Like other agencies in the nation, HART has been implementing a mix of strategies and tactics that will effectively work together in the long term to boost ridership.
HART
3 min to read
Like other agencies in the nation, HART has been implementing a mix of strategies and tactics that will effectively work together in the long term to boost ridership.
HART
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, host of the 2018 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, is delving into many high-tech initiatives to improve service. Earlier this year, the transit agency, May Mobility, and the City of Tampa showcased autonomous vehicle technology on Downtown Tampa city streets. The driverless electric vehicle fleet traversed city streets and the Marion Transit Way corridor with passengers to demonstrate the technology in a real-world scenario. This roadway is the same area HART anticipates the deployment and future use of autonomous vehicles in the downtown business district.
Additionally, HART is nearing two years since it launched HyperLINK, a fully accessible first mile/last mile solution. The app-based, on-demand service operates within a three-mile radius of designated bus stops in selected zones.
Ad Loading...
Streamlining fare payment HART’s most recent innovative initiative is its new regional e-fare and smart-card system, Flamingo Fares, which the agency is currently Beta testing with HART and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority riders. The system is expected to officially launch to the public in September. “These cards and the app will hold pay-as-you-go value to make travel even more effortless than before,” said HART Interim CEO Jeff Seward.
Customers will be able to ride transit on one fare, reload and manage their accounts online, and save money with fare-capping. Fare-capping allows customers to pay only for the trips they take. If an individual purchases a single ride, the system still caps the price paid in a given period. So, if a single fare costs $2 and a daily pass costs $4, a customer can ride three or more rides in a day and still only pay $4. Weekly or monthly spending on fares would be capped in the same way. Customers will then be able to simply tap their smart card or scan their mobile ticketing smartphone app as they board to pay their fare.
Rethinking ridership Like other agencies in the nation, HART has been implementing a mix of strategies and tactics that will effectively work together in the long term to boost ridership, explained Seward.
“These initiatives include the following but are not limited to, increasing frequency on bus routes, extending specific routes, developing a new and innovative electronic fare system, Flamingo Fares (mobile ticketing app and smartcard system), and real-time transit info app (OneBusAway Tampa),” Seward said.
Additionally, HART is building partnerships with other transit agencies and community stakeholders to improve public transit, both locally and nationally. HART is working on enhancing its transit network system — bus, van, streetcar, ride-share, upcoming autonomous vehicle, and additional options — by building upon the system redesign implemented through its network review, Mission MAX, in October 2017.
“HART firmly believes that by executing this blueprint we will convince people of the vast benefits the system provides every day,” explained Seward. “By creating a robust network of mobility options, these modes of transportation will help reduce car dependency and ensure the increased use of HART services, which will continue to function as the backbone of an integrated multimodal transportation system in Hillsborough County.”
The Scheduling and Supply Studio provides the world’s first fully integrated platform for optimizing vehicle and driver availability to rider demand, said company officials.
ABQ RIDE Forward is the first transit system overhaul in more than 25 years. This latest phase marks 15% completion of the 16-phase rollout, which will continue over the next several years.
Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
Under this extension, Keolis will continue to manage and operate fixed-route bus service across the East Valley, serving communities including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, the town of Gilbert, parts of Phoenix, and the Gila River Indian Community.
Through the strategic partnership, MOIA America will provide MOIA’s turnkey autonomous mobility solution. This includes purpose-built, autonomous-ready ID. Buzz vehicles equipped with the self-driving system developed by Mobileye, as well as operator training and enablement.
LexRide connects key destinations, including Downtown Lexington, the Distillery District, and the Warehouse Block/National Avenue area, making it easier to explore without worrying about parking, traffic, or multiple rideshare trips.
Sustainability Partners’ Arnold Albiar discusses how a service-based approach is helping airports and public agencies deploy and manage electric fleets more efficiently.
