Your Ride to Tampa Pride: Hop on the FREE TECO Line Streetcar!

HART and local officials encourage those attending the Tampa Pride Diversity Parade on Saturday, March 26, 2022, to utilize FREE TECO Line Streetcar service for the festivities!

The TECO Line Streetcar is your best bet to Tampa Pride with over 80,000 attendees expected in historic Ybor City for the 7th Annual Tampa Pride Diversity Parade.

Tampa Pride attendees are encouraged to park in the Port Tampa Bay parking garage and pick up free streetcar service from Cumberland Avenue Station (#7) or Amalie Arena Station (#8) to Ybor City.

HART Bus and Streetcar Service for Tampa Pride

The TECO Line Streetcar will operate every 15 minutes with Saturday service until 2 AM. Streetcar service will cease north of 7th Avenue on Saturday from 3 PM - 8 PM.

The TECO Line Streetcar will serve a temporary station just south of the 7th Avenue parade route in front of the Streetcar barn / HART Administrative Office. Stations #1-4 will not be served during that time.

For those interested in HART bus service, routes 5, 8, 9, and 12 serve Ybor City. Customers can use the HART Trip Planner to map their Ride to Pride!

A HART 1-day pass is just $4. Customers can pay onboard with exact change or download the Flamingo Fares app to pay via smartphone.

Visit www.TECOLineStreetcar.org for a live streetcar map, schedules, and more information on the TECO Line Streetcar or www.goHART.org for HART bus service.

HART is Your Ride to Tampa Pride!

Join HART in Celebrating Transit Worker Appreciation Day on March 18, 2022!

The Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) encourages riders and invites the community to thank transportation workers across Hillsborough County on March 18, 2022, in observance of Transit Worker Appreciation Day.

HART's bus, van and streetcar operators, as well as maintenance workers, provide safe and reliable service every day to our thousands of Hillsborough County riders.

During one of the most challenging times in recent history, transit workers across the country showcased how public transportation is essential to the vitality of the community by remaining open and serving essential workers.

These professionals regularly demonstrate patience and skill. However, above all, they care about our riders and serving our community.

Commuters know the familiar faces they encounter each day as they travel to work and school, run errands, see a friend, or receive their last round of chemotherapy. Our transit workers become part of our customers' daily lives and it's great to show them that we appreciate the great work they do.

Join the Transit Worker Day Celebration

Tell your operator thank you, share a smile or say hello. Customers can also help spread the word about this special day by posting to their social media pages using #ThanksTransit.

HART customers can also share their great experiences by using #HARTHeroes or visiting www.goHART.org.

HART to Hold Design Workshop for TOD Pilot Project

HART is hosting the second of two public design charrettes for the HART Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Pilot Project on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The charrette is being held from 10 AM - 2:30 PM at the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association - 2005 N Lamar Ave., Tampa, FL, 33602.

The purpose of the charrettes is to share information about the HART TOD Pilot Project, explore strategies to guide land use and development, and share ideas for the community's future.

HART TOD Design Charrette Schedule:

• Morning Design Session - 10:30 AM - 12 PM
• Afternoon Design Session - 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

The community will have the opportunity to hear a project update on the HART TOD Study and provide input via interactive map exercises.

For more information about the HART TOD Pilot Project and announcements on upcoming events, visit goHARTTOD.org.

For more information about HART service, visit www.goHART.org.

HART Receives U.S. DOT Grant to Expand Cross Bay Ferry

FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. KATHY CASTOR:

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced that the Department of Transportation will award the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) $4,863,280 through the FY 2021 Passenger Ferry Grant Program.

“What a fitting love note from the Biden Administration to our Tampa community on Valentine’s Day – this grant will allow HART to significantly reduce operational costs while expanding the Cross Bay Ferry service, helping to grow intercity and commuter ferry service. It will grow a popular transit option between Tampa and St. Pete, reduce congestion, create local jobs, support small businesses and increase connectivity in the Tampa Bay region. In fact, over 90 percent of the CBF passengers patronize restaurants, shops, museums and sporting events in these two urban areas. This investment is a win-win-win for our community and all of our neighbors.

“I look forward to continuing to work with local partners like HART, the City and the County to secure federal funds for multi-modal projects that support our local economy and neighbors,” said Rep. Castor, who championed the project.

“We are thrilled to have received this grant,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner and HART Chairperson Pat Kemp, a longtime proponent of Tampa Bay ferry service. “It’s a great down payment on permanent service. It just goes to show how strong our ferry project is and the value of our region working together.”

