SOUL SUNDAY

TRAILER OF THE THE WEEK

FOLLOW UP

One of our clients from Canada came through to add some more work to the piece dedicated to her son.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

STREET SCENE

Here is a flik of a piece from back in the day on the Homie Bear!

THE COLLECTION

DOWN WITH THE KINGS

Here is the most recent piece on our client Justus from Texas..

SOUL SUNDAY

TRAILER OF THE THE WEEK

LA FAMILIA

Our good friend Greg Bojorquez came it to add his fathers portrait to his family portraits.

KEEP THE FAITH

Here is a couple more small pieces on one of our Homies from Seven Faces!

SEVEN FACES CREW

Here are a couple small pieces on another loyal client from Germany..

PROGRESS

FROM ABOVE

Here is a recent piece on one of our good friend Eric and loyal client. A small gift from his Fiance.
Check out Erics Salon
Ghetto Fabulous
463 South Robertson Blvd Suite 1
Beverly Hills Ca 90211
310.275.0269

Bus Service on Bucs Gameday

HART's West Tampa Transfer Center is closed during
Bucs and Bulls home games. HART buses serve a temporary
stop near St. Joseph's hospital on gamedays.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back in action this weekend, as they host the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints today at 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.

Remember, HART customers should expect bus travel around the stadium to be affected by traffic management measures in the hours before and after the game. Click here for detour information from HART's website, and call (813) 254-HART for details on stops that may not be accessible during the game.

Let's send those Saints marching out with a loss to our Buccaneers!

SOUL SUNDAY

TRAILER OF THE WEEK

HART's Annual Ridership Best in Agency's History

More people in Hillsborough County boarded
HART buses in FY 2010 than ever before.

Happy New Year!

Make that Happy (Fiscal) New Year!

HART's fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30 - which means fiscal year 2010 is now but a memory, and the year-end ridership reports are in.

For the year ending September 30, 2010, HART's total ridership exceeded 12.8 million for the first time in the agency's 30-year history.

The final numbers were announced Friday morning at a ceremony honoring HART as the American Public Transportation Association's Outstanding System of the Year.

Local Bus Leads the Way
The backbone of HART's service are the 30 local routes that serve passengers across Hillsborough County every day. In FY2010, local routes made up the bulk of the system's growth.

An exceptionally strong September, with an increase of almost 12%, bolstered the year-end local bus ridership numbers.

Local Bus Ridership Comparison
Sept. 2009: 984,565
Sept. 2010: 1,101,466
Percent Change: +11.9%

FY 2009: 11,361,362
FY 2010: 12,004,775
Percent Change: +5.7%

Adding Commuter Express service, the totals look like this:

Total Ridership - Local and Express Bus Service
Sept. 2009: 1,008,005
Sept. 2010: 1,122,969
Percent Change: +11.4%

FY 2009: 11,638,548
FY 2010: 12,264,357
Percent Change: +5.4%

Factor in 407,000 rides on the TECO Line Streetcar System, another 104,000 on HART Plus paratransit service for people with disabilities, nearly 3,000 on the new HART Flex, and about 66,000 in vanpool vehicles furnished by HART, and the total for all public transportation modes in fiscal 2010 is more than 12.8 million rides.

An interesting trend behind the numbers is the fact that FY 2010 ended with seven straight months of 1-million-plus rides each, indicating that a million rides is now the agency's monthly norm.

At the ceremony on Friday, HART CEO David Armijo announced the news to the staff, guests, media and members of the community.

"Today as I thank our passengers for their patronage and our community for their support, I also want to honor all HART staff for exceeding expectations, time and time again, as they helped drive HART through some pretty gray days. HART staff truly motivate me by their ability to achieve goals and surmount all challenges thrust upon them," Mr. Armijo said.

The APTA award was presented by the organization's president, William Millar. It recognizes HART as the best in North America among mid-size transit agencies, which includes those carrying between 4 million and 20 million annual passenger trips.

