TAMPA, Fla. — A regional transportation agency for the Tampa area has voted to disband after 16 years, with its inability to make progress on a commuter rail system among the issues behind its downfall.
The Tampa Bay Times reports the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority board voted unanimously to shut down, although the final authority rests with the state legislature, which created the agency in 2007. Members of both houses of the state legislature have introduced bills to finalize the shutdown.
One of those, Rep. Jeff Holcomb, a former member of the transit board, told the newspaper in an email that his time on the board included such frustrations as the failure to gain access to CSX Transportation lines for commuter service, along with a lack of cooperation with other governmental bodies, such as the city of Tampa, and listening to “unrealistic transportation options, like unmanned multi-passenger helicopters.”
CSX at one time had indicated it would consider selling its Tampa-area lines, but last year indicated that was no longer the case [see “CSX desire to retain rail lines likely to sink Tampa-area commuter proposal,” Trains News Wire, July 22, 2022]. At the time, some members of the transit authority wanted to fund a commuter rail feasibility study, but others saw no reason to proceed without the railroad’s cooperation.
Hats off to a failed agency that recognized failure and unilaterally shut itself down instead of demanding more money and time from the wallet of the taxpayer. WONDERFUL!
Now if only something similar could happen to the US DOT, Department of Energy, Department of Education, and so many other government failures at the Federal level.
Seriously, does anyone realize how much money could be saved if all those failed and failing departments and agencies could be shut down? We could balance the budget and maybe even pay down the debt.
Yeah. Pipe dream I know…
Florida and it’s cities are a tough nut to crack when it comes to promoting, building or increasing public transit whether it is commuter rail or bus. Florida is controlled by a car culture population and governement who would rather spend money on building new freeways, expanding the exisiting highway network or promoting more auto sales. Every new community that is being built or planned in Florida is done with no access or consideration for rail or even bus. Here in Orlando, the auto and highway lobby were sucessful in defeating a proposal that would have provided funding through a penny sale tax increase for increased bus service and Sun Rail service including increased weekend service. Now if that same proposal would have included new highways or expansion of the freeway that would have passed with no problem or issue. The automobile and highway reign sumpreme here in Florida and Tampa is another one of those cities that doesn’t have decent or accessible public transit to get around. It is a wonder that Brightline was able to build their system and expansion to Orlando Intl Airport but it was through private capital and investment as well as the planned extension to Tampa but even that line has had to deal with local opposition and has undergone a few route changes and redesigns. Public transit doesn’t stand a fighting chance here in Florida.
Joseph C. Markfelder
Tampa can’t even build a new stadium for their baseball team…why would anyone think they could ever build any commuter rail. For Charles, instead of looking at it through old eyes, look at it through the “Field of Dreams” eyes, build it and they will come(that means have the transit first then build the housing to fit the transit).
There is only one line that should be considered for commuter service and that is Brooksville to Tampa. Running a commuter service on that line should have a minimal impact CSX’s current one train per week. And most of the route is already ribbon rail. A couple of well place loads of gravel for parking lots could have trains running in about 6 weeks. There must be 100,000 new homes currently under construction along clogged Highway 41 which parallels the rail line. But who needs trains?? Study complete.
Brightline will eventually take care of the Orlando-Lakeland-Tampa need. Maybe.
Brightline won’t consider Jacksonville because they consider the transit situation there as disorganized and incomplete to support a Brightline investment. (Inadequate feeder system they say)
Which is funny because Brightline said they chose Tampa because they *did* have a regional transit plan and organization. LOL. Not any more.
In response to Brightline’s brushoff, Jacksonville (JTA) built a 3 leg BRT system and is studying a heavy rail transit service from Yulee to St Augustine through downtown Jax. (Don’t ask about the Skyway)
Makes me wonder how far Brightline will go on the Tampa link. They want premium real estate in the city center.
JTA and FDOT just put SunPass tolls on a few miles in and around Jacksonville “to raise the cost of driving” to help promote transit fares.
This is an example how I would challenge “transit” advocates. You want transit in your metro area? Then lay out a map on the table, pick up a sharpie, and show me what you have in mind.
There’s more to creating transit than wanting to do it.