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The purpose of the Transportation Information Service newsletter
is to inform, update, and educate members of the New North Transportation
Alliance and the public on local mobility issues, projects and developments.
In This Issue:
The TAMPA BAY AREA REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (TBARTA) Board will be meeting to discuss the
development and implementation of regional transportation solutions. The
board meeting will be held at the following location:
DATE AND TIME: Friday, January 25, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. -
12:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), 3201
Scherer Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33716
PURPOSE:
The TBARTA Board is convening to discuss developing a comprehensive Regional
Transportation Master Plan for Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee,
Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties. The TBARTA Board Meeting agenda
package is available online at
www.tbarta.com.
Individuals requiring accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities
Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should
contact Ms. Lee Royal, FDOT District 7 Community Liaison Administrator, at
(813) 975-6427 or 1-800-226-7220 at least three (3) days prior to the
meeting. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, age, nation origin, disability, or family status.
We appreciate your interest in this project.
HART
Unveils New Slogan
Hillsborough Area Regional
Transit (HART) is starting off 2008 with their focus on “you.” In line with
the company’s mission statement, HART has adopted a new slogan and aims to
enhance their corporate identity as well.
“Our new slogan, ‘Driven to
Serve You,’ reflects the promise of everyone from the CEO, to administrative
staff, to our outstanding drivers and mechanics, to deliver the finest
quality transportation service available,” said CEO David Armijo. “It's a
reminder to us, and to our customers, that great service takes a high-level
commitment. And we hope you'll hold us to it.”
Additionally, HART “will also
focus attention on our core service, aiming to move more people faster and
more efficiently than ever before. To that end, we will be streamlining our
own corporate identity as the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority,
or HART,” said Armijo. HART is asking that all members of the Tampa Bay
community join with them in eliminating “HARTline,” using instead “HART”
when referring to the agency or their services.
With these changes
successfully in place, Armijo believes 2008 will be a landmark year for
Tampa Bay transportation.
Ride
Green to Save Green
The University of South Florida offers many
transportation options for students, faculty and staff interested in more
than just driving alone. With the information available at the New North
Transportation Alliance table at the USF Bull Market, commuters can find a
carpool group close to home, learn the rules of the road for cyclists, or
look at a map of the many Bull Runner routes. There are also pamphlets
explaining the Emergency Ride Home program, and flyers advertising the
upcoming BayCycle Photography contest.
The Bull Market, similar to a flea market,
is a weekly campus event held on Wednesdays at Sessums
Mall by Cooper Hall and the Burger King. It offers various
organizations the opportunity to distribute information, and diverse vendors
the chance to sell jewelry, sunglasses, and other accessories to those on
campus. Amy Montgomery, student program assistant for NNTA, staffs the
table and is available to answer any questions regarding transportation
alternatives at USF.
Whether commuters enjoy exercising on their
way to school or work, are looking for ways to help improve the environment,
or just want to save some extra cash, they can achieve their goals with the
information provided by NNTA at the USF Bull Market.
For the first quarter of
fiscal year 2008, passengers took more rides on HART buses than at the same
point last year. In addition, HART is closing in on averaging 1 million
rides per month.
For October 1 through December 31, 2007, the first three months of HART's
fiscal year, ridership is up nearly 9% over the same period last year.
Weekday ridership on both HART local routes and Commuter Express service has
grown about 10%.
"This kind of consistent
ridership growth demonstrates the need for more transit service in
Hillsborough County. The HART Board of Directors is searching for ways to
meet this growing demand," said Chief Executive Officer David Armijo.
HART's total fixed-route
ridership for the month of December was 913,424. Coming on the heels of the
agency's second million-ride month in October 2007, and more than 965,000
rides in November, ridership is approaching a 1-million ride monthly
average.
Another HART service that is
experiencing tremendous growth is the HARTplus paratransit service for
people with disabilities. Use of HARTplus has grown 42% since this time last
year.
HART's
fiscal year runs from October 1 - September 30.
Total Ridership, Year-to-Date
FY 2008: 2,945,195
FY 2007: 2,703,392
Percentage Change: +8.9%
Weekday Local Service Ridership, Year-to-Date
FY 2008: 2,471,005
FY 2007: 2,249,802
Percentage Change: +9.8%
Express Ridership,
Year-to-Date
FY 2008: 56,524
FY 2007: 51,267
Percentage Change: +10.3%
Paratransit Ridership,
Year-to-Date
FY 2008: 24,964
FY 2007: 18,687
Percentage Change: +41.7%
The mission of the
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) is to provide public
transportation services which are safe, dependable and cost effective,
thereby enhancing the quality of life in our community.
There's so much more to do at
www.hartline.org.
Use our trip planning feature powered by Google Transit, order fare cards in
the Online Transit Store, and get complete route maps and schedules. Call
the HARTinfo Line at (813) 254-4278 to learn more.
v Important
Dates v
Friday, January 25, 2008
TBARTA
Board Meeting
9:30 am
- 12:00 pm
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tampa
BayCycle Photography Contest Submission deadline
Want to save money & make better
use of your time by carpooling or vanpooling-
but don't know anyone to share the commute with?
We may be able to help! Join the regional rideshare
database by following the link on the Commuter page of our website,
www.newnorthalliance.org, or by calling 813-974-9799 to
speak with a New North Transportation Alliance representative.
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New North Transportation Alliance
Advisory Board Meeting
Date: Wednesday,
March 12, 2008
Place: CUTR
Boardroom
Time: 8:00 -
9:30 am
Please RSVP to Julie Bond, NNTA
Director,
at 813-974-9799 or
bond@cutr.usf.edu
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