The Passenger Ferry Grant Program (49 U.S.C. 5307(h)) provides competitive funding for projects that support passenger ferry systems in urbanized areas. These funds constitute a core investment in the enhancement and revitalization of public ferry systems in the nation’s urbanized areas. Funds are awarded based on factors such as the age and condition of existing ferry boats, terminals and related infrastructure; benefits to riders, such as increased reliability; project readiness; and connectivity to other modes of transportation.  Funding is allocated to projects on a competitive basis, from proposals submitted to FTA in response to Notices of Funding Opportunities.  Once awards are announced, funds are available for the year the announcement is made plus five years. See here for more information: https://www.transit.dot.gov/passenger-ferry-grants. 

HART CEO Adelee Marie Le Grand Named To Tampa Bay’s Power 100 List

The Tampa Bay Business Journal has named HART CEO Adelee Marie Le Grand, AICP, as one of Tampa Bay’s most influential business leaders.

On January 26, the publication released its annual Power 100 ranking, recognizing Le Grand amongst a host of other prominent local business leaders, including the owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Rays, as well as the CEOs of Publix, AdventHealth West Florida and Tampa International Airport.

The Power 100 list recognizes individuals for their leadership qualities, and how their work helps to shape the success of the regional business community. Le Grand’s inclusion on this list in her first year at the helm of HART demonstrates how she has been strategic in building relationships with business and civic leaders whose support of public transit is key to expanding customer-focused mobility options in Hillsborough County.

Le Grand’s key message: Transit not only connects people to key resources and employees to jobs but also spurs economic growth in the region.

Since her arrival at HART in January 2021, Le Grand has been laser-focused on creating a new vision for the organization by establishing trust and transparency, cultivating a culture of operational excellence and building meaningful strategic partnerships.

You can read the article here. 

HART CEO Adelee Marie Le Grand, AICP

HART Awarded Transit-Oriented Development Grant for Streetcar and Bus Rapid Transit Projects

Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART) is pleased to announce the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the agency with a Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning grant totaling $300,000 to plan for TOD at four proposed stations along the planned TECO Line Streetcar extension and HART's bus rapid transit line that will link downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the award of approximately $11 million to 20 projects in 12 states to support comprehensive planning efforts to improve access to public transportation. Funding through FTA's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning grants will help organizations plan for transportation projects that connect communities and improve access to transit and affordable housing. 

"Transit-oriented development offers easier, more affordable access to jobs, health care, school, shopping, and other daily needs," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "We're pleased to award this funding to help more communities develop around transit in a way that reduces pollution, increases economic opportunity, and contributes to affordable housing."

For those interested in the TOD planning process, HART is holding the second of two Public Design Charrettes on February 12, 2022, from 10 AM - 2:30 PM at the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, 2005 N Lamar Ave. The purpose of the charrette is to share information about the HART TOD Pilot Project, explore strategies to guide land use and development, and share ideas for the community's future. 

HART TOD Pilot

For more information on the HART TOD Pilot Project, visit www.goHARTTOD.org.

For more information on HART and the TECO Line Streetcar, visit www.goHART.org. 

HART Board Elects New Leadership for 2022

HART Chair Pat Kemp

At its January 10 meeting, the HART Board elected Commissioner Patricia "Pat" Kemp as Chair, Commissioner Kimberly Overman as Vice-Chair and Director Melanie Williams as Secretary of the HART Board of Directors for 2022.

Commissioner Kemp takes over as HART Chair from Commissioner Mariella Smith, who served in the role for the last two years. Chair Kemp will serve a 1-year term.

"It is a great privilege to be elected as HART Board Chair and continue working alongside the dedicated Board members to serve our customers, employees and the community, said Chair Commissioner Kemp. "I look forward to working together to operate a safe, reliable, efficient and fiscally sound transit system that contributes to the economic success and quality of life of this region and Hillsborough County." 

Commissioner Kemp has been a Board member since November 2016 and served as Chair of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioner in 2021.

Commissioner Kemp has more than three decades of public service in Hillsborough County. As an attorney, she worked both in private practice and for Bay Area Legal Services, providing civil legal services for low-income clients.

Commissioner Kemp has long been an advocate for improving transportation in the county and the region.

Commissioner Kemp also serves on the following County and Regional Boards and Councils:

• Election Canvassing Board
• Environmental Protection Commission (Vice-Chair)
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Southwest Florida Water Management District Liaison
• Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA)
• Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)
• Vale Adjustment Board

In other business, the HART Board appointed HART CEO Adelee Le Grand to serve as the organization's representative on the Hillsborough TPO Board.

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.