John Melendez HART Board of Directors

While passengers, operators and buses are the first to come to mind for most who think about what drives a bus system, it is in fact driven, one bus stop at a time. In this issue, you'll find out more about the Bus Stop Improvement Program, an ongoing effort to improve the nearly 3,500 HART bus stops throughout Hillsborough County's 1,100 square miles. We know that people are more likely to use transit if bus stops provide a safe and comfortable waiting environment. Even what may seem like subtle improvements -- such as sidewalks and crosswalks to easily and safely access your bus stop or shelters to protect you from the elements -- make your bus trip more convenient.

As more customers walk up to our bus stops and hop aboard HART, the message of transit enhancement becomes critical. Ridership is up and setting records, while resources are constrained. This challenge breeds opportunity, and the drive of HART to find a better transit future while adapting to a new financial environment is a defining characteristic that provides an opportunity for this community to succeed. As a member of the HART Board of Directors, I have the opportunity to tap into my experience as a transportation engineering consultant to provide insight and creative solutions to the current challenges we face. The idea of serving my neighbors in Hillsborough County pushes me to exhaust the knowledge and experience I've gained to find the right solutions to accomplish our mission.

John Melendez was appointed in January 2012 by Gov. Rick Scott to serve on the HART Board of Directors. Mr. Melendez is a Tampa native, attending local public schools and now works as a transportation engineering consultant. The HART Board is comprised of 13 members, who are community leaders and serve without compensation or in the capacity of their elected positions. They are appointed to represent the Cities of Tampa and Temple Terrace, Hillsborough County and the State of Florida.

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In observance of Memorial Day, HART local bus routes, HART Flex in Brandon and Northdale, and HARTPlus will operate on a Saturday schedule.  

HART will not operate

• Express and limited express routes
• HARTFlex in South County, South Tampa and Town 'N Country
• In-Town Trolley

Please note that HARTPlus and HARTFlex subscription customers who wish to use HARTPlus and HARTFlex services on holidays must make a reservation through Customer Service at 813-254-4278.

HART Customer Service (813-254-4278) will be open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Memorial Day.  

Map of bus stops throughout Hillsborough County

Alongside our transit centers, HART bus stops are the main access points for our customers to hop aboard HART. To make sure they are ADA accessible, convenient and safe, HART has been conducting a route-by-route assessment of all of our nearly 3,500 bus stops to ensure they comply with these standards.

"The Bus Stop Improvement Program is a commitment from HART to try to make all stops ADA compliant, not just for a person in a wheelchair, but any person with any kind of mobility device," said Dan Rodriguez, HART Project Manager.

Rodriguez leads the HART Bus Stop Improvement Program, working with private developers, businesses, other government agencies, and most importantly, residents on how our bus stops can better serve their community.

HART has recently completed improvements to Route 5, which extends along 40th Street between downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida area.

Dan Rodriguez explains top considerations for installing or relocating bus stops. View Video

The top considerations involved when relocating, installing or improving a bus stop are the following:

• ADA Accessibility -- This includes landing pads (the area where a bus can deploy an accessible lift or ramp) and connectivity to an existing sidewalk.
• Spacing -- Bus stops along a route should be spaced about 750-1,250 feet apart. Stops too far apart reduce access to the transit, while too many stops impact the schedules of buses operating that route.
• Trip generator -- Location of bus stops should generate passenger traffic, either because they allow convenient transfer to other routes, or are placed in areas with population density or developments for a specific use, such as a major employment center, hospitals, etc.
• Safety -- This includes adequate lighting, nearby crosswalks and proper drainage for the bus stop and the area surrounding it.

Passenger Amenities

The Bus Stop Improvement Program also means improving existing bus stops with passenger amenities, such as a bus bay or shelter.

A bus bay allows a bus to pull-out of a traffic lane in order to pick up and drop off customers. The purpose of a bus bay is to avoid blocking a lane of traffic and to improve passenger safety during boarding and deboarding.

Advertising at bus shelters helps off set the cost of passenger amenities.

More shelters are important because they give bus customers protection from Florida's hot sun and rain. In fact, compared to just a few years ago, HART has more than doubled the number of covered stops -- from one shelter for every 15 stops, to one shelter for every six stops, and more are under way. The best part is there's help in footing the bill for these shelters. Can anyone say public-private partnership?

"Signal Outdoor helps pay for the cost of a shelter and its maintenance, in exchange for revenue-sharing from a shelter's advertisements," Rodriguez said. "This is a cost-savings to HART and Hillsborough County taxpayers." Signal Outdoor is a private, outdoor advertising company.  

Sites chosen for shelters are based on ridership activity, adequate right-of-way, opportunities to sell advertisements, planned neighborhood improvements, proximity to other nearby covered stops, equity among all communities in Hillsborough County, and demand.