SKID ROW 2 SHANGHAI

All About Sea Freight!

If you desire to get the highest quality of freighting services for business material or heavy machinery for moving abroad, it is important to make use of sea freight, as it is the less expensive freight service option. Make sure, you use a freight service company that has many years of service as this will ensure you of better safety and handling of your expensive goods. London Logistics will offer you all of the above mentioned, and provide a variety of support options to suit your specific freight and transport needs.

Every big business industry has to make use of sea freight at some point, due to the vast pace of global growth and development. Whether you have to import or export, you have to consider the best and lowest cost options on delivering goods. Sea freight companies negotiate with shipping lines to obtain the best rates and options for moving of full container loads container loads. London Logistics have partnered with major shipping lines that cater for all types of sea freight shipments.

You Have Questions, We Have Answers

Talkin' transit in Tampa Bay.

Last week, we invited you to participate in a transportation-themed Town Call meeting hosted by HART and the Hillsborough County MPO.

And boy did you participate!

The final numbers are in, and total attendees for the evening reached 6,267. To help put that figure in perspective, HART holds a lot of meetings during the year with community organizations, homeowners associations, listening tours and other groups. On average, we'll get together with about 30 to 50 people at these meetings, so it would take about 126 average-sized community group meetings to equal the number we reached at the Town Call event.

HART's CEO, David Armijo, was impressed by the turnout.

"It was invigorating to see that so many people were interested in the subject and wanted to participate, either by listening in or calling in with their questions," Mr. Armijo said. "The input we received was also helpful to us, and the perspective of the public is very energizing."

Panel Talks Transit
The Town Call event, which was moderated by Tampa Bay area radio and TV personality Jack Harris, featured a panel of transportation experts and community leadership that answered callers' questions. Panel memebers were Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner (also a member of the HART and MPO Boards), HART CEO David Armijo and MPO Executive Director Ray Chiaramonte.

During the hourlong meeting, the panel took 20 questions from attendees on the transit tax initiative and the plans to improve transportation in Hillsborough County. Questions ranged from which areas would be served by transit improvements, to local and regional connectivity, to how the citizens' oversight committee would operate.

Callers represented areas across Hillsborough County, with questions coming in from Tampa, Riverview, Plant City and Lutz.

Here's a sampling of some questions that were asked, along with the answers.

Ed in Tampa said that transit improves our general quality of life, but wondered how the plan would integrate parking, buses and rail service for those who might have to drive to a station.

HART's David Armijo reassured Ed that the system will encourage people to walk to the rail stations, and that park-and-ride facilities would be readily available. Mr. Armijo also noted that while it's too soon to talk about specific fares, parking will likely be free (as it is today at HART's current park-and-ride lots), and that a monthly pass will be available for people who ride the bus and rail systems regularly.

Denise in Riverview wanted to know the closest rail point for people in Riverview and Brandon.

Ray Chiaramonte from the MPO let Denise know that there is a future rail line planned that extends to the east part of Brandon, probably along SR 60 although the exact route has not been decided, and that increased express and local bus routes would be coming to Riverview and Brandon.

Jesse in the Dover/Plant City area thought the eastern portion of the county doesn't appear to get any benefit from the tax.

Commissioner Kevin Beckner explained to Jesse that this is a comprehensive plan that includes much more than just the train in Tampa. Commissioner Beckner pointed out that 25% of the revenues will actually go to road projects, including road widening in Plant City, and increased bus service and flex service.

Loretta in Tampa and David in Tampa both asked questions about the high-speed rail system - what's the difference, and how will we connect to it?

Mr. Chiaramonte explained that the November 2 referendum pertains only to Hillsborough County projects - the bus system expansion, roadway projects and light rail system, while the high-speed rail system that will connect Tampa and Orlando is a separate project with separate funding from the federal government. The Hillsborough County tax will not go toward that effort.

