Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Bay Times article on HART:

HART board discusses transportation priorities, goals and budgets

• Caitlin Johnston, Times Staff Writer

Monday, April 6, 2015 7:51pm

TAMPA — The county’s transit agency began a three-month process Monday of reshaping its goals and budget for the upcoming fiscal year, including placing more emphasis on collaboration with other agencies.

Board members for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority discussed its vision and core values as part of crafting a new strategic plan. While CEO Katharine Eagan presented a comprehensive view of the organization’s current objectives — continuing to be an employer of choice, transportation agency of choice, and change agent for the area — board members chimed in with other objectives they’d like to see highlighted.

County Commissioner Sandra Murman wants more emphasis placed on collaboration with other agencies, such as the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority. Not only is this necessary for improving efficiency and effectiveness, but also for attaining essential funding for the agency, she said.

“The agency doesn’t operate in isolation anymore,” she said. “We need to strengthen our partnerships so we are also getting a piece of the pie.”

Board member Kathleen Shanahan said she would like to see priorities rearranged, with the efforts to be the leading transportation agency of choice receiving the most attention.

Much discussion centered around the agency’s limited bus availability outside the city, especially around south county. Feedback from a series of public meetings held by Hillsborough County staff show that residents in those areas are requesting more bus service, Murman said. However, providing that has proven difficult due to the size of the county.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever get to the point where we can serve every square inch of the county,” board member Karen Jaroch said.

As for the budget, Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Seward said the goal is to maintain the current level of service and provide limited enhancements.

HART is expected to get an additional $1.7 million in funding next year from property taxes, which make up 48 percent of revenue, Seward said.

Budget projections for the next five years show HART experiencing a shortfall starting in fiscal year 2018 if things progress on the current track. That shortfall is estimated at $475,562 and could rise to $2.3 million by 2020.