The Pinellas County Transportation Task Force, which was established more than a month ago, has much potential to bolster efforts to improve mobility in the county.
Members of the committee represent a cross-section of community, government and business leaders and have a lot of expertise that should help lay the groundwork for improvements to the transportation system, whether they be road, bus and/or commuter rail operations.
Appointing the committee has come at an opportune time because of the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority, which is identifying project priorities for the seven-county area it serves.
The need to make major transportation improvements in the seven counties probably has more support than ever, and the Pinellas task force could play a major role in helping the authority carry out its plans.
The task force’s guiding principles are broad and extend just beyond the need to address mobility; they also address economic development opportunities. The group plans to examine how to take advantage of integrating land use and transit to create more livable communities.
The task force is approaching its mission from a 25-year plan, recognizing that solutions will have to be reviewed. It also recognizes that new funding sources must be addressed as part of the solutions.
The federal government’s allocation of $1 billion for high-speed rail between Orlando and Tampa is a major lift for efforts to move people between the areas.
However, if counties fail to take advantage of ways to integrate high-speed rail with their transit systems, high-speed rail will suffer from poor ridership. The bottom line is that though the costs are high to improve the transportation system, such as through commuter rail, the long-term benefits will be well worth the investment.
The task force, led by County Commission Chair Karen Seel, has its work cut out for it, particularly during a sluggish economy. Constituents may frown on the government creating new funding sources, such as an additional sales tax, to finance transportation improvements.
That’s where public outreach comes in. The task force must continue to be united in its efforts to push for improved mobility.
For years studies, consultants, government officials and other experts have paid lip service to the need for an improved transit in the area.
