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MPO lines up $10 million in Federal Highway funds to update HART’s Advanced Vehicle Locator system essential for OneBusAway
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Tampa, FL – Each year, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) checks its budget and funding forecast, and adds another year’s worth of projects to their rolling five-year Work Program. The latest annual update has just been released, and quite a few projects on the Hillsborough MPO’s priority list are now funded!
Today, the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board reviewed the Work Program at its monthly public meeting. “We are thrilled the MPO was able to secure $10 million in Federal Highway funds for upgrading HART’s bus technology – including the vehicle locator system that enables OneBusAway – and $4 million for converting more buses to clean compressed natural gas fuel,” said MPO Chair Commissioner Lesley “Les” Miller.
The Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) system at HART first installed in 2007 is the core of day-to-day operations for all bus, van, and streetcar operations. Many hardware components have already passed their useful life with the core system reaching its end of useful life in 2019. The current CAD/AVL system no longer meets the needs and requirements for HART operations, security and cybersecurity, and has the potential of impacting the agency’s ability of providing the best customer service while taking people to places that enhance their lives.
“We are pleased to have been selected by the MPO to receive this funding towards modernizing our CAD/AVL system,” said HART CEO Katharine Eagan. “This technology will enhance our entire operation by improving the riding experience for our passengers as well as the internal business processes for our public transit operations.”
Other MPO priorities included in FDOT’s Tentative Work Program for Fiscal Years 2018/19 – 2022/23 include funding for:
Funding to construct express toll lanes on I-275 between Lois Ave and Willow Ave (formerly Tampa Bay Express section 5), has been dropped from FY 2022 to allow FDOT to revisit the environmental impacts of this project.
FDOT District 7 held an online public hearing for public comment at D7WPPH.comfrom October 23 – November 6, 2017 that kicked off with an open house at FDOT’s District 7 Headquarters. In addition, presentations were made at public meetings of the MPO’s advisory committees in October. Next, the Tentative Work Program will be reviewed by the Florida Legislature and the Governor and adopted by the State Secretary of Transportation on July 1, 2018. Download the Tentative Work Program document. View the project maps.
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For Immediate Release: November 8, 2017
Contacts:
For all-things HART, including OneBusAway, trip planning, schedules, maps and fares, visit GoHART.org.
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What is Plan Hillsborough?
Plan Hillsborough provides value-added planning services through a diverse team of professionals working towards a thriving future for Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and Hillsborough County, and provides staff to the:
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