Podcasts

September 15, 2022: Major metropolitan areas around the world use ferries for both tourist and commuter transportation. But until recently the Tampa Bay region was not among them. That is starting to change with the Cross Bay Ferry. Hillsborough County Commission Chair Kimberly Overman details the status of plans to grow ferry service here, the challenges of building regional consensus, and the need for alternative transit options in the region. 

June 16, 2022: A century ago the streetcar was Tampa's preferred means of public transit.  Now its popularity is back on the rise, as the TECO Line Streetcar is setting record ridership numbers. Providing free transit to both commuters and visitors, there are big plans for expansion. City of Tampa Director of Mobility Vik Bhide talks about the streetcar's past, present and future.

May 4, 2022: Getting from Point A to Point B isn't always easy. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) can help.  MaaS applications integrate multiple forms of transportation services, providing the user with a diverse menu of public and private options that can simplify your local travel decisions. Tampa is getting onboard, launching its own MaaS program. In this episode we explore how it works with City of Tampa Smart Mobility Manager Brandon Campbell.

April 5, 2022: Two transit facilities on opposite sides of Tampa Bay are in serious need of replacement. In Pinellas County, PSTA needs to replace its outdated Clearwater Transit Center, while in Hillsborough HART is in dire need of a new heavy maintenance facility. Why are these projects on top of the priority list and what's being done to make it happen? We take a closer look at each project in this two segment episode.

March 28, 2022: The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority has a new leader.  After two decades of working his way through the ranks at the Maryland Department of Transportation, Greg Slater joined THEA this past February as CEO and Executive Director. In this episode, he outlines his vision for the authority and discusses how THEA is developing new technology that will impact travel in Tampa Bay. 

February 14, 2022: The internationally recognized Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida combines research and education to improve the way we move today and in the years ahead.  In this episode of On the Go!, we focus on one area of expertise, Transportation Demand Management (TDM), with CUTR Senior Associate Sara Hendricks.

January 4, 2022: Communities across the world are increasingly embracing micromobility, including the city of Tampa. With a pilot project complete, the city is moving to make the use of scooters, bicycles, e-bikes and more a permanent part of Tampa's mobility capabilities. How has micromobility changed the way Tampa moves and interacts? We find out from the city's Smart Mobility Manager Brandon Campbell.

December 8, 2021: One year ago Adelee Le Grand became CEO of the Hillsborough Transit Authority, beginning a mission to make HART Tampa Bay's top transit provider. In this episode, she shares her experiences from her first year and outlines her priorities to serve both Hillsborough County customers and HART's own employees. Le Grand also discusses how HART is embracing innovative technology to improve the transit rider experience.

November 2, 2021: As more people begin heading back into work, rush hour traffic is resuming and many are discovering they dread the back and forth grind. Vanpooling offers commuters the chance to save hundreds of dollars each month and employers the opportunity to recruit and retain new workers. TBARTA's Chris Jadick talks with Ken Boden of Commute Tampa Bay and Arlinda Karuli of Commute with Enterprise to explore how it works, as well as the many benefits for both riders and employers. 

August 26, 2021: Flamingo Fares is a new, contactless payment method that is safe, convenient and can save transit riders a lot of money.  Cassandra Borchers of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority tells why PSTA is introducing Flamingo Fares now, how PSTA riders can use it, and what the advantages are for transit customers.  Plus, we get an update on PSTA's many projects, including AVA autonomous vehicle testing and the SunRunner BRT. 

August 18, 2021: Why is regionalism increasingly important in government, and how is the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) helping to improve the quality of life across six counties? TBRPC Executive Director Sean Sullivan shares his experiences from leading regional efforts here over the past five years. Plus, why the agency is increasingly focused on resiliency, and how it's ready to protect you in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. 

July 27, 2021:  Transit agencies across the nation, including Tampa Bay, are actively recruiting, hiring, and training future transit bus operators. What does it take to become an operator? What are the unknown benefits of serving the transportation public? In this July 2021 episode of TBARTA's On the Go! podcast, we hear from two former drivers who have advanced into transit leadership careers, Brian Abrams of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) and A.J. Ortiz of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA).

June 23, 2021: Air taxis are on the horizon of Tampa Bay's transportation future.  But how can we be assured autonomously flown aircraft will be safe? Is the public ready to fly in aircraft without a pilot onboard? We explore those questions and more in part two of our interview with Anna Dietrich and Yolanka Wulff, co-founders of CAMI, the Community Air Mobility Initiative.

June 3, 2021: Air taxis are among the most exciting transportation technologies now in development.  How would air taxis help us meet our transportation needs? Would they be managed? And how soon are we likely to see commercial operations begin?  As Tampa Bay begins considering the future of air taxis, we explore those questions and more with Anna Dietrich and Yolanka Wulff, co-founders of CAMI, the Community Air Mobility Initiative.

May 25, 2021: Pasco County is one of the fastest growing areas in Tampa Bay, which brings new challenges for county leaders.  In this episode of On the Go! we find out how those leaders plan to meet Pasco's transit and transportation challenges, with Director of Public Transportation Kurt Scheible.  Among the topics we discuss: which parts of Pasco are growing the fastest, options the county is considering to meet those needs, and what it takes to become a bus driver.

March 23, 2021: Established to develop roadway infrastructure projects sooner than with conventional transportation funding, the self-funded Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is growing regionally. In this episode of On the Go! you will hear the inside story on the new Selmon Expressway Extension project as it nears completion, how THEA continues to honor the legacy of the expressway's namesake, Lee Roy Selmon, and updates on other projects that will improve Tampa Bay's transportation system for decades to come.

February 25, 2021: One year ago, the COVID-19 pandemic stopped air travel in it tracks.  But Tampa International Airport has been resilient and proactive in meeting the challenge.  TPA's Veronica Cintron talks with Chris Jadick about how TPA managed this generational health crisis, how the airport continues to grow, and the changes we can expect in air travel for years to come because of the pandemic.

February 11, 2021: Hillsborough County is growing and rapidly changing.  Keeping up with those changes while planning to enhance our quality of life is a major focus at the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization.  MPO Executive Director Beth Alden, joined by Executive Planners Gena Torres and Allison Yeh, discuss current initiatives and look into the future with TBARTA host Chris Jadick.

January 13, 2021: What will tomorrow look like in Pinellas County? Many of those questions are being answered today at Forward Pinellas. In this On the Go! with TBARTA podcast from January, 2021, Executive Director Whit Blanton and Principal Planner Sarah Caper discuss the Forward Pinellas mission, their projects and planning responsibilities, and also share their thoughts on what they see on the horizon of Pinellas County's future.

December 17, 2020: HART, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, is looking ahead to the future of transit.  The groundwork is being laid for an arterial bus rapid transit project, expansion of the TECO Line Streetcar, and a transition to alternative energy vehicles.  Senior Planner Justin Willits and Senior Project Planner Nicole McCleary talk about those projects and share their thoughts on how mass transit can best serve Hillsborough County today and tomorrow.

November 25, 2020: Brad Miller has been CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority since 2011.  But he is not looking back, he is looking ahead.  In this episode of On the Go! Brad talks about PSTA's new SunRunner BRT project, autonomous vehicle testing, alternative energy vehicles, and more!  Plus, he shares a very interesting path that led him to a career in mass transit.