News & Public Affairs
Old 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 ...
New type of traffic signal in Hillsborough County: the flashing yellow arrow listen
03/02/12 Olivia KabatWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Hillsborough County, Transportation, traffic, FDOT
Hillsborough County has a new type of traffic signal: a flashing yellow arrow. Drivers traveling on Fowler Avenue near Thonotosassa may encounter the new type of light at the Jefferson Road intersection.
The flashing yellow arrow directs motorists in the left turn lane to turn with caution after first yielding to oncoming traffic. Kris Carson, Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson says a national study shows the benefits of the new signal.
Be the first to comment“The flashing yellow arrow is som...
Pinellas Transit draws light rail plans; 2013 referendum possible listen
02/17/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Transportation, transit, Transit Referendum, psta, Sierra Club, Phil Compton, Bob Lasher, light rail, Pinellas County
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, or PSTA, has drawn plans to build 24 miles of light rail in Pinellas County with a connection to Tampa. At the Unitarian Universalist church in Clearwater last night, a spokesperson for Pinellas’s transit authority told Sierra Club members that the plan could significantly reduce congestion on roadways. The rail plan is called the [locally preferred alternative](http://www.psta.net/PDF/PSTA-HART...
Be the first to commentHigh school students learn about pedestrian safety; Postponed bill in Congress shuts out bicyclists, pedestrians listen
02/15/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Transportation, transit, pedestrian deaths, pedestrian safety, bike lanes, Sierra Club, Phil Compton, John Mica
In October, a Middleton High School Student was hit and killed by a car while crossing Hillsborough Avenue on her way to school. The Florida Department of Transportation estimates that there are 375 people killed in car accidents annually in the Tampa area. But a transportation bill in the U.S. House would fund fewer projects that would make it safer to walk or ride a bike.
As he attempted to lead a group of te...
Be the first to commentTBARTA says their school carpool program saves parents commuting time and money listen
02/07/12 Olivia KabatWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: TBARTA, Hillsborough County Schools, Pinellas County Schools, Transportation, traffic, Commuting
Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority is looking to expand their school car-pooling program to more schools in other counties. TBARTA’s program currently has 1,200 parents registered.
The School Pool program allows parents to form carpools so commuters share the responsibility of driving students to school. Amy Ellis, Director of Communications for TBARTA says the program matches parents and their kids with other families for carpooling by using their computerized ridesharing s...
Be the first to commentSt. Pete Mayor Bill Foster supports light rail connection to other cities including Tampa listen
01/25/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Bill Foster, light rail, transit, Suncoast Tiger Bay Club, Transportation, St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster champions his city’s transportation accomplishments. At a Suncoast Tiger Bay luncheon Wednesday afternoon he said he fully supports implementing light rail to connect to other cities in the region.
Tiger Bay meetings boast the ability of members to carve a politician up for lunch. St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster found himself on that platter answering questions he said he didn’t want to answer. But w...
Be the first to commentHART looks to cut legal spending by using in-house lawyers listen
01/24/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, budget cuts, Transportation
The tough budget climate has left governments at all levels looking for creative ways to cut costs. The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, or HART, is looking to their legal department to save a half a million dollars. In a committee meeting yesterday, HART’s director of legal services, Michael Stephens, said the savings estimate is conservative because...
Be the first to commentFlorida Senate bill could be catalyst for HART & PSTA merger listen
10/24/11 Josh HoltonWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: HART, psta, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, transit, Transportation, Sandra Murman, Jack Latvala
Some board members the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority started planning their strategy to address new state legislation that could either dissolve the organization, or merge it with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, or PSTA. HART attorney Chip Fletcher discussed the implications of Florida Senate Bill 192 during this morning’s Major Projects Committee.
HART and PS...
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