Tampa Bay

If you live in the greater Tampa Bay area you should be following what goes on at Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority TBARTA

I travel some and when I do I like to take public transportation. That usually starts with a plane... I prefer taking a train into the "downtown area" over a cab... so this USA Today article is good news

Airports fast-track rail projects and it starts off with TPA - the Tampa airport that I use.

As this lowly website gets started I find more and more resources working for smart transit in Florida. Tampa Rail seems to be a good one. Started many moons ago by someone very driven for "smart transportation." I was lucky enough to find in the day of Dave's first video post it's actually pretty good. Gives a history of the site and what he is advocating.

According to Forbes Magazine Florida has 3 of the top ten worst cities for commuting.... maybe Florida needs to work on other transit options!?!??!?!

Read the blurbs below.... Forbes Magazine -- a business magazine -- says sprawl is the biggest problem. I agree.
Here is the Top (bottom) 10 slideshow

Tampa 6th worse

We will see if Gov Christ crosses out the $2 million line item for funding the startup of a TBARTA regional transportation plan. This story from WMNF
Will Crist OK $2M TBARTA budget?

This session the Florida Legislature provided the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) $2 million. But Gov. Charlie Crist could still veto that funding, like he did to the $1 million in startup funds the Legislature attempted to give TBARTA last year.

The St Pete Times reports: Tampa tracks a sensible future: rail

BRANDON — A train, hardly larger than a bus and nearly as nimble, glides into the station at Brandon Boulevard and Kings Avenue. A cluster of passengers slips on board.

Some walked from nearby condos. Some stepped off buses that circulate through Brandon. Some parked in the station's lot. Now, they're off toward a series of stops that include Brandon Town Center, Ybor City and downtown Tampa.

The Tampa Tribune reports: HART plans fare increase, cuts trolley fare

HART ridership, meanwhile, grows, projected to approach 12-million this fiscal year.

Regular bus fare would rise from $1.50 to $1.75. HART also expects to increase the costs of fare cards, express fares and paratransit fares. Overall, the changes would generate about $736,000 more annually.

TBARTA looks at Phoenix transit plan

As the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority moves closer to bringing mass transit to the area, board members are looking at other cities for guidance.

On May 11th 2008 the Tampa Tribune had an in depth thesis
on the local impact of the defeat of the CSX deal in Orlando