HART RECEIVES CLEAN AIR AWARD

December 15, 2003, Tampa, FL – The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) is one of 11 local organizations recently inducted into the Clean Air Partnership Program. The award recognizes organizations that help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution by establishing employee commuter assistance programs and clean-fuel vehicle fleets. The CAP Award was created as a result of an initiative created by the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County and the Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management, in conjunction with Bay Area Commuter Services and the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida.

HART Executive Director Sharon Dent was on-hand to accept the award from Richard Garrity, Ph.D., of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission.

“Not only does HART customize excellent commute choices for other agencies, they also do the same for their own employees.” says HART Chairperson, Jan Platt. HART is also taking the lead by putting into use vehicles that use alternative fuels, operating a fleet that includes compressed natural gas buses and hybrid electric cars.

To gain membership into the Clean Air Partnership, an organization must meet strict guidelines, with the number one mission of reducing rush hour traffic. Encouraging employees to use commute choices such as vanpooling, carpooling, riding buses, telecommuting, staggered or flexible work hours, and bicycling or walking, are also major factors in being selected.

The mission of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority is to provide public transportation services, which are safe, dependable, and cost effective thereby enhancing the quality of life in our community.

-HART-