Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonMarch 7, 2018

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority said Wednesday its looking for volunteers to help test out the beta version of a new mobile ticketing app and smartcard system slated to roll out later this year. PSTA said use of the app, Flamingo Fares, and smartcards will cross county lines, with the transportation systems in Hernando, Hillsborough, […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 19, 2018

A transportation plan for the Tampa Bay area that would use bus rapid transit (BRT) and not rail to move riders from Wesley Chapel in Pasco County to downtown St. Petersburg was introduced to the public Friday. Called a “catalyst” project because of the hopes that it would jumpstart transit planning in the region, the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2017

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) approved Monday the naming of Maryland-based Krauthamer and Associates to lead its search for a replacement for outgoing CEO Katharine Eagan. Eagan will leave the agency next month after serving as HART’s CEO since 2014. She’s moving on to serve as CEO of Pittsburgh’s transit agency, the Port Authority of […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2017

As Cesar Hernandez was finishing up his fifteen-month experience in the IE Brown Executive MBA program earlier this year, he sat down with advisers to discuss his future. The 31-year-old Brooklyn native wanted to continue working in tech development and public affairs management, skills he has honed since graduating from USF as student body president, and […]

Mitch PerryNovember 14, 2017

Katharine Eagan, as head of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) Authority, is receiving praise for embracing new technologies during her three-year tenure at the Tampa Bay area’s most significant transit agency, despite a limited budget. Now scheduled to depart the region next year for a similar job in Pittsburgh (with higher pay and more funding), the […]

Mitch PerryNovember 14, 2017

Funding to construct a new heavy maintenance facility tops the list of projects officials with the Hillsborough County Area Regional Transit (HART) are asking state lawmakers to prioritize during the 2018 Legislative Session. HART CEO Katharine Eagan announced Monday that she and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Seward will travel to Tallahassee Wednesday to meet with […]

Mitch PerryNovember 8, 2017

UPDATED Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Agency (HARTA) CEO Katharine Eagan is leaving the agency to become the CEO of the Port Authority for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She has agreed to a five-year contract at a salary of $230,000 a year and is scheduled to start in January. HART will select an interim CEO in December. “The […]

Mitch PerryDecember 20, 2016

Among the 2017 priorities that the Hillsborough County Regional Transit Authority’s government liaison, Cesar Hernandez told board members on Monday, one would be to continue to push for anything that can push autonomous vehicle technology forward in the new year. In case you’re not familiar with the whole driverless car concept, you should know that the Sunshine State, led by […]

Mitch PerryNovember 1, 2016

The Tampa Bay area gets one last, large dose of Bill and Hillary Clinton today. Hillary makes her first campaign appearance in what used to be considered a crucial bellwether — Pasco County, for an appearance this afternoon at Pasco-Hernando State College. Bill Clinton, meanwhile, makes his second appearance in the past 14 days in Pinellas County, […]

Mitch PerryAugust 26, 2016

Incoming Florida Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Latvala said Friday a lack of mass transit in the Tampa Bay area has become a bigger problem than ever, and he blasted his fellow Republicans in Tallahassee for failing to lead on the issue. “We’ve got a lot of folks in my party that just bury their head in the sand when […]

Tag: HART
Listen to Tom Leek's first radio ad.

Local transit agencies seeks testers for mobile app, smartcard system

Rapid transit plan – Wesley Chapel to St. Pete – gets unveiled

HART board rejects idea of consultant taking over agency

Tampa public affairs startup Publicus now up and running

HART shows off inaugural driverless shuttle coming to Tampa next year

Hillsborough transit agency asking Legislature to fund maintenance facility

HART CEO Katharine Eagan to leave for transit position in Pittsburgh

Mitch Perry Report for 12.20.16 – Our driverless future?

Mitch Perry Report for 11.1.16 — Russian ‘involvement’ in presidential election still a mystery

Jack Latvala says his GOP colleagues have their ‘heads in the sand when it comes to transportation’