HART Board Statement on the Vote to Suspend HART CEO Adelee Le Grand with Pay

Official statement of the HART Board regarding the board action on Monday, March 27, 2023, to suspend HART CEO Adelee Le Grand with pay:

"The HART Board voted on Monday to suspend CEO Adelee Le Grand with pay following the final report of the investigative attorney David Adams. The Board is expected to make a decision on Ms. Le Grand’s future with the agency at a special board meeting to be determined in the near future. We remain as a Board committed to transparency and the expectations of taxpayers who fund our mission.  In the meantime, Scott Drainville, Chief of Maintenance and Transportation, has been named as Interim CEO.

Despite our current circumstances, HART remains fully committed to our mission.  And we remain committed to the hard-working men and women who give all they have on the job for our mission."

TECO Line Streetcar Service to Increase Frequency Starting Sunday

Starting this Sunday, March 19, 2023, the TECO Line Streetcar System is increasing peak hour service Friday through Sunday. The TECO Line Streetcar currently operates every 15 minutes. However, starting on Sunday, service frequency increases to every 12 minutes during peak hours to accommodate the large, standing-room-only crowds the Streetcar experiences on the weekends. The Streetcar continues to break ridership records and carried over a million riders in FY2022. The new enhanced streetcar service will be effective Friday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. The enhanced streetcar service is possible thanks to increased funding from the Downtown, Channel District and Ybor City Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) and the Tampa Downtown Partnership. "The TECO Line Streetcar continues to show what an investment in public transportation can provide with enhanced connectivity in the area and increased foot traffic to businesses," said Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. President Michael English. "The TECO Line Streetcar provides a viable transportation alternative for residents, workers and visitors in downtown and historic Ybor City". The TECO Line Streetcar System operating hours beginning Sunday, March 19, 2023: Monday - Thursday: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., every 15 minutes Friday: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., every 15 minutes 1 p.m. - 9 p.m., every 12 minutes 9 p.m. - 2 a.m., every 15 minutes Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., every 15 minutes 1 p.m. - 9 p.m., every 12 minutes 9 p.m. - 2 a.m., every 15 minutes Sunday: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., every 15 minutes 1 p.m. - 9 p.m., every 12 minutes 9 p.m. - 11 p.m., every 15 minutes The TECO Line Streetcar is an agreement between HART, the City of Tampa, and Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. and includes the Florida Department of Transportation, the Downtown, Channel District, and Ybor City CRAs and the Tampa Downtown Partnership as funding partners. For more information on the TECO Line Streetcar, visit TECOLineStreetcar.org.

 

HART Operators Compete in Tampa Bay Regional Roadeo!

HART, MCAT and PSTA held the annual Regional Roadeo last weekend at PSTA's Operations and Maintenance Facility. Bus operators from HART, MCAT and PSTA showcased their driving skills in various challenges.

Almost 40 operators were judged on a rigid, scored course, consisting of 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. 

Participants also had to conduct a vehicle inspection to locate pre-set defects that would render the vehicle inoperable and/or unsafe.

HART Bus Operator Crystal Edwards placed #2 out of 37 HART, MCAT and PSTA operators and was among seven HART operators competing in the Roadeo. 

Joining these competitors were employees and vendors from both agencies who volunteered as judges and assessed contestants driving skills, knowledge of safety rules, time performance and maintenance skills. 

HART's first, second and third place winners

Roadeo Results (Among HART operators)

• 1st Place - Crystal Edwards - 2nd place overall
• 2nd Place - Guarionex Falero Ramos
• 3rd Place - Tia Allen

Crystal Edwards now advances to the State Roadeo held in Orlando. Winners from the State competition move on to the APTA International Bus Roadeo.

HART Riders Can Now Pay Via Debit, Credit, Google Pay and Apple Pay!

Tampa Bay transit riders (HART/PSTA/The Bus) can now tap to ride across the region using credit and debit cards, digital wallets (Google Pay or Apple Pay), as well as the Flamingo Fares smartcard or mobile app.

"We are excited to offer our customers another way to pay their fare,” said Adelee Le Grand, Chief Executive Officer, HART. “Contactless payments on Flamingo Fares not only provide our customers with greater ease of access, removing another barrier from riding transit, but also assists in speeding up the boarding process, improving travel times.”

The Flamingo Fares system has fare capping implemented, meaning passengers always receive the lowest price as the system automatically caps prices whenever riders reach the daily or monthly thresholds. Riders using contactless payments (debit/credit/Google Pay/Apple Pay) will be able to take advantage of daily fare capping. 

Please note: Discount fare riders must use their Flamingo Fares smartcard or mobile app to receive the reduced fare. 

Attempts to use the same contactless payment multiple times (multiple riders) upon boarding will result in a failed transaction.

Flamingo Fares Tampa Bay launched in 2020.

To learn more about contactless payments and Flamingo Fares, visit www.FlamingoFares.com

HART CEO Adelee Le Grand Named To Power 100 List For 2nd Consecutive Year

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

On February 1, the publication released its annual Power 100 List, recognizing Le Grand amongst a host of other prominent local business leaders, including the owners of the local sports franchises, as well as the CEOs of Publix, the University of South Florida and Tampa International Airport.

The Power 100 list recognizes individuals for their leadership qualities, and how their work helps to "shape the paths and fortunes" of the regional business community. 

This marks Le Grand’s second consecutive year on the influential list.

Inclusion on this list demonstrates how Le Grand 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.

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

The TECO Line Streetcar Hits All-Time Ridership Record

Credit: Visit Tampa Bay

The TECO Line Streetcar smashed the all-time monthly ridership record in December 2022 with 118,575 trips.

It was the highest monthly ridership in over 20 years of TECO Line Streetcar service.

The TECO Line Streetcar has broken several ridership records over the past year with the previous monthly record achieved in March 2022 with 107,956 trips reported. The Streetcar also ended Fiscal Year 2022 (October 2021 - September 31, 2022) with all-time annual ridership of over a million trips taken.

The record ridership is attributed to population growth along the Streetcar line, visitors in town for events such as the ReliaQuest Bowl, and an overall return in Hillsborough County tourism.

"When we opened the streetcar system, there were very few people living in downtown and Ybor City," said Michael English, President, Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. "Now, people are riding it, not just for fun, now they're riding it to get to work, to go to school. It has just been astounding. The Streetcar is a viable transportation option in downtown and Ybor City."

The TECO Line Streetcar is an agreement between HART, the City of Tampa, and Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. and includes the Florida Department of Transportation, the Community Redevelopment Areas along the Streetcar line, and the Tampa Downtown Partnership as funding partners.

The HART HCC Semester Pass Has Flocked to Flamingo Fares!

Welcome back, Hillsborough Community College (HCC) Hawks! The HART HCC Semester Pass has migrated to Flamingo Fares.

HCC students can purchase a full semester pass for only $110. The pass provides students with four months of rides for roughly the price of two! HCC students can now purchase a pass at all HCC Bookstores or by bringing their Student ID to the Customer Service window at the Marion Transit Center or University Area Transit Center for verification of HCC status

Upon boarding, simply tap your Flamingo Fares card on the Flamingo reader and wait for a green check.

Please note: The HCC Semester Pass is NOT valid on HARTPlus service. 

First time riding HART? 

Make sure you Ride with Respect to maintain a great experience for everyone on board! 

New to public transportation? HART Travel Training is a GREAT way to learn the ropes of riding public transportation. The service is FREE with trainers providing step-by-step instructions on how to understand the HART system (reading a map, signage, etc.) and figure out the best route that will take you to your destination.