Commissioner Beckner also noted that passengers of the high-speed rail system will need a transportation network to get them around while they're here, and that HART's Rapid Transit Investment Plan and the MPO 2035 Plan do just that. The plan calls for 46 miles of light rail, more bus routes and service, bike routes and other road projects to connect people to their final destinations. Commissioner Beckner also explained that our goal is to work with all of the counties in the region to create a system that serves the whole region.

Those are a few of the questions and answers to come out of the Town Call meeting. All in all, it was a great discussion, and a perfect way to talk to our community about this important issue. Thanks to all who participated, and we hope to do it again soon!

To see HART's Rapid Transit Investment plan, click here.

For the MPO's 2035 Plan, click here.

More Transit Q&A
If those questions and answers whet your appetite for more, Creative Loafing's Mitch Perry has a great 20-question Q&A over on their News &Politics blog. Check it out here.

D.O.B.

Here is a piece on a client who came out from Japan..

Shipping as Freight!

Thanks to newer ways of commutations, you can find so many options to explore for ensuring a smooth transportation of goods from one destination to another in relatively countable days. In addition, it is a matter of a great surprise that you can even ship any amount of goods even as large as a yacht to another destination without any possible hurdles. Also, there is absolutely no need to worry for the damages in transit. The preparation necessary will largely depend on the particular ship(s) you'll be using, and their loading requirements.

Sometimes, it's possible to load a sailboat on a ship without lowering the rig. Generally, however, the boat is prepared much as for trucking, except a cradle is built for the boat, the vessel is almost always shrink-wrapped, and then it is lifted and placed on the ship via crane.

Collect more information on roll-on/roll-off transporters that allow boats to be loaded via trailer.

4 EVA, EVA

Trip out on one of the latest pieces..

Light Rail Video is Worth a Thousand Words

We've been talking a lot about light rail in Hillsborough County lately. But have you found yourself wondering exactly what this "light rail" thing is, anyway?

Wonder no more. Over on HART's YouTube channel, we've posted an 11-minute video chock-full of light rail vehicles on the move. It's a great way to see light rail in action and visualize just how it might work here in Hillsborough County.

Click here or on the player above to see the video.

For a definition of transit modes, including light rail transit, from the American Public Transportation Association, click here.

AA Recommendations Presented Oct. 18

HART's Alternatives Analysis study team will present its findings to the Board of Directors at its next regular meeting on Monday, October 18, at 8:30 a.m. in the Planning Commission Boardroom at the County Center.

The Alternatives Analysis is an important first step toward securing federal funding for a major transit investment. Before submitting a project for evaluation by the Federal Transit Administration, local authorities are required to evaluate technical aspects like ridership and travel forecasting, cost effectiveness, benefits and impacts, and land use issues.

In addition, one of the most vital parts of the AA process is public opinion. That's why HART and our colleagues at PB Americas held numerous public events over the past year to hear residents' thoughts on our plans.

With the final two public hearings wrapping up last week, the study team is putting all of the comments and suggestions together with the technical assessments to make a recommendation for what's known as the Locally Preferred Alternative, or LPA, which will detail which routes a new transit project would take, as well as whether the new system would be light rail, bus rapid transit, enhanced bus, or some other type of service.

Once the study team makes its recommendation on Monday, the HART Board will make the final decision on the LPA.

More AA Info on Website
Throughout the process, HART has maintained a website dedicated to the AA. If you'd like to get some background on the AA, view presentations, see maps of the study area, view light-rail videos, and learn a whole lot more, you can check it out at http://www.gohartaa.org/.

And of course, check back here for an update after Monday's Board meeting.

SUPER SHOW

We just got back from the Vegas Super Show. It was a crazy weekend but it was good to spend time with the Family and My Club Brothers.. Congrats to Rick, Bobby Flowers and Brandon on the awards. Here are a couple fliks of the show. Look out for more later.

