Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) CEO Katharine Eagan recently delivered her first State of Transit update to a packed crowd at USF CAMLS in downtown Tampa, calling the agency innovating and in the mix of transit solutions. Eagan spoke about the ferry project between downtown Tampa and downtown St. Pete and another ferry project between South County and MacDill AFB. Highlighted in her update to the crowd included the agency's effort to move beyond with improved transportation. "It's time to take our smaller studies, knit them together, and come up with a regional view of premium transit," said Eagan. "I'm pleased to announce that next month our HART Board will award a premium transit study, with a start date of October 1st, and in 18 to 24 months we'll know what the next steps are and we'll be talking about a whole bunch of different technologies for a regional solution for regional lives."
HART Chairman and Tampa City Councilman Mike Suarez started the event by talking amount dynamic partnerships with Yellow Cab Company of Tampa, Megabus, RedCoach, to name just a few. "Those kind of smart transit choices that we have made as a Board that we keep reaching out to people make HART, I think one of the key agencies across the state."
Enhancing the future of transportation was the main focal point of Senator Jeff Brandes' address, with the goal of revolutionizing transportation as we know it. "In fact I don't think of transportation anymore as a system. I think you have to think of transit as an organism because we are living in the most exciting times since the pioneers of the model T." Senator Brandes added, that the future of transit was based on four things - electric, autonomous, on demand and shared.
On the issue of economic vitality, Tampa Bay Community Leader, Channelside developer and Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik emphasized that transportation is the most important element in determining where Tampa and Hillsborough County will be 10 to 20 years from now. "I'm extremely encouraged that HART is about to undertake an upcoming 18-24 month premium transit study looking at transportation from a regional basis funded by FDOT. I'm very encouraged that within downtown Tampa a study will be underway during the next 12-18 month study on the expansion of the Tampa Streetcar."
Eagan also introduced the HART HyperLINK, resolving the first-mile last mile issue. Working with Transdev, HyperLINK will provide access to a reservation call center and a smartphone app for customers which will bring real-time ridesharing technology to Hillsborough transit riders.
Eagan added, "We are building not just for tomorrow but rather for the future - that's the vision. You can take advantage of all the things that make Tampa Bay amazing and you know you can get there quickly because your partner has you covered. We are going beyond the bus and I want you to go with us."
In the last few years, HART has racked up a string of innovative firsts. HART continues to lead the way as a transit agency of "firsts" and an early adapter of technologies that improve service to customers while providing a more sustainable transit system that has adapted to a rapidly-changing world and an ever-expanding customer base.