HARTline Opens Doors For Storm-Tossed Drivers

TAMPA - It will be months, if ever, before the historic St. Charles Streetcar travels again through New Orleans' storm ravaged Garden District.

A conductor from the famous line could be clanging the bell of Tampa's downtown streetcar in the coming months, though. Bus drivers from New Orleans and other cities hit by Hurricane Katrina also could be driving routes of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority.

HARTline is welcoming drivers, mechanics and other workers to apply for jobs.

``Many of our fellow transit agencies have been totally wiped out by this deadly storm,'' HARTline Executive Director Ray Miller said. ``Offering them a chance to work here is just one small way we can reach out and make a difference.''

The Mississippi cities of Biloxi and Gulfport also operated bus, trolley and shuttle services to Gulf Coast casinos before the storm.

Michael McCoy, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1593, said the drivers union ``absolutely endorses'' HARTline's proposal.

The agency has about a dozen openings for bus operators and mechanics and expects to hire at least a dozen more drivers as new routes are added in January, spokeswoman Jill Cappadoro said. HARTline has about 300 drivers and 16 streetcar conductors.

Miller said more people are riding the bus because of increasing gas prices.

``If fuel prices continue to climb, the bus system will become a necessity,'' he said.

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at (813) 259-7691.