Choosing Right Sized Shipping Containers!

There would be a difficult situation without having containers that can make or break the future of commercial activities especially in cases related with international business. It would be quite difficult to send or receive goods in bulk with making proper provision for maintaining safety and security of the goods within. Shipping containers have taken over world trade, and although industrial and invariably ugly, they do serve a long-needed purpose: total storage container control over goods in transit, come high water or heavy weather.

Tips & Tactics for Choosing the Right Containers for Your Need:
Most shipping companies supply shipping containers for their customers, although there's no guarantee. Increased world trade has squeezed the supply of steel for new shipping containers from shipping container manufacturers.

Shipping containers are constructed to meet international standards in order to accommodate what's known as intermodal -- train, truck or boat -- transport. If the small box shipping container seems too big, time to take out partial space.

And the Winner Is...

Members of HART's senior leadership team just returned from the American Public Transportation Association's annual meeting in Texas - and their luggage was a little heavier on the way back to Tampa, because they were bringing home APTA's prestigious Outstanding System of the Year award.

But this national recognition is more than just a new bauble for our trophy case. It's an important award because it reflects our commitment to provide quality service for the thousands of people who ride our buses, vans, trolleys and streetcars every day.

Excellence in Service
When HART's CEO David Armijo arrived in Tampa in 2007, he brought with him a goal that, at the time, seemed out of reach.

To be the best. To serve with excellence. To be named tops in the nation. Nothing less would do.

Little by little, it started to come together. There were signs of change everywhere. Management was restructured. Service was improved. Procedures were streamlined. New ideas were embraced.

And then, something truly amazing happened. In the face of an economic downturn that some financial experts have called "the Great Recession," HART's ridership grew. Even while news from other public transit systems across the country focused on declining ridership, increasing fares and severe cutbacks, HART's new approach to service efficiency and productivity was working.

It was clear that while we were making changes, the people who really matter, our passengers and members of the community, were taking notice. And they were getting onboard in larger numbers than ever.

Setting that lofty goal helped us do much more than win an award. It made HART better, because it made us reach higher and work harder to provide our customers with the best service we can give them. In the process, we put better bus service on the street, made our fleet of vehicles newer and more comfortable, and improved our relationships within the community.

So even though our agency name is on the award, everyone in Hillsborough County - our customers, our neighbors and our friends - are the real winners.

Celebration Friday!
We'd like to invite you to stop by on Friday, October 15, at 10:30 a.m. to help us celebrate the APTA honor. Join us for a short ceremony to take place at HART's Ybor Station administrative offices, 1201 E. 7th Avenue. We couldn't have done it without you, so we want you to come to the party!

For details on the Friday celebration, click here.

To learn more about the APTA Outstanding System of the Year award, click here.

SOUL SUNDAY

TRAILER OF THE THE WEEK

Jewel on the Water, Served by the Streetcar

Take the TECO Line Streetcar System to
the Florida Aquarium!

Looking for something to do today? Well, a ride on the TECO Line Streetcar System always fills the bill! While you're onboard, you'll see the is-it-a-seashell-or-is-it-a-diamond form of the beautiful Florida Aquarium right outside your window.

But don't just let it pass you by - hop off at Channelside and pop in for a visit! Tonight is the annual Brews by the Bay celebration, a night of Oktoberfest fun, food and beverages with a German accent. There's a special admission for this event, and the Aquarium will be closing to regular customers at 4:30 p.m. to get ready for it. If you're headed to Brews by the Bay, arrive in style on a streetcar!

Guppyween October 24
Halloween comes early at the Florida Aquarium! If your little guys and gals are already itching to show off those new costumes, pay a visit to Guppyween, the Aquarium's children's Halloween party on Sunday, October 24 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. It's also a safe alternative to trick-or-treating. And be sure to include a streetcar ride on your list of things to do. Trust us, your little gremlins will love it!

