someone who has been affected by this disease. For that reason, we wanted to join forces with Crew Tampa Bay and use our transit network to create awareness and uniquely educate the public."

For the fourth consecutive year, CREW Tampa Bay has developed a tradition in the community by lighting the CITY IN PINK. The program encourages commercial properties to show their commitment to breast cancer awareness by displaying pink during the month of October. CREW Tampa Bay started the initiative as a way to connect the organization with the community at a more impactful level.

"I hope the displays of PINK during October will remind women to be proactive in their health, early detection can save lives," says CREW Board Member and City in Pink Committee Chair, Katie Gower of Ed Taylor Construction. "The CITY IN PINK Streetcar is an exciting opportunity to increase our impact on the community." 

The CITY IN PINK committee members utilized their connections within the commercial real estate industry to unify the community as a reminder to stay vigilant in the fight for a cure. CITY IN PINK fosters awareness and is a touching tribute to those lives who have been affected by the disease.

Lyft Partners with HART to Challenge Tampa Residents to Ditch Their Cars!

HART has partnered with Lyft to challenge Tampa residents to ditch their cars!

Ridesharing has already changed the way Americans depend on owning a car and how we get around cities – but now it’s time to take an even bolder step toward creating a new future of mobility. Today, Lyft is announcing Ditch Your Car, a program in Tampa offering residents nearly $500 of transportation credit to give up their cars for 30 days from Oct. 8 to Nov. 6 in favor of getting around town via Lyft rides, Zipcar and the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART).

Starting September 26, Tampa residents will be able to register at ditchwithlyft.com/Tampa for the opportunity to receive credit towards Lyft, HART and Zipcar. Enter by 2:59 a.m. October 1, 2018 to be eligible.

"The way that people move around cities is changing faster than ever, and we are excited to challenge Tampa residents to change their everyday habits and give up their car for a month,” said Sam Cohen, General Manager for Lyft Florida. “Lyft alone is not the overall solution to overcome transportation hurdles, but by partnering with HART and Zipcar we are able to create mobility options for Tampa residents.”

“The Lyft and HART partnership is reflective of the changing mobility landscape and how transit agencies can adopt new technology to enhance the travel experience for Tampa residents throughout the city,” said HART Interim CEO, Jeff Seward. “We are always exploring innovative methods to improve service and transport customers throughout the region more efficiently and effectively.”

“Every day, more and more people ditch their personal cars in Tampa and instead use a range of mobility options to get around from car sharing to ride hailing,” said Smokey West, Zipcar Regional General Manager, Mid-Atlantic/Southeast. “We’re excited to join Lyft in this fun 30-day challenge that’ll encourage even more Tampa residents to go car-free. At Zipcar, we’re big fans of any effort to make it easier to live without a personal car.”

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up here for a chance to be 1 of 50 lucky winners to participate in Ditch Your Car.
2. Once chosen for the challenge, you’ll receive an email with the details of the program — including transportation credits!
3. Transportation credits include:a.  Lyft credit (valued at $300)
   b.  Zipcar one month membership & application (valued at $32) + $100 drive credit
   c.  One month Flamingo pass including HART bus and TECO Line Streetcar System (valued at $65).
4. The Challenge starts October 8 and ends November 6.

Since day one, Lyft believed cities should be built around people, not cars or parking lots. Using a mix of multi-modal options, it’s possible to rework cities and ditch personal cars. Lyft is committed to being a part of the solution to reduce congestion, carbon footprint and the pain points of personal car ownership in Tamp.

HART Recognizes Safe Operators with "Million Mile" Awards!

Imagine driving a million miles - 40 times around the earth's circumference - without a preventable accident. Now imagine accomplishing such a feat as the driver of a 40-foot bus!

Thirteen HART operators, joined by their families, were recognized on Tuesday, July 31, during the Authority's Third Annual HART Million Mile Safe Driver Awards Luncheon in honor of those who achieved outstanding safety milestones in safe driving and service.

How far is a million miles? It is like driving 769 one-way trips - from Tampa to New York City.

"In today's driving conditions these operators have accomplished something that demonstrates their high level of safety consciousness and commitment to the safety of their passengers, fellow motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists," said HART Interim CEO Jeff Seward. "We congratulate these accomplished bus operators and thank them for their hard work and dedication. These elite men and women consistently demonstrate advanced skills and concentration levels to achieve the Million Miler status."

One could travel to the moon and back twice before reaching a million miles, yet 11 HART Bus Operators achieved this well within earth's atmosphere. Driving 14 consecutive years without a preventable accident, the Authority's newest Million Mile operators are Kenneth Beach, Rufus Blake, Theresa Briseneau, Tito Goicochea, Marc Henry, Dinesta McBride, Henry Morales, Gustavo Pachon, Jimmy Suarez, Bridget Williams, and Tyran Williams.

"HART's Million Mile Safe Driver Awards program allows executive leadership and management to recognize and honor those who have served the public in a safe and customer-centric manner," said Chief Administrative Officer and Interim Chief of Staff Kenyatta Lee. "This is a great opportunity to show our appreciation for the best of the best, who take great care of the Authority's customers and vehicles. "

Two Million Mile Club: Cosme Garcia (left); Tony Hernandez (right)

HART bus operators Cosme Garcia and Tony Hernandez join the prestigious two million mile club. In the world of a HART bus operator, this incredible achievement equates to 27 years of driving a bus without having a preventable accident.

When asked what it requires to drive so many miles without a preventable accident, two million miler Operator Cosme Garcia said that it is a great accomplishment. "You see others achieve it and you strive for it. As a driver, you appreciate this perhaps more than others might, just by witnessing all the incidents that take place on the road. The key to safety is not only to be focused on your actions but also be observant of other's actions to ensure nothing happens," he said. 

Congrats to all of our Million Milers!