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$2-million set aside for Tampa Bay area transit planning

By Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer
In print: Thursday, April 24, 2008

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TAMPA — Florida lawmakers on Wednesday agreed to give $2-million to the agency trying to come up with regional transportation solutions in the Tampa Bay area.

Last year, the Legislature created the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, or TBARTA, and budgeted $1-million in startup costs. But Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed the spending measure.

"We're going to give it another shot," said Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.

Crist said he's not sure what he'll do this year.

"The budget's tight, as we all know," he said.

Now, the organization composed of representatives from seven counties and their major cities has a $100,000 budget funded by county metropolitan planning organizations and the Tampa Bay Partnership. The Florida Department of Transportation provides staff and administrative support.

"At some point we need to be independent of DOT," said TBARTA board member Shawn Harrison. "This is a good way to get started."

The money would allow the authority to hire an executive director and staff and pay for offices.

The appropriation from the Legislature is the best chance TBARTA has at getting funding this year.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, would allow three regional transportation authorities — including TBARTA — to collect 80 percent of surcharges on rental cars in communities they serve. That money now goes to the state Transportation Department. The proposal passed unanimously in the House on Wednesday. It would provide $16-million a year to TBARTA, which could be leveraged into $240-million to help pay for a rail or other types of transit systems, Galvano said.

But the bill has no companion in the Senate. "I'm disappointed where we're at in the Senate right now," Galvano said.

He said he thought a bill sponsored by Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, would ultimately include similar language. But that didn't happen.

Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, who chairs the Senate transportation committee, said Galvano's bill met resistance because it would take money away from the DOT's planned road projects.

"We worked to find an alternative," Baker said.

But Galvano said he didn't want to create a new fee.

And he noted that even if the money is in the hands of TBARTA, it still goes to transportation projects that help fulfill the DOT's mission.

Galvano said TBARTA needs a recurring source of state funding to increase the chances of receiving federal dollars when Congress considers renewal of a transportation spending bill next year, something that happens only once every six years.

Even with the legislative session scheduled to end next week, Galvano hasn't given up.

"I've got enough days left to make everyone understand that if we don't get this done we stand to lose millions in federal funding," he said

Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3401.