HART to Implement Service Changes on Sunday, April 17, 2022

HART is implementing service changes on Routes 10 and 14 on Sunday, April 17, 2022. HART is enacting the changes to improve the customer experience.

Summary of Service Changes:

• Service with Minor Schedule Changes:
• Route 10 - The daily schedule will be changed in both directions.
• Route 14 - The daily schedule will be changed in the southbound direction.

Customers can visit www.goHART.org to view updated schedules, a summary of the service changes and more information on HART service.

Customers with questions can contact HART Customer Service at 813-254-4278.

Every Day is Earth Day at HART!

Over 50 years ago, the first Earth Day was held around the country with over 20 million people participating in the event to create awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural beauty. One day out of 365 days to appreciate the Earth and protect it. Shouldn't the Earth be a concern... every day? That's the thought process at HART. What we do naturally has a connection with "green", through taking cars off the road, reducing carbon emissions and providing for more walkable communities. 

In fact, the American Public Transportation (APTA), shows that public transportation saves the United States 4.2 billion gallons of gas annually and saves the U.S. $13.7 billion in congestion each year! As an organization, we feel it's necessary to be a responsible organization focused on environmental sustainability. That's why we don't just rest on the numbers above. HART has taken a number of steps to ensure that as an organization we are doing our part for the planet. With over 800 employees and 200+ vehicles, the meat and potatoes are in the waste that HART recycles during our day-to-day maintenance and operating of our organization.

Here are some of the steps that HART takes in regards to our fleet vehicles:

• The entire fleet is EPA-certified
  

• 

  HART operates 85 CNG buses

  Began fleet transition to cleaner-burner Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in 2014; currently operating 85 CNG vehicles
• Since 2014, the HART fleet has reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 20%, the equivalent of removing over 3,000 cars off the road!
• Waste oil, used non-crushed oil filters, coolant, scrap metal, aluminium is all recycled
• Freon is reused after being captured by a reclaim system
• HART purchases recycled and environmentally-friendly coolants
• Use of synthetic oils, which extends the life of the oil and minimizes the number of times we have to drain it
• 80% recyclable vehicle wash systems

Steps HART takes in regards to our transit facilities:

• Waterless urinals and low-water consumption equipment are in place
• Solar film was installed at Marion Transit Center to improve cooling efficiency
• Motion sensor lights in restroom facilities
• Electric hand dryers
• Fluorescent bulbs are crushed; glass remains and mercury are recycled
• All chemicals and cleaners are green-certified
• Use of non-aerosol sprays
• No-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints that can have pretty serious health effects (liver/kidney damage)
• Bus shelters utilize solar panels for lighting
• All office paper, batteries, copier toner cartridges and electronic circuit boards are recycled

With over 800+ employees, 200+ vehicles, and 7.7 million miles traveled by our service vehicles last year, you can imagine just how much waste is recycled. 

HART also took the "LEED" during the renovation of our HART Operations Facility into a Leadership into Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building. The redesign introduced a slew of new windows into the building, taking advantage of natural lighting. Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting (consuming 50% less electricity than fluorescent lighting) also features throughout the building. 

The name of the game is sustainability. Using public transportation is one of a variety of possible sustainable commutes, but know that beyond the buses, vans and streetcars, HART is doing its part for the environment! 

Find out how much you can reduce your carbon footprint by using the Carbon Savings Calculator.

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