For more information on upcoming events at the Florida Aquarium, visit their website here.

To learn more about the TECO Line Streetcar System, click here.

History of Train Travel
Also this weekend, the Tampa Bay History Center opened a new exhibit that explores the history of trains and rail travel called "From the Orange Blossom Special to High Speed Rail: Train Travel in Tampa Bay."

As HART's Facebook page notes, "How cool would it be to take the TECO Line Streetcar to the newly opened 'Train Travel in Tampa Bay' exhibit at the Tampa History Museum?"

Riding a piece of history to learn about history. Yep, that's pretty cool.

USF Bulls Take the Field Today
The USF Bulls clash with Big East Conference rival Syracuse today at 12 noon. HART customers should expect bus travel around Raymond James Stadium to be affected by traffic management measures in the hours before and after the game. Click here for detour information from HART's website, and call (813) 254-HART for details on stops that may not be accessible during the game.

Go Bulls and Go HART!

UPDATE: Game time was originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m., but changed to noon.

BACK HOME

We are back at the shop and it feels good to be back home. Here is a flik of the first piece.

Qualifications of Marine Inspectors:

For practicing as international marine inspectors, you need to have the following qualifications;

To qualify for the licensed practitioners, applicants must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service.

Specialized experience should have included serving as a technical expert interpreting and applying national and international laws, regulations, policies, guidance documents and standards related to the training, assessment, qualification, certification, licensing and documentation of merchant mariners.

Experience in the following areas is beneficial but not required: serving as a project manager for statutory and regulatory projects concerning crew qualifications and manning on merchant ships, ensuring that an organization's training, qualification, and certification for merchant mariners meet the requirements of STCW; and providing authoritative technical advice to delegations, advisory committees, or working groups on matters pertaining to crew qualifications and manning issues for merchant mariners.

National Report Finds Transportation Trouble

Look familiar? A new national report says our
transportation system is failing.

Last year, a group of about 80 transportation experts got together at the University of Virginia for the David R. Goode National Transportation Policy Conference to talk about the state of our nation's transportation system.

It may come as no surprise to hear that, according to a report released Monday with results of the meeting, those experts found the system wanting.

The final report lists 10 recommendations "to fix our nation's ailing transportation system." Funding was identified as a major issue - again, no surprise - along with streamlining the planning process, dealing with congestion, and advocating intermodal solutions.

One other interesting idea mentioned in the report is the possibility of giving some of the decision making responsibility currently under federal control back to state and local authorities.

The Washington Post has a story about the report's release here.

Transportation trade publication Metro magazine has a great outline of the report's recommendations, and a video link that lets you watch the press conference with former Transportation Secretaries Norman Mineta and Sam Skinner, and Gov. Gerald L. Baliles, director of the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs.

Read Metro's summary here, and watch the press conference here.

Metro also has a link to the complete report here.

Who Ya Gonna Call?
Don't forget, tonight at 7:10 p.m. is the live Town Call event on Hillsborough County's transportation future, hosted by HART and the Hillsborough County MPO. The jocular, cracker-jack jock Jack Harris is the moderator, so be sure to dial in and give it a listen! Click here for details on how to join us tonight. We look forward to hearing from you.

Kinds of Ocean Transport

Ocean transport is an important link for streamlining the global supply chain and makes it sustainable. It is vital to develop ideal sea channels for smooth transfer of goods and commodities without charging too high. The system of international shipping is about making a suitable framework which is competitively reasonable to enable cost effective worldwide sourcing and distribution.

The kinds of ocean transport:
In modern international transportation system, ocean transport has occupied a significant position in facilitating channels of imports and exports. It has brought different parts of the world closer. This type of transport operates on a natural track where man has to do nothing.

Mainly, there are two types of ocean transport like:

Coastal shipping:
This particular type of transport is used for carrying goods from one place to another within the country. Mostly, heavy and bulky traffic over a long distance is managed by coastal shipping ways.

