Officials with the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, along with local and federal officials, announced on Thursday afternoon that they, along with the U.S. Department of Transportation have awarded $1.181,250 to develop a master plan for the Nebraska Avenue – Hillsborough Avenue Primary Transit Corridor, which translated means it would help build a station for the High Speed Rail station in Tampa.
Leading off the news conference at Tampa's Union Station was Mayor Pam Iorio, who used the opportunity to not only promote high speed rail, but also the local transit initiative that Hillsborough voters are deciding right now in early voting, that could lead to the beginning construction of a light rail system beginning in the county, and potentially spreading throughout the Bay area.
"Nothing is more important than our investment in our transportation infrastructure. Nothing," the Mayor said, rather sternly, saying the light rail system would transform the region.
Tampa was the only community in Florida to receive what HUD calls the Sustainable Community Challenge Grants, which are designed to help support local planning designed to integrate affordable housing, good jobs and public transportation.
In his prepared remarks, Senator Bill Nelson gave praise to C.C. "Doc" Dockery, the man who was responsible for getting a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2000 that passed but was later reversed by Florida voters on getting a high speed rail system in Florida. "He put his money where his mouth was in promoting high speed rail. And now …this alternative is now going to become the reality," he said.
But will there be high speed rail in the future in Florida if Rick Scott wins the governor's race next month?
This article appears in Oct 21-27, 2010.