Mass Transit - Part 3
Many residents say they would ride trains
Editor’s note: This is the final segment in a series on mass transit. This week: Local residents’ views and a look at other systems around the country.
By NICOLE MATUSKA
| Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007 |
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PINELLAS COUNTY - About 12 years ago, Largo resident Bob Huntoon’s car broke down. So he bought a bicycle to ride to work because he couldn’t fix the car.
“My bike was stolen so now I ride the bus,” he said. “I pay $40 a month for an unlimited pass; you can’t beat that especially with gas nowadays.”
But if trains would be easier to use than the bus, he would take them.
“The buses are great but I think a train would be better for long distances, like getting from Largo to Clearwater or Tampa,” he said.
He said he’d be willing to pay more to ride the trains to work.
Other residents, who were asked about efforts to develop a regional transportation plan, echoed Huntoon’s remarks.
“I think that a train system would be an excellent idea, maybe offer people an all day pass for $5 or something,” said Richelle Shelton of Largo.
“I would definitely go to Tampa more if there was an easier way to get there, if there was one train I could get on,” she said.
“More public transportation would help businesses in the area, and I think it might even help improve unemployment because people could have a way to get to work in different areas.”
Carey Kelley of Seminole said he would definitely use trains if they were available.
“Right now gas is the biggest problem,” he said, “so if buses and trains were made convenient and worked well, then of course I would use them.
“I would pay maybe $3 for a train ride, depending on where it was going. It is hard to say, I mean I wouldn’t give up my car but I would use a train more if it were convenient and goes where I need to go,” he said.
Kelley said it might be a little hard to convince people to use trains, because people are used to their cars.
“But then we also have a lot of people living around here from up north, who are used to good public transportation systems. They have to be clean, safe and have many destinations to convince people. Now, the buses aren’t very convenient, the times are too spread out and they don’t go everywhere,” he said.
“Trains would be great too for people who go out at night to cafes and bars in St. Pete or Tampa. If you drink, you don’t have to worry about being drunk and driving home, you could take a train and it would get drunk drivers off the street,” Kelley said.
Kelley said he works for Publix at the corporate offices in Lakeland and spends about $100 a week in gas getting there “so if there was a train to Lakeland, I would be the first one on it.”
“Back in ’98, the state of Florida voted on a statewide monorail system. Money was approved and everything. I voted on it and we have still yet to see it,” Kelley said.
Robin Morrison said she thinks that more trains and more buses would help.
“I would consider using buses and trains but because of my work that takes me to meetings all over the area, I definitely need my car. I don’t think buses or trains could take me there,” she said.
“With the cost of gas now, I think a lot of people would consider using a train. I mean, just think about the amount of gas it takes to get from Largo across the bridge to Tampa. You are paying $50 a week for gas so I think any price for the train would be an improvement. I know a lot of people now hesitate to cross the bridge to Tampa or from Tampa for events,” Morrison said.
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Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007
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