Overseas Shipping:
This type of transport is mostly used for carrying goods from one country to another over the ocean. Vehicles like liners, tramps, cargo-liners and the tankers are used for overseas shipping methods.

ONCE AGAIN IT'S ON

We are coming back to the East Coast and we got a spot for you!!

Public Transportation Works for Everyone

HART buses are accessible for everyone

Stop and think for a minute, "What if..."

What if you couldn't walk? What if you couldn't see? Or hear? What would change in your life? Would you be able to work? How would you get there?

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and HART is proud to recognize the important role people with disabilities play in our community, in our businesses, and in our economy.

Onboard our buses and vans, we meet people with disabilities every day. We've designed our services to meet the needs of people with disabilities, which makes access for everyone a little easier.

Buses Built for Access
All HART buses are designed for easier access. Each bus can carry up to two wheelchairs at a time, with secure tie-downs and other features to increase the safety of riders. Boarding the bus is also easier, with ramps that extend to the sidewalk and a "kneeling" function that lowers the front of the bus so anyone with limited mobility can board without having to step up.

People who are visually impaired rely on audio cues to tell them where they are and when their stop is approaching. HART has recently installed automated onboard audio announcements that alert passengers to major intersections and approaching stops.

At the street level, HART has been working to upgrade its bus stops to improve accessibility. In 2007, we launched a system-wide evaluation of the nearly 4,500 bus stops, transfer centers and transit centers we serve to find out what kind of accessibility improvements need to be made.

In the last two years, we've installed 223 new shelters, plus bus landing pads, ramps, and railings at many of the stops most in need of improvement. To see HART's 2007 Bus Stop & Facility Accessibility Study Draft Summary Report, click here.

Personal Training
For some people, using the bus for the first time can be intimidating, especially with mobility issues. But HART helps them move past those fears with our Travel Training program, giving them a personal "bus buddy" who takes them through that first trip on the bus. The Travel Training program provides one-on-one instruction on reading the timetables, knowing which stops to use, how long the trip will take, when to change buses, and much, much more. The Travel Trainer creates an itinerary for the customer, and accompanies him or her on the first trip for free.

HART's award-winning Travel Training program has been an enormous success, giving people confidence to ride the bus and gain independence.

HARTplus Takes You There
For people who are unable to use regularly scheduled bus service, HART provides HARTplus, a specialized service for people with disabilities. After an application and interview process, HARTplus customers are certified to use the service as needed. HARTplus customers make advance reservations for trips to and from any location that's within 3/4-mile of a HART local bus route. For many people, HARTplus is a vital link to medical appointments, shopping and employment destinations.

Equal Opportunity Employer
In addition to providing transportation for people to get to their jobs, HART also proudly employs a diverse workforce including people of all abilities.

To learn more about National Disability Employment Month, click here.

For a listing of current job openings at HART, click here.

For more on HART's services for people with disabilities, click on the links below.

HARTplus

Travel Training

Discount Fare Cards

What does an Ocean freight forwarder do?

A freight forwarder is a third party logistics provider who easily manages and controls the transportation of goods from the source to destination. A forwarder is a transportation expert who handles all the activities involved in the smooth transportation of goods and services from far off places. He/she is a person who keeps a track of rules and regulations and governing authorities of the shipping industry. Such a forwarder has a long list of business partners; carriers, agents, business contacts, real-time information on the status of shipping availability (for their specialized area) and a vast array of ocean shipping-line maps updated in real-time. Forwarders use these resources to provide their clients with the best possible fit (against specified requirements) in terms of cost, transit time, best/economical routes, carriers (transporter services), container bookings and shippers insurance; economies of scale (the largcarre volume of goods that forwarders transport) gives them an economical and logistic advantage over iers or businesses that ship individually.

TIMES IN TOKYO

Check out some more fliks from Asia

RIGHT HERE!

