TBARTA, decades in existence, 10s of millions spent and no viable product or plan yet on the street is not the answer.
St. Petersburg, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin
It turns out that regardless of all the hype by the politicians,
and the various public transportation authorities' public transportation is not
all that popular with the public.
For some insight see:
BY MARC LALLANILLA, the Spruce, Updated 10/25/16 Public
Transportation: eight Reasons People Hate It Our hatred of public
transportation has many sources
Michiko S., Palmdale
It's just more convenient to use my car to
get somewhere, especially as a single mother. I can't rely on public
transportation that doesn't take me directly where I want to go. Carrying
things on transit, like the groceries or other errands, is also challenging.
I work for a
charter school as a substitute. When I get a phone call, I have to be there
ASAP. I can't stand around waiting for a bus that only might come on time.
After work, I have to go pick up my kids from school right away. Again, I can't
take bus for that. It takes too long.
Want to see more? Click here: Disadvantages
of using public transportation.
The real problem with public transportation initiatives
such as the pending bill to redo TBARTA into a taxing authority is they don't
get the fact that no matter how big, how much it sparkles public transportation
in the Tampa Bay areas will always remain the transportation choice of last
resort.
Recently, there has been much made of the drop in rider
ship on both the HART and PSTA systems. You hear a lot of hyperbole but the
real issue is the economy is better, people who could not afford a car and/or
gasoline now can and they opt out of public transportation as soon as it is
economically feasible.
In a densely populated low height development area like
much of Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas where the defining lines between
residential, retail, industrial and commercial are frequently blurred, last
century transportation solutions will not be cost effective.
The great goal of Janet Long, Pinellas County
Commissioner, and her sidekick Senator Jack Latvala of a light-rail system running
through the Bay area is just simply not feasible. It is a 1990s idea that was
not a very good idea in the 90s.
TBARTA, decades in existence, 10s of millions spent and
no viable product or plan yet on the street is not the answer.
Changing the name and giving them taxing authority without
public oversight will just create a political nightmare of cronyism and corruption
that will produce no results.
For some idea of what lies ahead check out: Caitlin Johnston, Tampa Bay
Times Staff writer, Creating
one transportation planning agency for all of Tampa Bay won't be easy.
For now, Governor Scott needs to let this one die or simply VETO
it with a message to all those who pursue mass transit and the political contributions
that go with it to come up with a plan that works and keeps the public in charge.
E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com
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@DOC ON THE BAY
See Doc's Photo
Gallery at Bay Post Photos.
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