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Monday's letters: Let's continue to cooperate on Tampa Bay transit

 
Published June 9, 2017

Tampa Bay transit

Let's continue to cooperate

One year ago, the Tampa Bay Partnership and a coalition of more than 25 regional business and civic organizations asked the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to keep a collection of critical interstate enhancements — then known as Tampa Bay Express — in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The project wasn't perfect, and FDOT's efforts to build community engagement, support and trust needed work. But our region requires serious investment in transit and transportation infrastructure, and none of us wanted to turn our backs on much-needed state funds.

The Hillsborough MPO did the right thing for Tampa Bay by voting yes that night, and allowing this process to continue. Since then, FDOT has demonstrated a new spirit of collaboration and is making genuine efforts to listen and respond to the concerns of the impacted communities.

In April, FDOT organized a peer exchange trip to St. Louis, allowing us to learn from the best practices of the Interstate 64 expansion, including a unique program to bring skills training and job opportunities to disadvantaged residents. They funded the Regional Transit Feasibility Plan, which will set forth a vision for a regional transit system and prioritize a transit project for state and federal funding. They also launched Tampa Bay Next, integrating our interstate improvements with transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Additionally, FDOT is conducting the rigorous Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) required by the Federal Highway Administration, which will include the updated demographic, economic and transportation data requested by the Hillsborough MPO last year.

On Tuesday, the Hillsborough MPO will again be asked to approve a TIP that includes funding for this vital transportation investment. We urge them to vote yes, allowing FDOT and the community to continue the collaborative approach we've started and keep working toward a regional transportation solution.

Rick Homans, Tampa

The writer is president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Price of Pier art up in the air | June 8

An open call for Pier art

St. Petersburg is looking at an incredibly expensive piece of "art" for the new Pier. This seems terribly wasteful. Why isn't there an open call for artists who would give or loan their work instead?

Judy Clements, Seminole

GOP silent as push for single payer grows | Column, June 7

Medicare for all

Single-payer health insurance is not socialized medicine. Private doctors and hospitals will continue to exist. It would simply be Medicare for all with lower overhead than private insurance.

Frank Lupo, St. Petersburg

"Trumpism Will Be Defeated by a Movement on the Horizon" by Kai Wright in the Nation at http://bit.ly/2saTDgq

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The context: Whatever else is true about Trump voters, the core complaint I've heard over and over as I've spoken with them is actually one many of us share: There exists a monstrous gap between the reality so many Americans face every day, and the political priorities of those who have power over us.

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