November 19, 2025. HART has been awarded $32 million through the FTA’s Low or No Emission and Bus & Bus Facilities Program — the largest federal grant in HART’s history, the largest in Florida, and one of the top awards in the entire nation this funding cycle.
This investment will allow HART to:
- Replace 33 aging diesel buses averaging 688,000 miles — well beyond their useful life
- Reduce annual maintenance costs by over $1 million
- Improve reliability, on-time performance, and reduce service interruptions
- Cut harmful emissions across Hillsborough County
- Expand technician training and apprenticeship programs to strengthen our workforce
With this award, HART is now positioned to become Florida’s first transit agency with a 100% low-emission CNG fixed-route fleet — a major milestone in Fleet Transition Plan and a big step toward cleaner, more reliable mobility for community.
“Today’s announcement represents a major step forward for reliable transit in Hillsborough County. This investment will help us improve service for riders, reduce costly breakdowns, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and continue transitioning our fleet to cleaner, low-emission technology,” HART CEO Scott Drainville said.
“This federal investment is a significant step forward for transit in Hillsborough County. With the addition of 33 new CNG buses, HART will be able to improve reliability, lower operating costs, and better serve the riders who depend on these routes every day. I was proud to support HART’s application and am grateful to Secretary Duffy and Administrator Molinaro for prioritizing this project. These upgrades will make a real difference for families, workers, and students across our community,” Congresswoman Laurel Lee said.