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Tampa Maneuvers To Improve Downtown Transit System

Tribune file photo by JAY NOLAN

Additional money would allow HART to develop a circulator system in the West Shore area.

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2008

Updated: 02/20/2008 12:13 am

TAMPA - City and transportation officials are hoping proposed new rules will allow them to funnel more money to mass transit downtown and in the West Shore business district.

The city charges developers transportation impact fees to help offset the burden new projects have on roads. Now the city wants to spend at least some of that money on building, improving and operating transit facilities and equipment.

"It lends itself to getting cars off the road," said Steve Daignault, administrator for public works and utility services. "It is trying to open the door for transit that hasn't been there much in the past."

Mayor Pam Iorio said the city has been working on the concept for years, with an eye toward using the money to fund circulator systems.

"This is a significant change since in the past the fees could only be used for capital," Iorio said. "If this gets passed, we hope to work with HART in the coming year to have circulators - shuttles, trolleys - in both West Shore and downtown."

Circulators already operate downtown and are run by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit. One line runs during peak times during the work week. The other runs Friday and Saturday nights.

Additional money would allow HART to expand the downtown circulator system while developing one in the West Shore area.

Under the existing rules, up to 10 percent of transportation impact fee money collected downtown can go to HART, which can only use the money for capital expenses. The city proposes allowing as much as 50 percent of money collected downtown and in the West Shore area to go to the transit agency. "Anything that would provide additional revenues would be fantastic," HART chief executive David Armijo said. "This shows the commitment to public transit in the area."

The plan also would allow the city to spend money for land to build an improved mass transit system.

The issue is scheduled for a council vote Thursday.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at egedalius@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7679.

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