News & Public Affairs
Dismal traffic in Tampa Bay has solutions in sight
06/14/13 Janelle IrwinLast Call Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Connect Tampa Bay, transit, transportation, Kevin Thurman
Dedicated bus lanes may be a way to ease traffic congestion in the Tampa Bay area. The lanes would also be available to individual drivers who choose to pay a toll in order to avoid stop and go traffic.
The exact model being studied by the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority hasn’t been done anywhere else in the country. But so far it looks like a viable way to speed up commutes along busy corridors.The Expressway Authority received a federal grant to conduct a concept study. Dependin...
Be the first to commentHillsborough's Public Transportation Commission responds to criticism by spending $90,000 on lobbying listen
06/12/13 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Hillsborough County, Public Transportation Commission, transit, transportation, Les Miller, Victor Crist, Connect Tampa Bay, PTC, Bob Buckhorn
Responding to criticism that it should just go away, the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission will spend as much as $90,000 on a lobbyist to stay afloat. The board’s chair, Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist, said people need to learn more about the agency before condemning it.
2 comments“This agency, this entity, is under attack. It’s under attack by the media. It’s under attack by legislators. It’s under attack by the community. It’s under attack by people who do not fu...
New MetroRapid bus service will be free beginning Tuesday in Hillsborough listen
05/24/13 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: MetroRapid, HART, bus, Tampa, transit, transportation
On Tuesday the Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation Authority will begin its MetroRapid north-south bus service.
It runs from downtown Tampa to the university area transit center every 15 minutes along the busy Nebraska Avenue corridor.
From there it continues every 30 minutes to a park-and-ride lot in north Tampa near Fletcher and Interstate-75.
For the first two weeks MetroRapid will be free. Thereafter it will be the same cost as regular fare.
We spoke with Sandra Pinto, ...
Be the first to commentRegional transit in Tampa Bay is getting an updated vision listen
04/26/13 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: TBARTA, PSTA, HART, transit, rail, buses, transportation
The board coordinating transit agencies from all over the Tampa Bay area is updating its master plan this year. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority discussed the changes during its meeting Friday. Even though the board considers the update minor, it includes opportunities for increased regional connectivity.
Much of the focus will be on making it easier to get between Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. Bob Clifford is TBARTA’s executive direct...
1 commentsEast Hillsborough Avenue corridor study seeks input to mend high accident statistics listen
04/22/13 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Hillsborough Avenue, transit, pedestrian safety, Hillsborough County MPO, Gena Torres, transportation
The Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization is conducting a corridor study for part Hillsborough Avenue in response to staggering vehicular and pedestrian accident statistics. In March, the Hillsborough County Commission voted to workshop ideas on how to improve transportation, including road safety.
Transportation planner Gena Torres talks about what might lie ahead for East Hillsborough Avenue.
There will be a [public meeting](http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/r...
Be the first to commentUSF students suggest transit improvements that include pedestrian and bike safety listen
04/02/13 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Hillsborough County MPO, transit, transportation, roads, USF, bicycles, pedestrian safety
The Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization wants residents to help make some transit decisions in the county. The MPO’s Lynn Merenda doled out markers and crayons during a summit at the University of South Florida Tuesday asking faculty and students to draw their ideas.
Be the first to comment“… to get their ideas on how we can improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists and reduce crashes with cars, make the roads more user-friendly for everyone and what they would like to see as we move tow...
Tampa Mayor Buckhorn says region needs transit options including rail listen
03/26/13 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Bob Buckhorn, Tampa, RNC, rail, transit, transportation
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn gave his annual State of the City address Tuesday morning.
He used the example of a squirrel causing a power failure at a water treatment plant last month resulting in a city-wide boil water notice to emphasize the importance of investing in infrastructure.
Buckhorn said Tampa Bay should be a region with a first class transportation system with mobility options.
“That means bus rapid transit, that means HOV and it darn sure means rail.”
Buckhorn also sai...
Be the first to commentHillsborough County Commissioners will accelerate transit talks listen
03/20/13 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: transit, transportation, rail, buses, bicyclists, Hillsborough County Commission, Mark Sharpe
Hillsborough County Commissioners unanimously agreed to start planning how to improve transit during a meeting today in downtown. Despite more than a dozen speakers who were in favor of multi-modal transit, Commissioner Victor Crist said his vote doesn't necessarily mean he will support rail.
Be the first to comment“I’m going to be judging them solely on the ROI – the return on investment. I’m going to be looking at whether or not it remained an objective process. I’m going to be scrutinizing it very closel...
Pinellas keeps breaking its bus ridership records listen
03/11/13 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: PSTA, transit, transportation, transit tax, Pinellas County
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) broke another ridership record in February.
It’s the sixteenth month in a row that more people rode the bus in the county than did the same month the previous year.
Bob Lasher, the spokesperson for PSTA, says ridership numbers have been outstanding.
HART also announced Monday its ridership continues to be strong.
Be the first to commentTampa City Council wants more solutions for pedestrian safety listen
02/28/13 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: biking, pedestrians, safety, traffic, Tampa, bicycle, Tampa City Council, Florida DOT, FDOT, Florida Department of Transportation, transportation, roads, transit
Tampa is consistently ranked in the top five most dangerous metropolitan areas for bicycle and pedestrian deaths.
A recent accident where a child was killed crossing a section of Busch Boulevard that lacks crosswalks prompted a discussion on safety at Tampa City Council Thursday morning.
Tampa City Council member Mary Mulhern questioned Debbie Hunt from the Florida Department of Transportation.
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