Services Related to Transit-Transportation

Ocean transportation is an important form of goods transportation in today’s world. This special method of transportation is being carried for long distances. This type of transportation is suitable for almost any kind of goods; both perishable and non-perishable in nature. Following are services related to transit transportation business:

Coordination of domestic and international transporters (carriers)
- Inland pickup and delivery to/from port
- Providing arrangements and coordinating customs for Bonded Warehousing: This is applicable
where the duty on import goods is unpaid cargo is stored in the joint custody of the importer and customs officials.
- Container loading and arrangements for the management and loading of break-bulk (individually loaded) cargo
- Locating space and availability and transporting to free ports or SEZ's (special economic/trade zones with relaxed customs regulations and taxes). This is especially for trans-shipment purposes; cargo at free ports is accepted for handling, processing and reshipment without the imposition of tariffs and taxes
- Insurance, Risk management and cargo loss prevention

On Call

Have questions? Give us a call on Thursday!

Light rail, high-speed rail, rapid transit, flex service...does all this transit talk around town leave you with lots of questions?

We're here to help - just give us a call. A "town call," that is!

As part of our commitment to help Hillsborough County residents understand the solutions that are being proposed for our area's transportation issues, HART and the Metropolitan Planning Organization are hosting a "Town Call" event this Thursday, October 7, from 7:10 p.m. until 8:10 p.m.

If you'd like to join in the discussion on Thursday night, just call 1-877-229-8493 and enter 15177 when prompted.

Legendary Tampa Bay radio and TV host Jack Harris will moderate the event, and HART CEO David Armijo, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner and MPO Executive Director Ray Chiaramonte will be on hand to answer your questions.

To read the news release announcing the Town Call event, click here.

HART Leaders Confirmed for National Committee
Recently, we told you that HART Board Vice-Chair Alison Hewitt and CEO David Armijo were nominated to serve on the American Public Transportation Association's Executive Committee (APTA). Today APTA announced that its membership has voted to approve the slate of officers and committee members, confirming that Ms. Hewitt and Mr. Armijo will serve on the committee.

Ms. Hewitt and Mr. Armijo, along with other key members of HART's leadership team, are attending the APTA annual meeting in San Antonio, TX this week to accept the national Outstanding Public Transportation System honor, awarded to HART earlier this year.

Tampa Bay & Co. Tops in Our Book, Too
Congratulations to our friends at Tampa Bay & Company for receiving a Gold Service Award from Meetings and Conventions magazine. The folks at TB&C do yeoman's work in bringing events, conventions, meetings and vacationers to our area, and are great supporters of public transportation. Great work, team!

To read more about the award, click here.

PICK YOURSELF UP

While you are at your nearest Starbucks dont forget to pick up the newest release by our friend Zac Brown...

Freight Shipping Rates

Freight shipping is the process of transporting goods by different commercial resources. There are mainly three main types of shipments: household goods, freight shipments and express parcels. In cases, when the cargo is very heavy and cannot be considered as a parcel, it is then labeled freight. Cargo airlines and ocean freight usually carry different forms of freight. However, it is the duty of every company to track their own freight shipping rates to keep costs low.

Generally, all international cargo transportation should go through either cargo airlines, or through ocean freight. These shipping methods are quite expensive hence it is recommended for companies to keep track of the shipping rates being charged so that they can maintain the lowest cost levels possible. There are professionals who cal themselves cargo agents, who actually process the procedure of keeping a track of the current shipping prices, and where the best rates can be found.

SOUL SUNDAY

TRAILER OF THE THE WEEK

Behind the Headlines

Here's a Friday round-up of a few news stories this week that covered HART or public transportation in the Tampa Bay area.

Public Voices Opinions
Over the past year, HART held 366 public meetings to give Hillsborough County residents a chance to get information and voice their opinions on transit's present and future. This week, HART continued listening to public input on the Rapid Transit Investment Plan, as these two St. Petersburg Times stories report.

