Tampa Transit Snags $32M Green Bus Makeover At Earth Day Bash

Earth Day at Tampa International Airport came with a side of big transit news, as HART’s Community Engagement team rolled out details on a plan to swap dozens of aging diesel buses for low emission vehicles backed by a $32,037,390 federal award. The agency says the infusion of cash will finish the job of converting its fixed route fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG), trimming emissions, boosting reliability and cutting roughly $1 million a year in maintenance costs.

The funding shows up in a notice listing the Federal Transit Administration’s FY2025 Low-No and Bus & Bus Facilities grant picks, where Hillsborough Transit Authority is identified as receiving $32,037,390 for replacement buses, according to the Federal Register. HART also highlighted its Earth Day booth and sustainability displays in a post on the agency’s official X account, which name-checked Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stephens, a HART alum, among the attendees (X).

What the grant will buy

According to HART, the award will replace 33 older diesel buses that have each racked up an average of about 688,000 miles. The new purchases are expected to make HART Florida’s first fixed route system running 100% on low emission CNG, a shift the agency says should save around $1 million annually in maintenance. The project package is also set to include expanded technician training and apprenticeship programs tied directly to the new buses’ fueling and upkeep needs.

Local planning and next steps

On the local side, the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization moved the “HART New CNG Buses” project (FPN 45008-1) into the county’s Transportation Improvement Program earlier this year, a procedural step that folds the federal grant into the wider capital plan and opens it up for public comment. The TIP amendment outlined an estimated $32 to $33 million in funding and invited feedback ahead of the TPO board vote, according to Plan Hillsborough.

Why riders should care

For people waiting at the bus stop, HART says the new fleet should translate into fewer breakdowns and better on time performance. HART CEO Scott Drainville called the federal award “a major step forward” for reliable transit in Hillsborough County in the agency’s announcement (HART). The federal notice listing the grant also makes selected projects eligible for pre award costs beginning November 20, 2025, and requires funds to be obligated by September 30, 2029, a window that effectively sets the clock on vehicle procurement and rollout, per the Federal Register.

At Tampa International Airport’s Earth Day event, riders and airport visitors got an up close preview of HART’s sustainability plans and workforce initiatives, along with a chance to ask questions as the agency heads into the buying phase. HART says it will release schedules for bus deliveries and route assignments once contracts are locked in and technician training is underway. Community members can follow the project through public updates from HART and the TPO as the new CNG buses move from paperwork to pavement.