HART honors Tampa area operators with million-mile safety recognition

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) has honored 17 operators for their safe driving records and inducted them into the One Million Mile Club and the Two Million Mile Club.

"Many of our operators are special, but this group represents the best-of-the-best. We are proud to salute them", said HART Chief Operating Officer Ruthie Reyes Burckard. "We congratulate these accomplished bus, van and streetcar operators and we thank them for their commitment to safe driving. It takes skill and vigilance at all times to achieve this elite Million Miler status."

The Million Mile Club has been in existence since 1994. To qualify for membership in the Million Mile Club, a bus, van, or streetcar operator must demonstrate an exceptional dedication to safe vehicle operations by completing 14 consecutive years without a preventable accident. To get into the Two Million Mile Club, an operator must accumulate 27 years without a preventable accident.

2019 Million and Two Million-Mile Recipients

One Million Mile:

· Robert Baker

· Sabrina Brown Mills

· Fernando Burga

· Crystal Edwards

· Debra Eskridge

· George Freeman

· Bernier Lalime

· Gregory Lester

· Carlos Martinez

· Dwight Phillips

· Gabriel Siragusa

· Manuel Tejada

 Streetcar One Million Mile:

· Rafael Rosado - Rosado is the second TECO Line Streetcar operator to achieve this.

 Two Million Mile:

· Philip Burgos

· Rafael Camacho

· Ronald Watkins 

Advice from a two-million-miler: "To get to two million miles, you have to stay focused on your job, be aware of everything that is going on around you, because you are dealing with a lot of situations from traffic to customer service," said Ronald Watkins, HART bus operator/two million-mile recipient. "Remember to greet your customer with a smile, take your time, and do your best to always stay alert".

While the Million Mile Club has existed for quite some time, it becomes even more important as HART recently launched the Ride with Respect campaign, aimed at promoting a positive experience for everyone on board HART service.

A component of the campaign is to elevate the role of a transit operator with HART customers and within the community.