Earlier this year, Pam Iorio announced the City’s Gold-level certified Green Local Government designation by the Florida Green Building Coaliton (FGBC). Tampa was only the second city to achieve this award in Florida (Tallahassee was the first) and the local government is wasting no time in starting to get the city on its way to creating greener pastures.
The city initiatives outlined on the Tampa government’s new Green website is focusing primarily on pollution control and conservation via air, ground, and water.
Some of the “air” related initiatives include increasing public access throughout the city to recreation and to non-motorized transportation opportunities. Also, you may have noticed articles and ads throughout city news publications promoting new and improved bus service opportunities to various business parks, downtown locations, and to the Tampa International Airport. These are Tampa’s initial attempts at trying to boost the public transit system that has been heavily scrutinized by residents (with good reason). HART itself has even begun promoting its new Green vision for its company as well in hopes it can join Tampa's efforts and promote the use of public transit and commuting.
This article appears in May 13-19, 2009.