PITTSBURGH — Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) CEO Katharine Eagan is leaving the Tampa, Fla.-based transit agency and taking on a new position as the Port Authority's CEO, the Pittsburg Post-Gazette reported. 

Eagan has a five-year contract with a $230,000 base salary.

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In a press release, HART announced that Eagan will depart the agency after nearly eight years of service, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and a strong foundation for future growth. 

Eagan joined HART as its CEO in 2009. During her tenure, from 2010 to 2015, ridership increased over 20% and farebox recovery increased over 25%. 

Since taking the helm as CEO, Eagan has worked with the HART Board of Directors to balance the Authority's budget, improve efficiencies, implement innovative transit solutions, and enhance the overall customer experience. HART has greatly expanded public-private partnerships with entities such as MegaBus, Red Coach, Coast Bike Share, Yellow Cab, and TransDev, and HART is continuing to pursue partnerships that provide travel options beyond traditional buses.

In November 2016, HART partnered with Innovation Place and various sponsors to add four Tesla X model vehicles into the HART HyperLINK program. Donations from these sponsors paid for the entire cost of placing these all-electric vehicles into service in the University of Tampa area. 

Recently, HART selected Stantec/Coast Autonomous team to provide Autonomous Mobility Services for the Marion Street Transitway. The Autonomous Shuttle coming to the Marion Street Transitway in early 2018 is funded by the Florida Department of Transportation and will be the first implementation in the United States of a driverless transit vehicle on open public streets.  

With a long history of accomplishments and accolades, Eagan was awarded the Florida Diversity Council's 2016 Powerful and Influential Women award and WTS 2016 Woman of the Year by Women in Transportation Seminar. She was a finalist for the Tampa Bay Business Journals' Businesswoman of the Year award in 2014 and 2016 and the winner in 2016 in the Economic Development category.

Eagan will be taking on a transit leadership role in a new community; an announcement will be forthcoming.