HART Board of Directors Regular Meeting – April 8, 2026
HART Board of Directors Regular Meeting – April 8, 2026
This meeting of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) Board of Directors was called to order by Chair Gil Schusser. The board addressed routine approvals, a significant funding reallocation, a legal review of naming rights, and a proposal to change control of a downtown transit corridor. The meeting included public comment, committee reports, and discussion of strategic priorities.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes from the March 2, 2026 regular meeting.
- Consent Agenda: Items 4A through 4D, recommended by the Claims Committee and the Finance, Audit, Operations & Safety Committee, were approved unanimously. During discussion, a board member disclosed a mediation relationship with Morgan & Morgan (counsel on one of the items) but confirmed no conflict of interest.
Public Comments & Testimony
- First Speaker (name not given): The speaker urged the board to establish a direct bus route between Tampa International Airport (TIA) and the University Area Transit Center (UATC), the second most important area in the system. He proposed three approaches: extending the Route 45, extending the Route 275, or securing a private sponsor (e.g., TIA or USF) for premium service. He emphasized that the change would be inexpensive and important for connectivity.
- John Green: A former employee and community advocate, Mr. Green criticized HART’s management culture, alleging microaggressions, condescension, and disrespect. He cited specific examples, including a CEO remark that “employees don’t read” and a supervisor referring to himself as a “king.” He called for the board to address these issues.
Discussion Items
- TIP Amendment – Bus Replacement Funding: CFO Shirley Shu Hurley presented a request to redirect $15 million in Surface Transportation (SU) funds from the Heavy Maintenance Facility (HMF) capital project to bus replacement and midlife overhauls. She noted that 75 fixed-route buses have exceeded their useful life (86 of 131, or roughly two-thirds of the fleet). The amendment is a “funding source swap” that frees up ad valorem dollars to serve as local match for future competitive federal grants for the HMF project. The total bus replacement budget is unchanged. The board approved the motion unanimously.
- TICO Streetcar Naming Rights: Ms. Bailey, HART staff, reviewed the history of the TICO streetcar naming rights. Agreements from 1998–2009, including a $1 million TICO contribution, assigned the trademark to TICO Energy in perpetuity. HART was not a party to the original agreements and lacks legal standing to renegotiate, according to board counsel. Several board members questioned the validity of the perpetual assignment, given HART owns the streetcar vehicles. The board voted to have staff, along with the city of Tampa and THS (Tampa Historical Streetcar), convene within 30 days to explore options and report back. The motion passed with no opposition.
- Marion Street Transit Corridor: Director McCluddy (also referred to as Councilor McCluddy) moved to initiate the process of transferring control of the Marion Street Transit Corridor back to the city of Tampa, arguing it has become an artificial barrier to development and is underutilized. Concerns were raised about potential loss of federal funding (approximately $200,000 annually) and the need for more information. After discussion, the motion was withdrawn, and staff will gather additional data and bring the matter back to a future board meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Minutes: March 2, 2026 minutes approved unanimously.
- Consent Agenda Approved: Unanimous approval.
- TIP Amendment Approved: Unanimous vote to redirect $15 million in SU funds from HMF to bus replacement, freeing up ad valorem funds for future HMF grant matching.
- TICO Naming Rights Study: Motion passed to have staff, city, and THS meet within 30 days and report back on potential resolution.
- Marion Street Motion Withdrawn: No vote; staff to prepare a comprehensive analysis for a future meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. I'm Council Member Gil Schusser, Hart Board Chair. Please silence all electronic devices for the duration of this meeting. Welcome to the April 6th, 2026 Board of Directors regular meeting, which is now called to order. The meeting hybrid, the meeting format is hybrid with board members physically present at the Hart Administrative Office 1201, East 7th Avenue, Florida Conference Room, and others participated via communication media technology. Please join me if you can in the Pledge of Allegiance. Under God's thank you. Yes, sir. Director Cameron Sabeta here. Director Clendon. Director Hobbes indicated he would be absent. Director King? Present. Director Knight. Director Mac Alpatrick. Here. Director McCannick. Here. Director Miller. Here. Director Myers. Here. Director Nieberg. Here. Chair Schisler. Here. Director Smith. Here. Director Vieira. Director Williams? Here. Director Wolstall. Here. You do have a quorum, sir. Thank you very much. Okay. Next is there a public comment. We will start with a statement for board counsel, Mr. Jeff Gibson. Good morning, sir. Good morning, Chair. Thank you. Members of the public have a right to speak on any relevant issue during the public comment process. However, certain items may be rooted in contract pending legal recourse or prohibited by this board's policy, which prohibits involvement by the board in the normal employee employer employee relationship between the CEO and any other employee or employee union of heart. While the public could address those matters, board members are advised not to discuss them during the meeting. Okay, very thank you. Thank you, Mr. Gibson. The Hort Board Board of Directors welcomes comments from citizens about any issue or concern. Your opinions are valued in terms of provide input to the board members.
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