BOCC Appoints Two New Board Members; Reappoints One

Please join HART staff in welcoming Gary Hartfield and John King Jr. as newly-appointed HART Board members, representing Hillsborough County. We are also excited to announce that Director Marvin Knight was reappointed for another term and will continue his tenure on the Board.

Gary T. Hartfield is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, leader, author, and philanthropist. He is the president and CEO of six Residential Group Homes throughout Florida, delivering personalized and therapeutic healthcare services for the elderly and developmentally disabled. Gary is also the founder and CEO of Serenity Village Insurance & Consulting, a full-service agency providing insurance solutions to clients throughout Florida and Georgia. Mr. Hartfield's key business roles and accomplishments extend to the nonprofit realm, where he serves as the CEO and Chairman of Empower Florida, Inc., an association representing the needs of more than 20,000 business owners who serve the intellectually and developmentally disabled throughout Florida. He also serves on multiple boards and councils, including the Tampa Bay Chamber, Career Source Tampa Bay, the CEO Council, the Nonprofit Leadership Center, The Skills Center, Live Tampa Bay, and the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs.

Gary T. Hartfield

John King, Jr., is a native Floridian and resided in Hillsborough County since 2008. Mr. King graduated from Florida State University and retired from the United States Navy after serving for 22 years as a military intelligence officer. Prior to his military service, Mr. King worked as a risk management consultant for MG Consulting in Atlanta, Georgia, restructuring Commercial General Liability, and Commercial Property and Casualty loss portfolios and reinsurance contracts. Mr. King currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Carrollwood Village Homeowners Association. Mr. King is a former aide to Congressman Charles E. Bennett of Florida.

John King, Jr.

Marvin Knight, a current HART Board member, has been reappointed for his third term on the HART Board of Directors. Mr. Knight has a degree in electronic technology and computer electronics. Mr. Knight is very active in the community; he is Hillsborough County Honorary Deputy, a member of NAACP, and Freddie Solomon Boys and Girls Club. Marvin Knight has been a member of the HART Finance and Audit, Operations and Safety Committees, and Revenue Alternatives Ad Hoc Committee.

Marvin Knight

We are looking forward to your input and active involvement in support of HART’s mission “to take people to the places that enhance their lives”.

New appointees replace the previous Hillsborough County appointees Rena Frazier and Eric Johnson. HART would like to thank them for their service on the HART Board of Directors and commitment to the Agency during their tenure.

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The HART Board is responsible for setting policy and making decisions for the Authority on matters ranging from system operations, service planning, fare structure, finance, customer service, and is made up of 14 volunteers who are appointed to represent Hillsborough County (seven seats), City of Tampa (four seats), State of Florida (two seats) and City of Temple Terrace (one seat). Officers of the HART Board (chair, vice-chair and secretary) are elected every year.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service

HART will operate on a Saturday service level for MLK, Jr. Day

HART service levels for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013:

Will operate on a Saturday service level

• HART local bus routes
• HARTFlex (Northdale)
• HARTPlus

Streetcar Service 

 

The TECO Line Streetcar System will operate on a Monday service schedule

No Service

• Express & Limited Express Routes
• HARTFlex (Brandon)
• HARTFlex (South County)
• HARTFlex (South Tampa) 
• HARTFlex (Town ‘N Country)
• In-Town Trolley (Route 96)

HARTPlus and HARTFlex subscription customers who wish to use HARTPlus and HARTFlex services on holidays must make a reservation through Customer Service (813) 254-4278.

HART Customer Service will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling (813) 254-4278 or TDD (813) 626-9158.

HART Customer Service Centers at University Area Transit Center and Marion Transit Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. HART on Franklin will be closed.
All other HART offices will be closed.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - News and Notes

Monday, January 16, marks a special day for America. It's a day celebrating the birth of a man that helped change society for the better by advancing equality and civil rights in the United States.

HART will operate on a Saturday schedule in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day with the TECO Line Streetcar on a normal Monday schedule (Noon to 10 p.m.).

The following services will not operate on Monday:

• Express/Limited Express Routes
• HARTFlex (South Tampa, South County and Town 'N Country)
• In-Town Trolley (Route 96)

HART Customer Service will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by calling (813) 254-4278.

HART Customer Service centers at University Area Transit Center and Marion Transit Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. HART on Franklin and all other HART offices will be closed.

The MLK Day service flyer can be downloaded here.

MLK Jr. Parade Detours:

Three routes will be on detour from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. due to the MLK parade:

• Route 9: Bus stops along 15th St. between Lake and Hillsborough Ave. will not be served due to street closures from the MLK parade.

• Route 12: Bus stops along 22nd St. between Lake and Hillsborough Ave. will not be served due to street closures from the MLK parade.

• Route 32: Bus stops along MLK blvd. between Nebraska and 34th street will not be served due to street closures from the MLK parade.

It All Started on a Bus...

Ms. Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat

Martin Luther King, Jr. was the face, the voice and the spirit behind the civil rights movement, but he was not alone. It all started in 1955, when Rosa Parks, a seamstress, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man, which was in violation of segregation laws at the time. She later appealed the conviction, challenging the legality of segregation. Rosa Park's actions soon prompted bus boycotts in Montgomery, Alabama, which lead to the desegregation of Montgomery buses and became one of the movement's first victories. The boycotts, led by King, propelled him to the champion the cause.

Bombed out bus of the Freedom Riders

The boycotts may have advanced the movement, but it wasn't until 1961, that widespread desegregation was in seen in mass transit.

Coming from a variety of racial, ethnic and economical backgrounds, 436 students risked their lives on buses, planes and trains, in pursuit of racial equality. What became known as "Freedom Rides" took place throughout the South in support of civil rights, where in some cases, participants were harassed, beaten and jailed.

Dr. Raymond Arsenault, Kredelle Petway, Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr.

HART is honoring Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. and Kredelle Petway, throughout the month of January and February for their contributions toward advancing racial equality as part of the Freedom Riders. Joining them is Dr. Raymond Arsenault, author of the award winning book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice, which sparked a renewed interest in this amazing tale of courage and determination.

Keep on the lookout for a PSA featuring the trio on My Fox Tampa Bay (Channel 13 on most TVs). We'll also have more in depth posts featuring them individually in the coming weeks.

One man had a dream that one day all men would be created equal. That dream became a reality through the actions of many, including Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders. It all started on a bus, and HART honors the role that transit played in advancing that dream of equality.