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

Interested in Regional Transit? Take the New Survey!

The team creating the Regional Transit Feasibility Plan is rolling out an online survey this week to obtain additional public input on the draft plan while hearing more about how residents would use transit.

The survey includes questions about respondents’ transit preferences. It also asks for feedback on the team’s technical recommendations, released earlier this year, regarding a proposed “catalyst project” and the regional vision.

The draft catalyst project is a 41-mile rubber tire transit concept that would run from Wesley Chapel in Pasco County, to downtown St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, while connecting the University of South Florida area, downtown Tampa, Westshore, and the Greater Gateway/Carillon area along Interstate 275. Urban passenger rail is also a high performing recommendation, using an existing CSX rail line that runs between downtown Tampa and USF. Feedback is being sought on both projects in the online survey.

Identifying the “catalyst project” is not an all-or-nothing proposition - it’s the first of many steps in building the regional transit vision for Tampa Bay. The online survey is available now through the end of summer. The draft plan will be modified after incorporating feedback from the public with the final expected in the fall, allowing the region to move towards engineering, design, and implementation.

For more information on the Regional Transit Feasibility Plan, visit www.TBRegionalTransit.com. 

Fun, Food, and Fierce Competition at 2018 HART/PSTA Regional Bus Roadeo

HART and PSTA held the annual Regional Roadeo last weekend at the HART Operations and Maintenance Facility. Bus and van operators from HART and PSTA, as well as, two teams of PSTA mechanics showcased their driving and vehicle maintenance skills. 

"I am proud of all our drivers who participated in the HART and PSTA Regional Bus Roadeo," said HART Chief Operating Officer Ruthie Reyes Burckard. "Their participation is voluntary and demonstrates their commitment to safety and strengthening their skills."

More than 29 operators were judged on a rigid, scored course, consisting of 11 different obstacles. Operators were evaluated on 16 criteria including a pre-trip inspection of their vehicle, uniform compliance, 11 different driving challenges, smoothness of operation, and safety habits - all on a timed course. The van operators competition consisted of the same obstacle course and also included a wheelchair deployment following ADA protocol as part of their criteria. The 6 PSTA maintenance technicians were tasked with finding preset defects on six modules including air conditioning, powertrain, and more. Participants also had to conduct a vehicle inspection to locate pre-set defects that would render the vehicle inoperable and/or unsafe.

Operators were judged on 11 different obstacles

Joining these competitors were approximately 75 employees and vendors from both agencies who volunteered as judges and assessed contestants driving skills, knowledge of safety rules, time performance and maintenance skills. First place finishers advanced to the State competition held in Daytona Beach on April 27 and could advance to the 2018 APTA International Bus Roadeo hosted jointly by HART and PSTA at the PSTA Operations facility in St. Petersburg on May 6, 2018.

Results

HART

HART - Bus Operators - Top 3

Bus

• 1st Place - Guardionex Falero-Ramos - Fourth Roadeo; two 2nd Place and one 3rd Place finishes
• 2nd Place - Maged Botros - First Roadeo
• 3rd Place - Eric McKethan - Fourth Roadeo; one top 10, and two first place finishes

 
Van

• 1st Place - Alfred Patterson - Third Roadeo; first top 5 finish
• 2nd Place - LaShawn Vickers - First Roadeo
• 3rd Place - Francisco Guerrero - First Roadeo

PSTA

Bus

PSTA winners

• 1st Place -Nehemia Guerra
• 2nd Place - Randy Pinto
• 3rd Place - Jose Colindres
  

Maintenance

• 1st Place - Tyler Johnson, Bobby Farris, and Paul Levesque
• 2nd Place - Derrick Brown, Zach Hulet, and Tim Sandmeyer

Fun was had by all!