• Maintaining current bus service - $4 million for bus replacements and converting the fleet to cleaner, compressed-natural-gas-fueled vehicles
• East-West Metro Rapid - $30 million requested from the New Starts grant programs to build HART's second Metro Rapid line running from the airport to Temple Terrace
• Modern Streetcar Extension - a design & engineering phase for the future connection through the Downtown core to Marion Transit Center
• Additional Metro Rapid Corridors - funding for a project development & environmental study for the next Metro Rapid, which could run on Kennedy Blvd, Brandon Blvd, Bruce B Downs Blvd, Dale Mabry Hwy, or Busch Blvd

A number of walk-bike projects were also prioritized, which can improve access to the bus system from neighborhoods and destinations.

 

Citizens of Hillsborough have spoken loud and clear when asked what concerns they have about the future of the county... transportation! GO Hillsborough explores the possibility of what additional funding could do to make moving about the county easier and safer.

Not one solution alone will solve our varied transportation challenges, that is why the GO Hillsborough Community Transportation Plan includes over 300 community road, intersection, trail, sidewalk, asset preservation and maintenance programs... and aims to double the transit service we see today.

MPO and HART Board member, County Commission Chair Sandy Murman, encourages everyone to get involved by attending an upcoming GO Hillsborough meeting, "It is critical that we hear from our citizens as we develop specific projects and a funding strategy for our transportation future."

Each year, the Florida Department of Transportation recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to Florida aviation. In July, we learned that the prestigious award of Aviation Professional of the Year was given to MPO Board Member and Hillsborough Aviation Authority's CEO, Joe Lopano.

Mr. Lopano's contribution to the world of transportation starts locally and reaches across the world. The impact of his vision is felt when visiting Tampa International Airport's new car rental facility, people mover and updated concessions. And now there are nonstop flights to Switzerland, Panama, Cuba, and soon Germany.

The MPO Board and staff continue to appreciate Mr. Lopano's valuable input during MPO meetings and are honored to have this award-winning member on the MPO Board.

Family reunions! Concerts! Beach getaways! These activities bring joy to our lives and we look forward to jumping in our cars with loved ones on our way to experience these memory-making times. Now picture yourself unable to drive - whether due to age or disability. Unless there is a convenient bus route, your options are limited to asking friends (if you're wheelchair bound, asking someone with an equipped van) or more often than not, turning down the invitation.

In Hillsborough County there are services for medical trips and some service for all of the other reasons we would want to leave our homes. Yet when non-medical trips are permitted, it's typically only for the qualified rider and to only one destination. Taxi-services can get pricey especially if multiple trips are needed and the distances are long.

But not any longer! Quality of Life Community Services picks up where other services fall short. That is why MPO Livable Roadways Committee member, Arizona Jenkins, praises Quality of Life Community Services:

Arizona is confined to a motorized wheelchair but that isn't holding him back from having an active and fun filled life in and outside of Hillsborough County. He's more on the go than most of us! Arizona explained the ease of making appointments which can be difficult via telephone for someone with a speech impediment. Instead, you can simply email the address and time for pickup, how many people are traveling with you, and where you would like to go.

Hillsborough's own Katharine Eagan, Chief Executive Officer of HART, has been nominated for the White House Champion of Change in the category Beyond Traffic: Innovators in Transportation. Ms. Eagan is being considered for this celebrated award because of her dedication to providing safe, innovative, and high-quality transit services in Hillsborough County.

Since officially taking over the helm of HART for just over a year, partnerships have grown stronger thanks to Ms. Eagan's effective communication skills, analytic abilities and infectious energy that drives her organization to outstanding results. Let's stay tuned in October 2015 to find out if our local leader will add White House Champion of Change to her long list of accomplishments.

Enjoy this ABC Action News feature on how students can benefit from using public transportation.

Hurricane season is not yet over. Residents with special needs, the elderly, and those without transportation require extra attention in order to stay safe during a tropical storm or hurricane. Hillsborough County has programs in place to help these residents prepare and find safe shelter.

It's never too late to get prepared! Read more.