Another Record Year for HART!

14.3 million trips were taken on HART buses in FY 2012! The latest numbers are in to close out HART fiscal year 2012, which ended Sept. 30. Ridership highlights: Fiscal year 2012 bus ridership was up by nearly 600,000 trips or 4.3 percent, compared to last year (2011: 13,730,705; 2012: 14,314,610) Fiscal Year 2012 bus ridership marks an all-time high for HART and breaks the annual record for the third year in a row! Fiscal Year 2012 bus ridership breakdown: Express average ridership up 11.4 percent Saturday average ridership up 4.7 Sunday average ridership up 2.2 percent "Transportation has occupied the attention of this community for the past few years, and although we may not yet have light rail to serve commuters and visitors, record ridership for the third straight year in a row shows that this community has noticed HART's transformation from the bus system of an earlier time," said HART Board Chair Fran Davin. "HART is on pace for even greater transformation next year, as we move forward with significant transit system improvements, including upgraded facilities, MetroRapid North-South, and a compressed natural gas fueling station."  HART Highlights in fiscal year 2012:  Secured $6.3 million in federal grants to build a compressed natural gas fueling station and purchase buses powered by CNG. Design-build of the fueling station is scheduled to begin early 2013. 54 shelters installed, 319 stops improved (i.e. landing pads, sidewalks, etc.) throughout Hillsborough County, including Cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace 2012 Summer Blast Pass ridership increased by 48 percent! This year, 66,215 trips were taken as part of this program, compared to last year's ridership of 44,732. New, smaller HARTPlus vans were added to the fleet, providing cost-savings and flexibility to operations. These vehicles are less expensive to purchase and operate, and can be assigned to paratransit trips with fewer passengers.   For more information about HART, visit www.goHART.org