HART TO OPERATE EVACUATION BUS SERVICE DURING HURRICANE SEASON

May 21, 2007 - Tampa, Florida – With hurricane season 2007 on our doorstep, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) will once again operate Emergency Evacuation Bus Routes throughout the city of Tampa and in parts of Hillsborough County if a storm threatens our area.

HART’s Emergency Evacuation Bus service consists of ten routes serving four designated American Red Cross shelters, including Sickles High School, Pizzo Elementary School, Middleton High School and Corr Elementary School. Shelters served are subject to change.

During an emergency, HART operates under the direction of the county Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which will alert HART to cease regular operations and begin operating Emergency Evacuation Bus Route service when hurricane conditions appear imminent in our area.

Blue and white stop signs mark the Emergency Evacuation Bus Routes. People in need of transportation to a shelter can catch an evacuation route bus at a stop, or flag down the bus at any point along the route.

Media alerts will be issued during a storm threat as follows:
Pre-storm: Suspension of regular service, date and time effective
Pre-storm: Activation of Emergency Evacuation Bus Routes, date and time effective
Pre-storm: Cessation of Emergency Evacuation Bus Routes, date and time effective
Post-storm: Status of service, expected date of return to schedule (if possible)
Post-storm: Resuming normal schedule, date and time effective

All HART buses are wheelchair-accessible. People with a medical or other condition that prohibits them from using fixed-route service must contact the Hillsborough County Health Department for a special needs assessment.. The EOC manages special needs evacuation services.

For more information and downloadable PDF versions of HART’s Emergency Evacuation Bus Route maps, go to HART’s website, www.gohart.org.

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.

For additional information on routes and schedules, contact the HARTinfo Line (813) 254-4278 or visit www.gohart.org

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