On Wednesday, officials with HART (and you'd better call it that or their pr rep will get in your face) held an event at Lykes Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa, to observe their 30th anniversary in being the public transit agency in Hillsborough County. The event comes just 2 days after HART released a survey showing solid support for a 1 cent sales tax to fund mass transit- which would include funding to begin its first leg of a light rail system.
Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder welcomed the audience by contemplating the relatively light humidity in the air, and speaking positively about the potential for a light rail system finally coming to Tampa.
"I'm extremely optimistic that the County Commission will put this initiative on the ballot next fall, and that it will pass."
However, based on just two random interviews this correspondent did, lots of education will be needed.
Nancy Stafford from Clearwater initially thought I was speaking about high speed rail. "I'm not sure it's the best use of funds". She wondered what was the difference between trains and buses. "I wonder if people will get rid of their cars".
Another woman, Tanya from South Tampa, who was fiddling with her Blackberry as the event took place took time to answer a few questions. "Is it environmentally friendly? " She also wanted to know if the trains would allow pets would be allowed on the trains.
I told her I honestly didn't know.
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 7, 2009.
