TBARTA gathering draws opinions on regional transportation
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Tuesday, March 18, 2008  |
LARGO – Dozens of local planners and residents gave their thoughts on future transportation needs for the Tampa Bay area at a public meeting on March 13.
The gathering was sponsored by the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority at the Holiday Inn-Select on Ulmerton Road.
Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, a member of the TBARTA board, welcomed those attending the organization’s fourth such meeting. He pointed to the bumper-to-bumper traffic attendees had to struggle through on Ulmerton Road, saying tongue-in-cheek “that’s why we scheduled this meeting for 5:30 p.m.”
The section of Ulmerton Road was later closed to all traffic for the next three days to allow construction that is widening one of the area’s busiest highways by another two lanes.
TBARTA was created last year by the Florida Legislature to generate a unified master plan for all transportation needs in the Tampa Bay area. It covers seven counties: Pinellas, Hillsborough, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota. Meetings for public input have already been held in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.
Former Buccaneers linebacker Shelton Quarles is chairman of the organization.
Included in the planning will be whether the region should consider any new highways or bridges, toll roads, railroad lines, new bus lines, ferries and road improvements. Also being addressed are: resident and business mobility, traffic safety, freight movement, emergency evacuation and economic development needs of the region.
Projects will be identified to meet regional needs then cost estimates will be produced and potential funding sources sought.
One resident attending quizzed TBARTA staffers about the cost of expanded bus services in the area and potential ridership.
“Like anything the government does, it’s going to be expensive,” said Geoff Moakley, who lives in Largo.
The TBARTA staff also answered questions from municipal planners about specific problems in their communities and discussed each city’s projected growth plans.
Quarles, in a statement to those attending the conference, claimed the Tampa Bay region is “one of the most expensive areas in the nation to live and get around in.” He said area residents spend a third of their income on transportation.
And, Hibbard added, this is one of only two metropolitan areas in the nation without a mass transit system. Detroit is the other area, he said.
The mayor said, “We will continue to engage the public, I only ask that you continue to engage us.”
|
Article published on Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
