County Commissioners Named to HART Board

Beckner Joins Ferlita, Sharpe on Transit Board of Directors

November 18, 2008 - Tampa, Florida - Commissioners Rose Ferlita, Mark Sharpe and Kevin Beckner were named today to represent the Hillsborough County Commission on the HART Board of Directors.

Commissioners Sharpe and Ferlita each begin their third terms on the HART Board with today's appointments. Commissioner Beckner, who was elected to the County Commission on November 4th, will replace Commissioner Al Higginbotham on the Board.

"We thank Commissioner Higginbotham for his service to HART, and know he will continue to be an advocate for our customers in the future," said HART CEO David Armijo. "We're also excited to welcome back our returning Commissioners, and to begin working with Commissioner Beckner as we embark on several major projects that will help improve transit service in the Tampa Bay area."

Some of the projects HART is working on include:

• Bus Rapid Transit - An express bus system featuring limited stops, higher frequency, modern station stops, new park-n-ride facilities and advanced technology. The North-South route is slated for 2011, with an East-West route to follow.
• Airport Service - Improvements are planned for Route 30 serving Tampa International Airport, including increased frequency and service to a planned new transit center on airport property that will also link to the new BRT system.
• Streetcar Extension - The TECO Line Streetcar System will reach downtown Tampa with the line's extension to Whiting Street. Construction should begin in 2010.
• More Bus Service - From increased frequencies on existing routes, to innovative new approaches like a flexible, reservation-based service, HART is planning to make investments that will improve bus service and nearly double its fleet of vehicles serving the community in the next several years.
• Hillsborough County Rail Project - This year, HART's Board of Directors voted to develop a work plan and funding program for re-entering the federal New Starts process for a potential light rail investment. The project, which received federal planning and environmental approvals in 2003, is a 20.1-mile light rail system operating on three corridors.

The County Commission also appoints three citizen members to the HART Board. It is scheduled to make these appointments at its December 17th meeting.

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.

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