Tampa Receives Federal Grant for Transit Employment Training

This week, Tampa was awarded $234,281 from the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program to implement "Meeting Today's and Tomorrow's Job Needs in Mass Transit," a recruitment and training partnership between the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC of Tampa) and HART. This project will recruit, train and employ up to 30 people in the transit industry, including transit operations and maintenance workers. The CDC will partner with HART "We are excited about the partnership which will help solve a skills training void in the community," stated Ernest Coney Jr., CEO of the CDC of Tampa.  "The partnership will result in livable wage jobs and career paths that will continue to transform Tampa/ Hillsborough into a vibrant and strong community." The CDC of Tampa is the direct recipient of the grant, and is one of 17 organizations in 12 states to share $7 million from the FTA Innovative Transit Workforce Development Program. The purpose of the grant is to help local public transit agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations and Native American tribes train a future generation of transit professionals, with particular emphasis on promoting training opportunities in emerging technologies and encouraging young people to pursue careers in public transportation. "HART will soon begin using new technologies and advanced practices -- such as transit signal priority and compressed natural gas vehicles -- to keep our local public transit system modern and environmentally sustainable," HART CEO Philip Hale said. "This federal grant will fund a partnership project between HART and the CDC of Tampa that will provide the type of advanced training needed to develop highly qualified candidates to serve the future of public transit." Training for jobs such as mechanics will be provided The CDC of Tampa will provide enrolled candidates with certification-based transit training, job placement services and case management services. HART will work with the CDC of Tampa in developing benchmark standards for training; provide access to training staff and facilities; and assist with the CDC of Tampa's training compliance standard.

Arrgh Mateys! Set sail for Gasparilla with HART and the TECO Line Streetcar!

Take the streetcar to the Pirate frenzy!

Arrgh you ready?! Have your sights set on Gasparilla? Well, set sail with HART and the TECO Line Streetcar. We're rolling out extra streetcar, bus and trolley service to ensure a safe and easy way to get around during Gasparilla on Saturday, Jan. 26. 

Service includes:

TECO Line Streetcar

• For those parking in Ybor City, take the streetcar from Ybor City (Centennial Park Station) to Downtown Tampa (Dick Greco Plaza) View Map for Gasparilla 2013 -- Streetcar and Bus service
• Continuous service 9 a.m. - 2 a.m.
• $5 for an all-day pass, which may be purchased with cash at ticket vending machines (change provided) located at each streetcar station. This fare does not cover the City of Tampa parking fees.
• Stations 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11 will be closed 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Stations 5, 6, 7, 9 will be open for bus service only. See Map for Gasparilla 2013.

For more information on the TECO Line Streetcar System, visit www.TECOlinestreetcar.org.

HART Bus Service

• For those parking in Ybor City, bus service will be available during peak times in the morning and afternoon between Ybor City (Streetcar Society Station) and Downtown Tampa (Dick Greco Plaza) View Map for Gasparilla 2013 -- Streetcar and Bus Service 
• $4 for an all-day pass, which may be purchased in advance at HART retail outlets or on board buses on Gasparilla Day with cash only (no change provided). Monthly bus passes may also be used. This fare does not cover City of Tampa parking fees. 

In-Town Trolley  

• Provides a connection from the north end of Downtown Tampa (Marion Transit Center) to the south end of Downtown Tampa (Dick Greco Plaza).  View Map for Gasparilla 2013
• Continuous service 9 a.m. -  6 p.m.
• 25¢ or streetcar/bus all-day passes accepted

Getting to Downtown Tampa on HART

• From North Tampa:  Routes 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 12, 18
• From Temple Terrace:  Route 6
• From Brandon:  Route 8
• From West Tampa:  Route 7
• From South Tampa:  Route 19
• From Citrus Park:  Route 7
• From Town 'N Country/Westchase:  Route 30
•  View entire bus system map 
•  View Saturday bus schedule

 

Click here to view the HART system map.  Click here for a list of HART service detours during the Gasparilla Pirate Fest.

Leave the gray hairs to Jack Sparrow!

Have specific questions about HART service during this special event, call 813-254-4278 or visit www.goHART.org.  Never attended Gasparilla before? Learn how to party like a (responsible) pirate! 

Just remember, gray hairs may give Captain Jack Sparrow a "distinguished look." However, with over 500,000 swashbucklers expected to attend Gasparilla, don't test your luck - save yourself some gray hairs - and ride with us.

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.

2012 Ridership Up 3%, Highest Annual Ridership in HART History!

14,414,008 rides in 2012! December bus ridership numbers are in, closing out 2012 at 14,414,008 million, a 3.4 percent increase compared to 2011 and the highest in HART history! 2012 bus ridership marks nearly 500,000 more bus trips than 2011. HART also saw record ridership for the fiscal year ending in October. In 2012, two months set monthly bus ridership records: In March, ridership reached 1,278,876, the highest monthly ridership in HART history. This record was surpassed in October when ridership reached 1,344,854, the first time HART monthly ridership marked more than 1.3 million. Some bus routes have demonstrated double-digit ridership growth over the past year,* showing that public transit use is up across all areas of Hillsborough County: Route 16 (Waters Avenue, between Northeast Tampa and Town 'N Country): 20 percent increase Route 31 (Brandon to SouthShore via Gibsonton/Apollo Beach): 19 percent increase Route 41 (Sligh Avenue, between West Tampa and NetPark): 17 percent increase Route 10 (Cypress Street, between Downtown Tampa to Social Security Administration, near Westshore): 12 percent increase Route 37 (Brandon to Netpark via Grand Regency Plaza): 12 percent increase (*January - November 2012) For more information about HART, visit www.goHART.org or call 813-273-4278.