Mapping Out the Future of HART

 

HART is driven to serve you. This is our vision now, and will continue to be what drives HART in the future.

 

The transportation needs of this community are significant. To meet these needs, the passage of the 1-cent sales tax would have allowed HART to move forward with a vast service expansion and introduce new transit service modes, such as light rail. HART will continue to provide excellent service to the best of our ability within HART's fiscal constraints. HART has been successful in the past in identifying efficiencies that have greatly contributed to our current balanced budget. Therefore, HART will continue to aggressively and creatively pursue alternative funding opportunities to help mitigate declining funding sources.

 

I want to thank and commend the hundreds of thousands of residents who took an interest in the transportation issues at hand and became involved. HART will continue to do the very best to educate and inform residents about its programs and services, and keep them engaged about HART's future plans. Public involvement is a priority for HART, and this issue of A Community with HART outlines how to stay informed about the latest transit talk.

 

So what happens next? HART is funded to continue with the Alternatives Analysis through the short-term, but additional funding will be needed to complete it. Many residents are excited about the TECO Line Streetcar extension project, scheduled to be operational by the end of this year. In 2012, HART plans to roll out its first MetroRapid service along Nebraska Avenue to provide residents with a rapid connection between North and Downtown Tampa.

 

With the support of this community, HART has had the privilege to serve residents for nearly 31 years. The past few years have been especially transformative for HART, and this team will continue to strive to exceed expectations.

 

 

David Armijo

HART Chief Executive Officer