I-275 in Tampa, just west of the I-275/I-4 interchange. Credit: Noah Densmore/Adobe

Tampa Bay needs transit! Walkability, multi modes, high capacity mass transit, the ability to live car free as density increases. We’ve been fighting for this and denied by deliberate, Republicans blocking us and our actions for over 35 years.

To make it a reality we have to elect politicians not beholden to development (both housing and road builders) and automobile dealer special interests. Publicize the boring-by-design transportation planning meetings, and the efforts of transit advocates (who work in tandem with other groups focused on land use, housing and equity issues because they are all intricately interrelated) to educate the public and get past inability to visualize this attainable goal.

There are resources to provide visuals and renders, examples from elsewhere. The pent up demand is there but if all the public is ever presented is car alone travel that’s all they can imagine. Publicize the real cost of all the car-only developments we are forced to subsidize. We can afford transit.

Help support the handful on the front lines trying to fight off FDOT paving us under, and endlessly repeating the systemically racist 20th century policies they have always done. Challenge the right wing narrative.

Tons of case studies elsewhere in hot, car dependent places making the change. The climate crisis is here, transit can’t wait.—Michelle Cookson, Founding member & officer, Sunshine Citizens

To commemorate the leap year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay asked readers and local leaders to chime in on what Tampa Bay needs to be a better place in four years. These are some of the results of the “What Tampa Bay Needs” survey.

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