Dr. Steven E. Polzin       HART Board Vice Chairman

HART Goes Green!

As we join together to observe Earth Day it is perhaps fitting that the color scheme for the new HART Metro Rapid is green. HART, like many other transit agencies around the country, is continuing to proactively implement initiatives intended to conserve energy and protect the environment.  

As you'll discover as you read on in this Community with HART-Earth Day newsletter, HART's go-green approach can encompass a host of different activities and programs. But they all share a common goal, which is to ensure that all of HART's transit services and support functions follow our industry's best practices for environmental stewardship.

That's why, this month and especially on Earth Day, I encourage everyone to visit our HART website and access the carbon savings calculator. This allows you to find out how much you can reduce your carbon footprint if you use public transportation to get around. Find the calculator under the HART of Green section on www.goHART.org 

It's no secret, that a good transit system adds value to a community. Whether it's riders who benefit from using the HART bus system, or businesses who benefit from increased accessibility to their product or service, HART adds environmental and economic value for each resident of Hillsborough County.

Thank you for your support. We couldn't do it without you!  

Dr. Steve Polzin, HART Board Vice Chairman 

Dr. Polzin has served on the HART Board from 1999-2006 and 2008-present. He has more than 30 years of experience in transportation operations, research and education. He is director of transit research at the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. 

• Route 1 (Downtown to University Area Transit Center via Florida Avenue): 37.2 percent increase
• Route 6  (Downtown to University Area Transit Center via 56th Street): 29.6 percent increase
• Route 36 (South Tampa to Carrollwood via Dale Mabry Hwy./Himes Avenue): 46.7 percent increase
• Route 39 (Town 'N Country/Citrus Park to Netp@ark Transfer Center via Busch Boulevard): 36.9 percent increase
• Route 9 (Downtown to University Area Transit Center via 15th Street): 31.4 percent increase

Did you know that by riding HART's public transit system for just one day, instead of using a private vehicle, you effectively reduce your carbon footprint by 20 pounds?

HART is passionate about implementing sustainable Earth-friendly practices and green technologies. Check out these examples of proactive steps HART is taking to care for our environment and help preserve and protect our precious natural resources:

Our Go-Green Fleet

• HART was awarded Clean Air Partnership and Green Fleet designations by the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County.
                  
• The entire HART fleet is EPA-certified, and 38 percent of the vehicles in HART's fleet utilize low emission engine technology.    
               
• HART's 40-foot Parallel Hybrid buses emit 87 percent fewer total hydrocarbons than diesel, but get 18 percent more miles per gallon.
                   
• HART is one of America's pioneering transit systems making the switch to Compressed Natural Gas fuel, which is significantly cleaner burning, gets great gas mileage, and is affordably produced right here in the USA.

Low Carbon Footprint Facilities

• HART's bus washing facility was recently upgraded with new equipment that successfully reclaims 95 percent of the water used.    
              
• HART relies on energy efficient light fixtures to reduce costs and provide a healthier work environment, and replaces outdated fixtures with advanced LED lighting that consumes less electricity while enabling cost savings of up to 65 percent.

• All new transit/transfer centers are equipped with motion sensor lights and electric hand dryers in restroom facilities to conserve energy, and the Marion Transit Center was outfitted with solar film to improve cooling efficiency.

Eco-Friendly Practices

• HART won a "Best Workplace for Commuters" rating as an environmentally conscious, employee-friendly organization.
             
• All cleaning chemicals used by HART are green-certified, and HART uses no VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints that contain no potentially hazardous volatile organic compounds.  
 
• HART also minimizes the use of aerosol products and recycles waste oil, oil filters, coolant, scrap metal, aluminum, batteries, copier toner cartridges, electronic circuit boards, office paper, and more. 

• HART's MetroRapid North-South is installing a cutting-edge GPS-enhanced traffic light application system that will keep buses moving and shorten travel times to maximize fuel efficiency.  

• HART was chosen to participate in the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) 2013 Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Training and Technical Assistance program.            
     
• The HART Core EMS Team will participate in four scheduled FTA funded workshops between August 2013 and June 2014 in Roanoke, Virginia. Benefits of the training program include increased efficiency, productivity, and safety; plus conservation of water, energy, and fuel.   
     
• The program will enable HART to analyze, control, and reduce the environmental impact of its activities, products, and services - while operating with greater efficiency and cost savings.

As part of its ongoing commitment to earth-friendly practices, HART earned its first 

• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary program that provides third-party verification of eco-friendly buildings.  
   
• The stringent certification and ranking process awards credits or points for various "green" attributes.  
   
• Those include systems that save water, technologies that reduce energy consumption, or building materials that help to reduce a site's negative environmental impact.

Because the 21st Avenue site is 40 years old, bringing it up to the high standards of LEED presented special challenges. After all, it's not possible to design parking lots for buses made of materials like organic bamboo or recycled cardboard. But HART loves to accept a good challenge, and is excited about earning another great LEED rating - for which all of our riders and employees can be proud!

The Woods-Dennis children

"Our conductor at that time was wonderful," explained Woods-Dennis, and I wrote to commend him. So it seemed only fitting that we return after this hospital stay, which was thankfully only a few days."

The couple - who have six children - boarded the HART trolley a few weeks ago with their three youngest kids who are ages 10, eight, and six.  

"Our conductor treated them like two little kings and a queen," Woods-Dennis said, and was very kind to me and my husband. During the tour I'm sure he explained much more than the norm. But we noticed that when others were on the trolley he was equally kind and informative to them. He made the day all the more special for our children. Because of that it was special for my husband and me as well. I do hope this wonderful conductor receives the recognition that he so deserves! Thank you, HART!"