|
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit
| March 2011 |
|
Are you riding HART?
Everyone else ... |
 | |
David Mechanik
HART Board Director
|
Achieving bus ridership gains in a car-centric community during a bleak economy is evidence that no matter the route ahead, HART can take you there!
HART is pleased to announce that today it is connecting more people to more places than ever before. Bus ridership for the first quarter of fiscal year 2011 is up by 12 percent compared to the same period of 2010. With bus ridership at more than 1.1 million in January 2011, HART saw an 18 percent increase compared to January 2010. This type of double-digit ridership increase is rare among transit agencies across the country.
Read this edition of A Community with HART and you'll find out why more people are choosing transit. HART has done everything to put its best foot forward within its financial constraints to meet the demands of today's riders: safety, dependability, and schedules and frequencies that better serve you.
This month, HART will host community meetings throughout Hillsborough County to present proposed changes to current bus routes. Any changes that are approved are scheduled to take effect in July.
I encourage you to attend a community meeting to learn more about HART and provide your opinions on proposed route changes. The schedule of these meetings is listed in the article below.
I have served on the HART Board and the Tampa Historic Streetcar Board for many years, and public transportation has never been such a topic of interest as it is today. More people are realizing the enormous benefits transit provides to a community: enhanced mobility, relief of traffic congestion and environmental concerns, and economic development. With your continued support, HART will continue to seek cost-effective ways to provide rapid transit options for this community.
David Mechanik practices law in the areas of land use, environmental, real estate, governmental relations and economic incentives. Mr. Mechanik is also a Certified Planner and served on the Hillsborough County Transportation Task Force, which met from 2006 - 2009. In addition, he served on the Super Bowl Task Force, Sports Authority Board, Tampa Downtown Partnership, Hillsborough County Charter Review Board and the West Shore Alliance.
|
|
|
Why are more people riding HART?
There When You Need Us Most
HART moves you to safety during a disaster. Find out about evacuation bus routes. Plus, March is Red Cross Month and HART has teamed up with the American Red Cross Tampa Bay Chapter to educate residents about being prepared for a disaster.
Convenience
Check out RouteShout! Get scheduled arrival times, bus stop locations and service updates on Androids, IPhones and other smart phones with mobile browsers.
Only the Best Behind the Wheel
HART bus operators receive extensive training to transport their "precious cargo" safely and provide the best customer service!
|
|
|
|
Lets Talk Ridership & Routes
| 
January 2011 bus ridership was up 18 percent compared to the same month last year, making it one of the highest months on record!
January 2011 bus ridership tallied at 1,122,962, compared to January 2010 bus ridership of 950,005.
"HART continues to implement improvements that meet the needs of today's rider, including restructuring routes," said HART CEO David Armijo. "Every year since 2007, HART has proposed route modifications based on customer feedback and efficiencies. These modifications allow HART to remain flexible, and better target current and projected demand."
Many routes that have been restructured since 2007 have provided cost-savings and ridership growth of more than 20 percent.
This year, HART is proposing modifications for the following routes: 6, 20X, 23X, 24X, 25LX, 30, 31, 35LX, 36, 46, 50LX, 87, 88, 89.
These proposed changes are based on public feedback received during more than 300 community outreach events and meetings held in 2010.
These proposed changes are scheduled to take effect in July 2011.
HART will hold community meetings and a public hearing to provide information to residents about these proposed route changes and obtain their feedback. These community meetings will take place during the following days at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted:
- March 1: Brandon Chamber of Commerce, 330 Pauls Drive No. 100, Brandon
- March 3: Kate Jackson Community Center, 821 S. Rome Ave., Tampa
- March 9: Temple Terrace Public Library, 202 Bullard Parkway, Temple Terrace
- March 10, 4:30 p.m.: HART West Tampa Transfer Center, 4201 N. Himes Ave., Tampa
- March 15: Town N' Country Public Library, 7606 Paula Drive, Suite 120, Tampa
- March 16: SouthShore Public Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin
The public hearing will be held Thursday, March 17, 2011, 4 - 6 p.m. at TECO Plaza, TECO Hall North Conference Room, 702 N. Franklin St., in Tampa.
Maps of proposed changes are available at all HART customer service centers, by mail or may be viewed at www.goHART.org.
Comments are welcome and will be entered into the record if received by March 18, 5 p.m.
Residents may send comments electronically via the Contact Us page at www.goHART.org or via mail by writing to:
HART Service Development
Attention: July Service Proposals
1201 E. Seventh Ave.
Tampa, FL 33605
For more information, call 813-254-4278 (TDD: 813-626-9158) or visit www.goHART.org
|
|
HART Receives High Marks for Security
|
 | |
HART partners with local law enforcement agencies for regular security and safety drills.
|
HART buses, combined, log more than 10 million miles a year, and they require frequent maintenance to prevent likely scenarios, such as a bus break down.
But operating a safe bus service also means preventing and preparing for unlikely scenarios, such as a natural disaster or terrorism incident.
That's why behind the scenes, HART safety and security officials work year-round planning and preparing for the unexpected. It's no wonder HART recently earned high marks from the federal government for its security operations and emergency management.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently performed its Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement to review HART security operations, emergency response training, drills and exercises, protective measures for threat levels, information sharing, and more.
"This review keeps us a step ahead," said Ricky Kendall, Director of Risk Management & Environmental Safety. "For HART, it means it is up to par with federal standards and best practices, and we can focus on fine-tuning our plans and procedures."
HART has advanced its security operations and emergency management by building strong partnerships with local law enforcement and emergency response agencies, and building awareness among all employees and residents.
"We all have to work together to ensure security," Kendall said. "In addition to more collaboration with emergency responders, HART has trained its drivers, transportation supervisors, as well as maintenance employees, to be more aware about suspicious activities."
HART will soon put some of its emergency management plans into practice when it participates in the annual disaster drill next month coordinated by the Hillsborough County Emergency Management Department.
"HART has the capacity to move thousands of residents to higher ground during a disaster and will also help with special requests by law enforcement," Kendall said. "The HART bus fleet is a valuable resource during an emergency and we are ready to respond when needed." |
| I Use U-Pass! |
 | |
Tyler Short
GO BULLS!
|
Tyler Short is an electrical engineering student in his junior year at the University of South Florida. Besides getting around campus, his USF identification also gets him around town.
"I use HART almost every day," Short said.
Short is short a personal vehicle, and he says so are most of his friends. So he uses HART to go to work and visit with friends who live off campus.
As part of their tuition, students who show valid USF identification can ride HART local, connector and limited express bus routes free. USF faculty and staff pay only 25 cents with valid USF identification.
"It's convenient because the Bull Runner makes a stop at the University Transit Center," Short said.
The Bull Runner is the USF shuttle service that transports students around campus. The University Area Transit Center is the main bus hub for all HART routes operating in North Tampa.
HART operates 10 bus routes in the USF area, including several routes that operate until midnight. From 2009 to 2010, U-Pass ridership increased by 21.9 percent.
For a map of bus routes in the USF area, visit the Rider's Guide page at www.goHART.org
|
HART is dedicated to providing excellent customer service while building solutions to support Hillsborough County's needs.....now and into the future.
HARTinfo Line: (813) 254-4278
TDD (813) 626-9158 HARTplus: (813) 254-4278
www.goHART.org
HART's Web site receives over 7.8 million hits per month! Use our website with ease to plan your bus trips with Google Transit Map Trip Planner.
For more information about this publication, contact
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
