The Future of
Transportation: An Investment in a Sustainable Future
Tampa Bay Region
There has been a lot of media coverage
and excitement lately about the future of transportation in the Tampa
Bay Region. Recently, President Obama traveled to Tampa to announce
that Central Florida had received $1.25 billion in grant funding for
the high-speed rail project linking the communities of Tampa and
Orlando. The funding will underwrite the start of the eventual
construction of the rail line and provide job opportunities and new
business development in Central Florida. The federal grant
allocation is just one of the many transit projects that is taking
place within the Tampa Bay market.
Tampa Bay Area Regional
Transportation Authority (TBARTA)
Since 2007, the
Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority has been planning a
network of buses and light rail stretching from Citrus to Pinellas
counties. With the announcement of the federal stimulus money to
assist in paying for the high-speed rail from Tampa to Orlando, the
importance of transporting persons from this new rail network to
locations within the Tampa Bay community now becomes a key discussion
within the region. The focus of TBARTA at this time is within
Hillsborough County and specifically the routes for light rail and
bus service to support the new federally funded high-speed rail line.
Pinellas County Transportation
Initiative
Pinellas County is
currently beginning the process of identifying the location of a
countywide transportation system that is includes light rail, buses,
trolleys and bike trails. This initiative is a component of the
larger TBARTA master plan. On March 22, 2010 Pinellas County will
hold a Transit Summit. This event is specifically for business
leaders and other stakeholders to share a discussion about the
importance of public transit as an engine of future economic
development in the county. Pinellas county Commission Chair Karen
Seel and Paul Riley, the President of Raymond James Financial are
co-chairing the event at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park.
The event will begin with a 7:30 am registration and a program from
8 to 11. Click here to download the meeting's agenda.
How is Largo Preparing for the
Future?
The
2004 City of Largo Strategic Plan brought the discussion of
transportation planning to our community. Residents,
stakeholders and the political leaders were engaged in the
development of the Plan with a primary component being to "reconnect
the community." Meaning avenues to improve access to local
amenities and daily services for pedestrians, cyclist, automobiles,
and other modes of transit.
Recently, Largo created a mobility
campaign called "Moving Largo." The campaign promotes current
and future City mobility initiatives. In November 2009, the
Multimodal Transportation System Study for the greater downtown area
began. This plan will provide the groundwork to establish a
transportation environment that accounts for a variety of effective
and safe modes of transport through the downtown area and is expected
to be completed in April 2010.
Also under the Moving Largo campaign is
the creation of a master plan for sidewalks, bike paths and trails
throughout Largo. This plan is currently in development and will be
used along side the City's current and future road projects that have
are being designed to improve connectivity of existing
community/amenities along the existing roadways.
Adopting a comprehensive transportation
plan is the first step in addressing Largo's transportation concerns.
In the Tampa Bay region, the City of Largo has seven (7) of the 25
busiest intersections. From public discussions over the past two
years, Largo residents are wanting to create community streets that
provide a safe environment for pedestrians and bike riders while
meeting the need for automobiles. With
transit receiving national attention, there has never been a better
time for Largo to plan for the future and reinvigorate our economy.
To find out more about Transportation
in the Tampa Bay Area visit the following sites:
City of Largo: Moving Largo
City of Largo: Multimodal
Transportation District
Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO)
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
(PSTA)
Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation
Authority (TBARTA)
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