TAMPA, FL:  Tampa Bay Buccaneer Ryan Nece will join the Honorable Bob Martinez, Senator Victor Crist, Representative Rich Glorioso, Commissioner Mark Sharpe and HART Board Chair and Temple Terrace Councilman Ron Govin in Honoring Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) Employees for their Big Win as the most outstanding transit system in the entire U.S.A.   HART's most senior Bus Operator, Thomas Mouling, will also be speaking.   Go HART!

Where:  4305 East 21st Avenue, Tampa, FL   33605 (1 block East of 40th Street)

When:   Thursday, June 17th, 2 p.m. sharp which is shift change time for HART employees

Why:    Celebration of the Best in Class award which acknowledges HART's achievements in ridership growth, financial management, environmental sustainability, workforce development and community relations.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) named HART the 2010 winner of the prestigious "Outstanding Public Transportation Achievement Award".  It's the highest honor a transit agency can receive. Winning the APTA award is analogous to winning an Olympic Gold Metal, Academy Award or NCAA Championship. 

HART Executive Director David Armijo said " it's been a lot of hard work on everybody's part to meet the continuing challenges of  Hillsborough County's  growing and dynamic community." " I'm proud of the HART team!"

HART Board members, state, city and county officials will be on hand to pay tribute to the men and women on the front lines of HART's operations who met the challenge in making the agency a winner in the most competitive of the three APTA award classes - midsize transit agencies.

Immediately after the Press Conference Honoring HART employees, HART Planners will brief the media on the Rapid Transit Investment Plan - a detailed explanation of the blueprint for a modern 21st century transit system.