local leaders determine fate of tbarta
John permalink | categories: county, government, one bay one love, pasco, pinellas, politics, transportationby John @ 11:20 am
Over and over again lately there have been revelations from Hillsborough County alone with it’s transit planning. Long range planning. Beltway planning. Just today the St. Petersburg Times ran a story about the Tampa Chamber of Commerce visiting Charlotte, North Carolina and being wowed by Light Rail and kept thinking of the Tampa-centric possibilities…
And I worry.
Oh, I’m on board with improvements to transit in the area. But that’s the thing — the area. The region. The greater Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Not county-by-county, separate-but-equal systems that continue the short-sighted, go-it-alone plans that usually end with wider roads, or more roads and complaints that we (read: a single county entity) can’t afford this, that and the other thing, won’t support anything other than roads and citizens should be happy with what they have.
More of the same. More of the insane.
This year, local legislative members in the state house and state senate helped deliver a regional body to organize and govern area transportation needs. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority was born during the regular legislative session. Of course, Charlie Crist cut seed money to get TBARTA started, but that was to be expected with a property tax backlash and state budget shortfalls.
With the lack of start-up money in mind, let me introduce you to TBARTA’s web presence.
Also with the state-money-cut in mind, let me remind you who ultimately has control of TBARTA — we do. Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Where there’s a start-up money crunch, those seven entities could have and should have put forward a pittance of cash each to get things going.
What we’re seeing — though each of those counties are represented in TBARTA by elected officials — is a pittance of faith in the concept. Hillsborough is stressing further go-it-alone planning and approved milking it’s community investment tax money for county road improvements. The other counties continue their day-to-day operations without thought toward this new joint entity.
You’re not going to see administration and coverage coordination in the local bus systems because the counties will keep their transit systems to themselves when it’d be easier to toss that to TBARTA’s rule. Perish the thought that PSTA and HART become a unified entity that is no longer dictated by the whims of close-minded, ideological county commission members. Perish the thought of improved transit between the biggest (population wise) counties of the region. Perish the thought that local officials will put faith in the new organization with responsibilities and funding to pay for them.
Yes, TBARTA is a fledgling entity that has only met a handful of times — it’s next meeting is Friday morning at 9 AM at the Hillsborough County Center in downtown Tampa — yet one has to wonder if local government is going to breathe life into it or condemn it to irrelevance and ultimately death for the sake of traditional go-it-alone bullheadedness?
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Update:: Tampa Rail pointed readers to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority official web site. That is a correction to the web site which I stumbled upon that I thought was TBARTA’s official web presence. The domains were provided by the Tampa Bay Partnership.
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October 25th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
On the one hand, TBARTA has the potential to become another taxpayer charlie foxtrot. On the other hand, TBARTA has the potential to play a very important role in boosting the bay area up to level of Charlotte, in terms of drawing business and culture to the area.
Do the various players have the guts to make it happen? Or will they all want to hold on to their little fiefdoms?
October 25th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
I am hoping for some major changes in alternative transportation for Hillsb. I am tired of driving. Give me an alternative to get around, I promise I’ll use it. So County Transportation Plan for year 2050 is more of the same ol, same ol. Roads and more roads…can you say automobile?
October 25th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
With their power of eminent domain plus the funding of private dollars………TBARTA is a huge threat to me. I live under the “conceptual” beltway’s path and with the recent attempts to get it on the Comprehensive Plan (which would lend it legitimacy) I am very concerned. TBARTA has the ability to pick up local projects……..on the surface this sounds good but knowing what the middle of our county government is really made up of I am concerned this will be just another vehicle justify development…….once that rail project is underway……..watch out……..I am afraid the toll roads will be next…….who will govern the potential abuse that this agency could inflict? I hope the board is diverse enough not to be just more puppets for developers. And as far as funding……….the toll road concept will have developers and investors alike seeing green………and not the green of my pasture!
October 25th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Kelly — that was missing from my post. You see, when I think of TBARTA or a regional governing board that makes the Expressway Authority irrelevant, I think of the development we already have (the populated areas of the Tampa Bay region).
With the likes of Ken Hagen on the board, the Beltway is a threat indeed and you have every cause for concern. But you also must remember that it’s not a Hillsborough dominated board… I don’t think Pinellas County commissioners on the board and Rick Baker (nor Tampa mayor Pam Iorio) are going to sign off on a useless project that has little or nothing to do with improving transportation where people already live.
I guess it’s a matter of faith. But then again, with all the BS that gets approved and blessed in Florida government - you have every right to not have faith.
October 25th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Clearly, just because we’re 50 years behind other metro areas of similar size, doesn’t mean that we have to reinvent the wheel.
Take the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, as an example. The MBTA has a coverage area similar in geography and population to that of TBARTA. Each city and town (MA isn’t big on counties) contributes a proportionate assessment based on their level of service. Additionally, the MBTA receives a 20% portion of the 5% state sales tax. An advisory board is made up of representatives from each of the 175 cities and towns. Each municipality has one vote plus fractions of votes equivalent to its weighted proportion of the deficit. Far from being a paper tiger, the Advisory Board has budgetary oversight and planning authority.
Practically speaking, that’s the kind of system I would hope for; weighted authority based on contribution and use.
Oh yeah, HART and PSTA should merge yesterday! We would all reap the benefits of millions in savings each year from administration and planning, not to mention more convenient and frequent cross county routes.
