Janelle Irwin Taylor
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) is doing its part to get out the vote by offering free rides to Hillsborough County polling locations on Election Day.
Voters can ride at no charge on all HART services, except for HARTPlus, the agency’s paratransit service.
The “Roll to the Polls” promotion will run throughout the day on Tuesday, Nov. 6, on any HART bus by showing a valid voter information card upon boarding.
“As a community partner, we take pride in doing our part to offer free rides to the polls to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to vote. HART is once again pleased to offer this service to Hillsborough County residents,” said HART Interim CEO, Jeff Seward. “We’ll get you to the polls safely and, the best part, absolutely free on Election Day.”
Customers should plan their routes by identifying where their polling location is and finding the appropriate route on HART’s website.
HART offers free bus rides every election.
“Our residents have numerous important decisions to make on Election Day and finding a ride to the polls should not be one of them,” said HART Chief Administrative Officer and Interim Chief of Staff, Kenyatta Lee.
This is an important election for the agency.
Hillsborough County referendum No. 2 would provide about $126 million more for the agency’s transit service by raising sales tax 1 percent. The All For Transportation campaign supporting the sales tax is pushing for sweeping improvements to both transportation and transit. It would raise $280 million a year with 45 percent of that going to HART.
The agency has not officially endorsed that plan. It would provide funds to improve existing bus service and ad new transit options throughout Hillsborough County.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority also offers free rides on Election Day, next Tuesday, in Pinellas County.
