HART Reports Ridership Gains for 1st Quarter of FY 2008

January 16, 2008 – Tampa, Florida – For the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, passengers took more rides on HART buses than at the same point last year. In addition, HART is closing in on averaging 1 million rides per month. Onboard a HART Commuter Express bus

For October 1 through December 31, 2007, the first three months of HART’s fiscal year, ridership is up nearly 9% over the same period last year. Weekday ridership on both HART local routes and Commuter Express service has grown about 10%.

“This kind of consistent ridership growth demonstrates the need for more transit service in Hillsborough County. The HART Board of Directors is searching for ways to meet this growing demand,” said Chief Executive Officer David Armijo.

HART’s total fixed-route ridership for the month of December was 913,424. Coming on the heels of the agency’s second million-ride month in October 2007, and more than 965,000 rides in November, ridership is approaching a 1-million ride monthly average.

Another HART service that is experiencing tremendous growth is the HARTplus paratransit service for people with disabilities. Use of HARTplus has grown 42% since this time last year.

HART’s fiscal year runs from October 1 – September 30.

Total Ridership, Year-to-Date
FY 2008: 2,945,195
FY 2007: 2,703,392
Percentage Change: +8.9%

Weekday Local Service Ridership, Year-to-Date
FY 2008: 2,471,005
FY 2007: 2,249,802
Percentage Change: +9.8%

Express Ridership, Year-to-Date
FY 2008: 56,524
FY 2007: 51,267
Percentage Change: +10.3%

Paratransit Ridership, Year-to-Date
FY 2008: 24,964
FY 2007: 18,687
Percentage Change: +41.7%

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.

###