HART hears from the public about alternative transportation
By Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, September 26

Tampa's proposed light rail routes up for more discussion
By Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, September 30

Learning by Example
ABC Action News anchor Brendan McLaughlin recently did a story he called "What Hillsborough Can Learn from a Train in the Desert," based on the success of the new Valley Metro light rail line in Phoenix. What he found in the Valley of the Sun was that "working mothers, students and business commuters are finding the trains useful and reliable."

What Hillsborough can learn from a train in the desert
By Brendan McLaughlin
Tuesday, September 28
ABC Action News (Channel 28)

HART Leaders Meet the Press
On Wednesday, HART Board member Wallace Bowers and CEO David Armijo sat down with the editorial board of the Florida Sentinel Bulletin. The large African-American readership of this local paper is an important HART constituent, so addressing their concerns about service and future plans is vital. Since the story is not available online, we've included the entire text of the article below.

"Sentinel Editorial Board Meets with HART CEO, Board Member"
September 28, 2010
Florida Sentinel Bulletin

The Sentinel Editorial Board met for more than two hours last Wednesday with David J. Armijo, Chief Executive Officer for Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), and (Rev.) Wallace Bowers, a member of the HART Board. They were joined by Mayor Pam Iorio and former Congressman, Jim Davis.

The meeting was to discuss the Transit System’s expansion and its effect on the African American community from the ground level.

Much of the discussion centered on the proposed 1-cent sales tax that will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot. If passed, revenue from the tax is slated to improve local transit service right away, and begin the process of light rail for the Tampa community.

Members of the Sentinel Editorial Board still have concerns about the African American community being burdened with the tax, more than other communities.

Armijo indicated that the improved bus service would double the bus fleet and employees, and provide shorter waiting times. HART is expected to manage the light rail.

Board member Randolph Kinsey told the HART group that there is concern for the Black community because nine out of 10 times when dollars are levied, the African American community is omitted.

Board member Kay Andrews’ concern is that there is no policy in place that will guarantee any African American participation in anything.

Board member Warren H. Dawson said his concern is that there is no business plan as to how HART will proceed.

HART has been holding open houses throughout the community to share its plans.

HART Board member Bowers said his board is considering several avenues to make sure the African American community is included. They are about to begin a federally mandated disparity study.

Kinsey also inquired about creating a level playing field for small African American businesses. Armijo said everyone has to be made aware. He said it’s important to find ways for smaller firms to partner with larger firms.

Sentinel Editorial board member Wilbert Malphus had concerns about the goals that are included in construction jobs, but are not actually carried through. Rubin Padgett had the same concerns. Bowers said his board is putting together a mandate that will work this out. Malphus also inquired about the professionals who are involved now in this process.

Lots of news in HART's monthly community newsletter

More News from HART - October Community Newsletter Available
Each month, HART puts out an e-newsletter called "A Community with HART," with great content like a message from a HART Board member, updates on projects and plans, and a profile of a HART customer. This month's edition is chock-full of info like that, plus a lot more.

Check it out on our website here, and be sure to sign up to have it delivered right to your in-box!

What Documentation Is Required For International Freight Shipping?

In general, every country has its own specific rules and requirements for documentation needs for import and export. However, there are a few standard paperwork that needs to be completed everywhere in almost all international freight shipping processes.

Some of the main documents may include;

Commercial Invoice – This document contains a detailed line-by-line description of every item in the shipment, along the corresponding line item as well as total values.

Certificate of Origin - This form of document is used for declaring the origin and destination points of the shipped goods. It is important to reveal all the information for the custom clearance process.

Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) – SED documentation is used for revealing information about carrying any type of shipments with a defined value. Especially exporting goods to the United States, you need to show a necessary SED documentation. Required by the United States Census Bureau, SED information is now transitioning to mandated electronic filing.

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