HART may need to go to eminent domain to purchase properties for BRT line

Mary Shavalier, director of Grants Management and Planning, told members of HART's Major Projects and Legislative Committee that the agency is working with American Acquisitions Group to negotiate with the property owners along the designated route.

With hopes for light rail nowhere in the forecast for Hillsborough County, transit planners have shifted their focus toward BRT, which would be a bus line running from downtown to North Tampa. The corridor was chosen by HART in 2010 because it includes its highest ridership activity.

One feature of the new bus line is transit signal priority, which provides preferential treatment of the bus when traveling through traffic-signal controlled intersections.

Shavalier said that all of the property owners who stand in the way of HART's proposed route have been informed about the transit agency's plans.

Officials said they would prefer not to go through eminent domain, hoping they could come to negotiated settlements with all those residents. Shavalier said that it was important that the committee approve the resolution today, however, so that plans can continue to run apace.

The full HART board will consider the matter at its March 5 meeting.