Is TBARTA worth Two Million Dollars?

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.

Pinellas County Commissioner Ronnie Duncan serves as the vice chair of the TBARTA Board. Duncan said TBARTA needs the one-time funding from the Legislature to secure private and government transit money and to finally hire a staff person who can coordinate the transit master plan.

Last year Crist vetoed start-up funding for TBARTA, so the organization depended on the state’s Department of Transportation (FDOT) for technical assistance in moving toward a regional master plan. Because it had no funding, TBARTA could not hire lawyers until it received $50,000 from the private sector and $10,000 each from the five local transit planning organizations in the region.

They also have some good reference links...

TBARTA - Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority
TBARTA’s regional transit master plan initial options
Center for Urban Transportation Research at USF