Florida: Campaign Pushing to 'Greenlight' Pinellas Mass Transit Tax

[marmar]

FL: Campaign Pushing to 'Greenlight' Pinellas Mass Transit Tax

Christopher O'Donnell
Source: Tampa Tribune
Created: February 10, 2014


Feb. 09--ST. PETERSBURG -- With elected leaders, environmentalists and activists in attendance, transit supporters Friday launched a nine-month campaign to persuade voters to back a one-penny sales tax hike to pay for a mass-transit system in Pinellas.

Realtors, construction firms and other companies are expected to raise up to $1 million for the advocacy campaign dubbed "Yes for Greenlight." Voter approval in November would kick start a $2.2 billion, 10-year project to expand bus service by 65 percent, add bus-only lanes to some major roads, and build a 24-mile light-rail link from Clearwater to St. Petersburg.

"This is about the future of Pinellas County," said County Commissioner and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Chairman Ken Welch. "It's about jobs; it's about economic development."

The campaign will be led by Ronnie Duncan, chair of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, and Chris Steinocher, president of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/11308188/campaign-pushing-to-greenlight-pinellas-mass-transit-tax

[glowing]

1. We desperately need real public transit in Pinellas and Fl in general.

But why must we alway go after the money by flat tax means? Isn't there a way to get the money by asking those who make the most and will probably benefit the most from a transit project over 10yrs, than people who don't have much money to begin with?

I'm not so sure this will pass. If we got a living min wage, people would be happy about this. However, when $8.00/ hr is still a lucky job to be had in the area, it's hard to say, "go ahead, tax me more money, splurge on another long term construction nightmare..." While knowing the prices will be under bid, and over budget will happen shortly after approval and the 1 cent tax becomes a property tax expenditure in the future.

I'm still fuming about Rick Scott turning down the federal stimulus to build the fast train and the transit around town to connect. That was money that we didn't have to feel directly, yet would have created many, many jobs.

[independentpiney]

2. I'm totally for the bus service expansion

but not so sure about the light rail link. As of now many of the bus routes are impractical because of the 1 hr head times between buses. If you have to make a connects, you can be looking at 2+ hrs of waiting at unsheltered stops and 30 minutes of riding for a trip that takes 15-20 minutes by car. I tried going car-less when I first moved here, and gave up after a year. Clearwater- St Pete light rail doesn't make a lot of sense to me, Id rather see a St Pete - Tampa link but that can't happen without Hillsborough Cty.