News & Public Affairs
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority to get $2.6 million for 4 hybrid buses
12/03/12 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: transit, transportation, PSTA, hybrid, bus, DOT, Department of Transportation
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation website, the DOT has awarded Pinellas County’s transit system $2.6 million to purchase four hybrid electric buses. PSTA will receive the funds from the Federal Transit Administration.
Be the first to commentElected officials look for ways to improve Tampa Bay transit listen
09/19/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: transit, transportation, Jeff Danner, Mark Sharpe, light rail, PSTA
Elected officials from across the region are learning how to improve transit. The group Transportation for America is hosting a summit today at the Val Pak headquarters in St. Petersburg that features experts on the topic as well as planners from cities with model transit systems. St. Pete City Council’s Jeff Danner said funding infrastructure is a major hurdle for the area.
Be the first to comment“The thing with transportation is, regardless of what mode it is it’s very expensive and funding’s always the iss...
Pinellas transit officials want to brand improvements before asking residents to pay for them listen
09/11/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: PSTA, transit, light rail, transportation, Ken Welch, Brad Miller, SunRail
Pinellas County is slowly moving forward with plans to ask voters to pay for a major transit overhaul. A study released this year lays the groundwork for both light rail and increased bus service to support it. At a transit meeting yesterday, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority CEO Brad Miller said the ideas need to be discussed with possible riders.
2 comments“To help us digest all of these plans that are going on whether they’re long term or shor...
Electric bikes
09/03/12 Jon ButtsSustainable Living and Alternative Health Listen to this entire show:
Tags: alternative energy, electric bikes, transportation
Today on the Sustainable Living program our special guest is the creator of the Electric Chronicles -- that’s all about electric power on two wheels: bikes, scooters, motorcycles, stock, modifications, conversions, etc., Ted Dillard. Ted has also written several articles for Home Power Magazine on bike and motorcycle conversions to electric power. We started talking about what’s available today in stock bikes and the improvements to electric propulsion. Ted seems to feel that the hub electri...
Be the first to commentGroup wants a switch to compressed natural gas to help clean up Tampa Bay air listen
08/14/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: compressed natural gas, Clean Cities Coalition, Clean City, USF, Patel Center, sustainability, transportation
A trio of public and private groups in the Tampa Bay area is joining forces to reduce dependence on petroleum. The University of South Florida, the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County and TECO Energy committed funding to the Clean Cities Coalition this morning at USF’s Patel Center for Global Sustainability. USF president Judy Genshaft said transportation accounts for more than 71% of the nation’s petroleum consumption.
Be the first to comment“Vehicles are major sources of greenhouse g...
Law enforcement agencies release list of road closures for Republican Convention in Tampa
07/23/12 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: RNC, Tampa, roads, transportation, St. Pete
Late Monday law enforcement agencies released a list of roads that will be closed and other transportation limitations in Tampa and St. Petersburg during August's Republican National Convention.
According to the document (which can be found below) many downtown Tampa roads, including the Selmon Expressway, will be closed for a week. Pedestrians will be restricted south of Brorein St.
Across the bay in St. Pete, many roads will be closed for several blocks around Tropicana Field for part...
Be the first to commentLight rail advocates join forces to combat opposition in Pinellas listen
06/19/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: PSTA, transit, light rail, transportation, Norm Roche, Jeff Danner, Sierra Club, Awake Pinellas
Environmentalists and progressive activists are joining forces to let transit officials in Pinellas County know they want expanded mass transit. About 80 of them packed a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) board meeting in Pinellas County Monday to make sure their presence was felt as heavily as rail opponents whose slogan is "no tax for tracks." Organizer of the event, Tim Martin represents the group Awake Pinellas. As multi-modal transportation supporters showed up, Martin made s...
Be the first to commentOld study could have new results for Pinellas transit listen
05/14/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, OneBay, transit, transportation, Jack Mariano, reality check
Officials from across the Tampa Bay area are pushing a long-term plan that links transit to population density. Results from a study discussed this morning at a meeting in Pinellas Park shows some challenges for officials in Pinellas County who want to expand transit options. Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s Avera Wynne said to make that and the spending that comes with it a reality regions need to increase their population density.
Be the first to comment“Conventional wisdom is that you need certain den...
Tampa Bay Partnership group gives state legislators some economic development advice listen
05/08/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Florida Legislature, Tampa Bay Partnership, healthcare, Medicaid, Medicare, transit, transportation, light rail
During a meeting at the Tampa Bay Times Forum today, State legislators representing the region were given a list of issues members of the Tampa Bay Partnership thought should be made priorities. With Pinellas County considering a sales tax referendum for transit improvements, one group of business professionals told the 26 elected officials to ignore the “No Tax for Tracks” campaigns. Barry Alpert, managing investment director for Raymond James, said 40 years ago he could tell potential profe...
Be the first to commentBicycling advocate is pleased with legislative progress on pedestrian and cyclist safety listen
04/12/12 Olivia KabatWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: legislation, pedestrian safety, transportation, biking
This year the Florida Legislature passed several bills that could improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Advocates hope the new policies will help to reduce the number of fatalities.
Tim Bustos, Executive Director of the Florida Bicycle Association says Florida has a tragic record of pedestrian and cycling fatalities. His group takes an active role in improving safety.
1 comments“Florida has not faired well for bicycle and pedestrian safety over the last several years. There was actually ...