October 25th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
By the way, if anyone is planning to attend the meeting tomorrow morning — please let us know here on comments.
October 26th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Check out Shelton Quarles’ column in the Times today. For one, I’m not impressed. He’s very much on the defensive. For that, I feel sorry for him. What should have been a thesis of his vision for our transportation future comes off like the kind of letter a college graduate would attach to his resume, when applying for his first job.
Finally, I have to refute his claim that he “does not have ties to a specific jurisdiction or community.” Who does he work for again? When Creative Loafing was trying to interview him, a couple of weeks ago, requests for public informaiton on TBARTA were being routed through the Bucaneers publicity office. Coincidence? I think not.
The Glazers and the other parties closely associated with the Sports Authority definately have an agenda, when it comes Tampa Bay’s transit future. It has everything to do with attracting bids for national and international events. To say that Quarels is their man is perhaps oversimplifying things. The association, however, cannot be overlooked or dismissed; by Quarels, least of all.
October 26th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Scott, way to go finding the smoking gun! Several of us expressed concerns about Quarles being a puppet — or the potential for it to be there — after he was named… What you stated is prime evidence.
The BRIGHT side of that is the TSA and Buccaneers would sooner be interested in transit that benefited the urban/suburban areas that already exist int he Bay region… Unless the Glazer kids are going to get into Real estate too (trying to play down Kelly’s legit concerns here).
When I read Quarles piece in the Times, I had this thought that he was campaigning for the job. A job he’s already won… You don’t need to give a stump speech when you’re about to be sworn into office.
October 26th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Actually the merging of PSTA and Hart would increase costs. Planners in both systems are already at capacity and to force one group to take on another county would be impossible and bad for transit. You would then have to add an overall administrator who would preside over both agencies. You’d still need the current directors to answer to this top dog, whose salary would be greater than the savings you’ll get from the few cuts you actually could make in Marketing and perhaps HR.
As for cross-bay routes, they are currently funded by FDOT and have some of the lowest ridership of all in both systems.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
That’s simply putting both systems — seperately — under the watch of a third party, at least that’s how you present it. A merger would reorganization of both systems into one system.
And are you aware of how limited the arrangements are? Of course there is low ridership — you have to take a bus to get to these cross-area busses. And they don’t stop until you reach the final destination.
There’s no airport connections, no arena/stadium connections, no medical facility connections.
A horridly planned and implemented cross-bay system that doesn’t draw people isn’t a reason to scrap the whole concept. You plan it better. You implement it better.
October 26th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
A combined agency shouldn’t need 3 CEOs. There should be other department VPs that get the axe in a consolidated system as well.
As for “cross-bay” routes, John is right to point out the classic chicken-egg problem of public transportation. There are many riders, because there isn’t enough service and vis versa. The same is true for the express routes, which are by far the most convenient in the HART system. Too bad they only run weekday mornings and afternoons.
Finally, notice I didn’t say “cross-bay.” I said cross county. Where is my bus to and from Town N Country, Oldsmar and North Pinellas? If you build it, they will ride…
October 26th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
To add one more link to Scott’s comments…..which are only scaring me more……The Sports Authority……..Jim Norman.
October 26th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I don’t fear the TSA’s interest, so long as it’s fully disclosed and kept in check with the interest of the public at-large.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:53 am
The following was recorded at the TBARTA meeting and may be of interest to “TBARTAists”
….I speak today from both the private and public sector – to the innovation, an the guiding principles on the Power Point we just saw – so please consider this as “public engagement” and the “Capturing of Public Input”…
Our first input to The TBARTA 2050 vision, mission and goal are found in the last transcript – on the third from the last page in the last meeting transcript.
A quick review – we recommended that a Regional Bus system be given the first priority.
And using a franchise business model where TBARTA and the bus systems are the franchise owner/operator – that the combining the budgets of all public bus systems – would provide a base of over $150,000,000.
The franchise model would provide savings of scale and savings from the elimination of duplication would provide all the money TBARTA needs for its operation.
PHASE TWO of our TBARTA recommendations deals Commercial Air Service to be included now with scoping for the 2050 vision.
We would like to introduce scheduled first level air service as an element of the TBARTA 2050 plan.
To understand what scheduled First Level Air Service is we have to Go Back to the Future…. to January 1, 1914.
The St.Petersburg – Tampa Airboat Line was the historically the first scheduled air service from a first level airport .
For those not aware, our National air transportation system is ONLY 2/3s complete. Simple put, we have:
We have scheduled Third Level air service at 55 major airports. The TPA, LAX, JFK…
We have scheduled Second Level air service at 245 airports – airports like GNV, TLH…
What is missing? Scheduled First level air service at over 5700 airports. The first element of 1st Level Air Service is happening now and will be in full operation well before 2050?
There are over 500 public, private and military airports in Florida.
IN the TBARTA region – there are over 20 1 st, 2nd and 3rd Level public airports in the TBARTA region.
We ask the TBARTA consider forming three transportation core committees.
LAND - transportation and distribution - to deal first with developing a seamless regional bus system.
AIR – transportation and distribution - to deal with all airports in the TBARTA region
SEA – to deal with all sea transportation.
That concludes our recommendations.
Our Camelot think tank is available to provide pro bono consultation.
Please call 813-784-4669 if you have any questions or need another second, third of fourth recommendation
Are there any questions …
Notes from public input - November 30, 2007