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Trolley Backers Criticize HART

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By RICH SHOPES and ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 22, 2008

Updated: 02/21/2008 11:46 pm

TAMPA - Electric streetcar supporters are accusing the county's bus agency of hijacking nearly $1 million in federal money previously set aside to extend the streetcar line into downtown.

Without consulting the streetcar board, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit agency voted last month to use the money to expand its bus service.

"To make this money disappear I think is egregious and inappropriate," board vice president Michael English told HART officials during a streetcar board meeting Wednesday. "Your action has threatened our ability to move forward with the extension."

The $900,000 federal grant was supposed to go toward extending the 2.4-mile streetcar line from the Convention Center to Whiting Street in downtown, a distance of about four blocks. Instead, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit wants to use the grant to buy another bus and increase service on Nebraska Avenue, its busiest route.

HART sought the federal grant three years ago on behalf of the streetcar system and says it legally can steer the grant funding toward other transit programs, provided the county's Metropolitan Planning Organization concurs.

The funding change isn't sitting well with city council members, who Thursday gave HART an earful about what they termed a power grab.

"Where are we going to find the money to build the streetcar expansion?" Councilman John Dingfelder said.

"The streetcar is the first baby step to light rail. I certainly wish the $900,000 would stay where it's at," Councilman Charlie Miranda said.

HART executive director David Armijo said the decision came down to deadlines and budget shortfalls.

Last month's passage of Amendment 1 will create a $3 million to $4 million deficit at HART next year. He said the loss will translate into a reduction of 55,000 service hours, 27 employees and 1.1 million riders.
Armijo also said the streetcar board is in danger of losing the grant because it would have trouble meeting an April deadline to create a business plan and a Sept. 30 deadline to spend the money.

So far, the business plan doesn't exist. Even if the board does meet the deadline, it is still $2 million shy of the funding total to carry out the extension.

"They don't have a project until they have the money, and clearly they don't have the money," Armijo said.

The streetcar board maintains it is halfway toward securing the $4.5 million it needs to build the single-track extension and that taking away the grant money now sets back the expansion program by years.

Both sides said they plan to refer the matter to the county's Metropolitan Planning Organization for a final decision on the grant. The decision should come next month.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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