TAMPA, Fla. — The new CEO of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority spent his first day on the job talking to people who use public transportation.

Benjamin Limmer hosted two listening sessions.

Limmer said he plans to spend the first 30 days of his tenure in the busy yard, in the maintenance docks and around the community, listening and gathering feedback from employees, customers and the community.

"I look at all transit options equally. I've used the term 'mode agnostic' before," he told a crowd of more than a hundred people who gathered at the Robert W. Saunders Public Library in Tampa to hear him speak.

Limmer is taking over the helm just a few months after voters passed a transportation tax in Hillsborough County.

It's estimated over the next decade, HART could have about $1.4 billion to work with and Limmer will be tasked with figuring out how to spend some of that money.

"Any and all options need to be on the table for Tampa," he said. "Expanded bus service, more service on nights and weekends, longer hours of service as well as potentially higher investment in other high capacity transit options."

Several people in the audience said they want to make sure he focuses on basic bus service as well as things like light rail and the streetcars.

"I feel that the focus is on the people with the money and not on people who actually ride the bus, who depend on the bus for jobs, for groceries, for doctor's appointments," said Tina Williams.

People asked Limmer to look into things like safer bus stops, 24-hour service and electric buses.

"I came out to emphasize the importance of air quality, transportation planning and electric buses instead of diesel," said Jim Shirk.

"Certainly there's a lot of tools in the tool box in order to solve the transportation problems," said Limmer.

Limmer will be making a base salary of $210,000.

He most recently worked for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.

He has also held leadership positions in transit agencies in Cleveland and Phoenix.