HART CEO Phillip Hale announced this morning that he will be leaving the agency in 90 days, returning to his native Texas to work in a family business. The 63-year-old was named interim head of the agency in April of 2011 after the board forced out David Armijo.
"I'm very glad I'm getting the hell out of here," he said jokingly when HART board leader Mike Suarez asked if he wanted to elaborate on his announcement. But there was likely some truth behind the remark, as Hale has had to contend with multiple challenges while leading Hillsborough County's transit agency, which has seen record ridership growth while receiving less government funds.
When asked afterwards what he considered his biggest accomplishment during his nearly three-year reign he said, "That we're still here." That's in reference to the fact that a merger between HART and Pinellas County's transit agency, PSTA, continues to lurk in the future. A second report about the implications of consolidation is about to be released.
Just last month a few rank-and-file employees with the agency complained that morale was at an all-time low, though Hale pushed back hard on those individual charges.
"Philip is a great man. He stepped in, it was a tough job, [and he] managed the agency well," said HART board member and Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe. But Sharpe was his toughest critic on the board, and last year called for Hale's resignation. In an exclusive interview with CL last June, Sharpe accused Hale of of "uninspired, unimaginative leadership," and said that the board needs someone new at the helm in order for it to pursue a more ambitious direction.
Although more magnanimous today, Sharpe said the next CEO has to be a great communicator, someone who can engage the public. "I'm looking for a salesperson," he said.
Board member Fran Davin was effusive in her praise for the soon-to-be-departing CEO, calling his resignation "a great loss to the whole community." She said that HART had rebounded strongly across the board since he was selected to replace Armijo, including building up financial reserves that were extremely low in 2011.
She rattled off some of the other developments that have happened under Hale's leadership, including introduction of the first MetroRapid bus system in the state; tripling of the number of bus shelters; and addition of flex service and new technology (such as the One Bus Away app). She also said that he and his staff had been successful in reducing the cost per mile of a HART bus ride from $7.10 a mile to 6.70.
Disagreeing with Sharpe, Davin said that it's not new leadership that the agency needs, but more money. That's a topic she had addressed earlier in the meeting when discussing the structure of the county transportation group that has been meeting for the past year about transit options. "It all comes down to money," she said. " It doesn’t matter how much you change these chairs around, you need more money."
Other board members were also effusive in praising Hale. Karen Jaroch said it was no secret that she was a critic of the agency before she was selected to become part of it, but has changed her tune after seeing how efficient HART has become in recent years. "I have a lot of confidence in this agency. In large part that’s due to your leadership," she said.
After a few more encomiums were offered, Hale responded, "Thank you but I'm not dying."
Other accomplishments he cited were HART's transition from diesel fuel to compressed natural gas, as well as MetroRapid and a new labor pact last fall.
Prior to his tenure at HART, Hale was assistant vice president of fleet services with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), where he served as a member of the start-up team that launched that city's light-rail line in June 1996. He did not want to offer details about his family business opportunity.
"It wasn't my plan. It wasn't a career choice," he said. "There've been many challenges. But the real key is I'm leaving by my own choice because of other issues," adding that he's comfortable about leaving now because of the team he has in place behind him.
