Tampa Bay Area transit forum highlights regional vision

Talk about transit is everywhere in the Tampa Bay Area, more so today than ever before. But how will all this talk result in a buildable transit plan for the region? This question will be discussed at length at the Tampa Bay Transit Forum scheduled for Friday, July 20, from 1-4 p.m. at the Tampa Airport Marriott.
 
The event, moderated by business columnist Graham Brink of the Tampa Bay Times, will feature discussion from local transit leaders and elected officials, including State Sen. Bill Galvano, along with a presentation by Marilee Utter of Denver-based Citiventure Associates, who will talk about best practices for transit-oriented development and how we can realize such development in the Tampa Bay area.
 
The summit, hosted by the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA), includes the following presentations and discussions:
 

• “A Vision for the Tampa Bay Region” from State Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton.
• “An Eye to the Future: Local Plans, Community Vision” with Florida Department of Transportation District 7 Secretary David Gwynn, Hillsborough County Commission Chair Sandy Murman, Pinellas County Commission Chair Ken Welch, and Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.
• “Where We Are Right Now: Plans in the Works.” Learn about how current transit efforts intersect, and listen to community leaders and transit users as they share personal stories on how transit impacts their lives. Among the panelists: Barry Shevlin, CEO of Vology; Gloria Lepik-Corrigan, a transit user and disability advocate; and Brant Peterson, a Tampa young professional.
• “Stop and Grow: How Transit Stops Spur Economic Development” with Marilee Utter, a national-level expert on transit-oriented development through her work as President of Denver-based Citiventure Associates and her previous role as Executive Vice President for the Urban Land Institute.
  After the 1-4 p.m. session, attendees can attend an open house from 4-7 p.m., as area transportation officials will be on hand to talk about transit initiatives underway around the region. Also, attendees can take a tour of SkyConnect, Tampa International Airport’s new people mover.

The summit comes as the team developing the Regional Transit Feasibility Plan enters the final months of its public outreach efforts. Team members are asking the public their thoughts on the draft catalyst projects identified as the highest performers during the technical analysis phase. Feedback is currently being sought at a number of neighborhood events around the area, and interested residents can take an online survey.
 
The Forum is free and open to the public, including free parking (park in Tampa International Airport’s Short-Term Parking Garage and bring your parking ticket into the event to be validated). The event is also accessible by bus using PSTA’s Route 300X and HART’s Routes 30, 32, 35, 60LX, and 275LX.
 
Attendees interested in participating in the tour of Tampa International Airport’s new people mover, SkyConnect, and its new Rental Car Center and transit curb, along with a behind-the-scenes look at the new SkyConnect maintenance facility, should sign up ahead of time since space for the tours is limited.
 
For more information about the event and to sign up for the tour, follow this link. 

Kyle Parks is Principal at B2Communications of St. Petersburg. Comments? Contact 83 Degrees.