HART will consider using eminent domain proceedings to acquire up to 26 parcels to be used as station sites for the county's first Bus Rapid Transit system, scheduled to launch in March 2013 between downtown Tampa and its northeast suburbs.
The properties along Nebraska and Fletcher avenues are expected to cost no more than $4.5 million if the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority uses eminent domain. The cost would be less if HART can buy the parcels from the owners.
The sites are 40 square feet to 1,500 square feet. The stations will be distinctive from regular bus shelters. They will be about a half-mile apart for Bus Rapid Transit vehicles that are modified versions of regular buses, with technology to control traffic signals to shorten travel time.
HART will use 59 stations of three sizes for its "MetroRapid" north-south project.
Most of the stations will be across the road from each other. The largest ones will have ticket vending machines.
Most of the land needed has been acquired through permits and won't require private property acquisition. Negotiations with property owners for the remainder have been under way since November, and purchase agreements on at least six are expected to be completed soon.
At its board meeting on March 5, HART will consider using the eminent domain process on parcels for which negotiations with property owners are not successful, a HART projects committee agreed Monday.
The county, using $31 million in Community Investment Tax funds, will pay for project development and environmental studies, design, land acquisition, capital improvements for stations, road and signal costs, transit signal priority equipment and construction.
An additional $5.4 million in federal money will pay for 14 buses.
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