FL: HART Hosts Transit Workshop to Gather Local Planning Leaders

HART will host a transit workshop to gather local planning agencies to discuss future partnerships, joint funding opportunities and maximize resources. The workshop will be held at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 1, in the 26th floor conference room of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

"During the past year, HART has focused on balancing the agency with a sustainable financial plan, strategic plan and improving policies and procedures," HART CEO Philip Hale said. "Now it's time to outline ways to grow the agency with our partners and evaluate funding strategies to do so."

The HART Board will kick off the workshop, and the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority are scheduled to make presentations. In addition, Holland & Knight — a national firm that lobbies for transportation issues — will provide an overview about federal funding availability. HART will present alternative funding scenarios that could be used to invest into various levels of transit service improvements.

With bus ridership at an all-time high in Hillsborough County, public transit has been garnering demand and attention on ways to expand service. While a new, permanent revenue stream is needed to vastly improve Hillsborough County's system with more buses and new types of service, HART seeks to partner with local planning agencies on potential joint projects to better compete for funding and streamline use of resources.

This workshop is open to the public.