The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority

Will cross-county commuters have a new option?

By

Commuters in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties could have a new way to get around, as planning continues on a proposed 41-mile bus route connecting the counties.

The plan being considered calls for designated rapid bus transit lanes to be built along the shoulders of Interstate 75 and Interstate 275.

Chris Jadick is the communications director for the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA). At a North Tampa Bay Chamber breakfast on Feb. 4, he explained to attendees the agency’s plan to expand bus services cross-county. (Courtesy of Chris Jadick of TBARTA)

The route would run from Pasco to Hillsborough County — beginning at State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, heading south to the University of South Florida and ending in downtown Tampa. The system also would have a leg continuing into Pinellas County, ending in downtown St. Petersburg.

Various bus stations would be built adjacent to the highway and within a 1-mile radius of communities with larger concentrations of commercial development.

Chris Jadick, of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA), outlined aspects of the proposed bus rapid transit system during a North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting on Feb. 4.

The proposed project carries a price tag of $455 million, and is now in the project development and environment phase, Jadick told those gathered at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus.

Alternatives are now being evaluated to determine which would be most beneficial to the public, Jadick said.

The current plan being studied calls for designated lanes to be constructed along Interstates 75 and 275 shoulders, catered for buses only.

Increasing the number of stations could result in lower bus fares for commuters, Jadick said. But, it also affects how quickly riders can get from Point A to Point B.

“This all comes down to speed,” Jadick said. “The more stations you have, where they are, determines how quickly you can get somewhere,” he explained.

The study is scheduled to wrap up by August 2021, he noted.

When 30% of the design plan is set, federal funds will be allocated toward the project, Jadick said, aside from state and local assistance.

The project aims to help address Florida’s low-performance ranking in the area of public transportation, Jadick said.

“There’s no question we have great local transit providers. The problem is regionally. How do we connect Pasco County with the great opportunities in Hillsborough (County), or Hillsborough (County) to Manatee (County)?” he asked.

The regional transit agency oversees five counties: Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas.

The tri-county bus rapid transit system is just part of TBARTA’s 10-year vision plan. Another project in that long-range plan calls for expanded car and vanpool services.

The regional transit agency has been working in conjunction with the Enterprise rental service to provide feasible transportation options for government workers.

Plans are in the works to create a ride-sharing program to help reduce the number of vehicles on the road — which would decrease congestion, shorten commute times and result in cleaner air.

It is not yet clear when either of these new initiatives could begin offering commuters new alternatives.

Published February 12, 2020

Pasco considered for new cross-county bus routes

By

Pasco County commuters may soon have easier access into neighboring counties, as two new bus routes are being explored along the Interstate 75 and Interstate 275 corridors.

Bus stops along State Road 56 and State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel would allow riders to catch buses traveling to Tampa and Saint Petersburg.

The bus rapid transit project would help travelers move around, while reducing congestion on the highway.

The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) has been working on the idea in conjunction with the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) of Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

The regional transit authority began a study in 2019 to evaluate the 41-mile bus route.

If implemented, those in Pasco could travel south into Tampa, stopping near the University of South Florida and in downtown Tampa. Bus riders would have the option to continue riding southwest, ending up in downtown St. Petersburg.

The highway also may be widened to accommodate a designated lane for buses as well.

The initiative has transitioned into the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study, with the support of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Trying to find a way to improve transit and ease congestion has been an issue for decades.

Providing more public bus services across Tampa Bay could help reduce the estimated 50% increase in motorists expected over the next two decades, according to TBARTA.

Other cities across the nation —  including Los Angeles, Cleveland, Minneapolis and Las Vegas — already have bus rapid transit.

Routes can be selected based on where there is a high volume of businesses, attractions and daily needs.

Kurt Scheible is the director of Pasco County Public Transportation and sits on TBARTA’s Transit Management Committee.

He pushed for two bus stops when one was originally being considered for Pasco. This resulted in both State Road 56 and State Road 54 being selected, near their intersections with Interstate 75.

“(State Road) 56 is not really a good starting point for Pasco County, (State Road) 54 is,” Scheible said. “(State Road) 54 is where the customers are actually going to be. That’s where the people are and that’s where they’re going to go.”

Currently, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) Authority offers bus rides from Wesley Chapel into Tampa.

While the exact locations of the proposed stops haven’t been pinpointed yet, they will be two new alternatives to the HART bus service.

With the support of FDOT, the project could cost up to $455 million.

Studies are scheduled for completion in 2021, but a construction timetable hasn’t been determined yet.

Published January 29, 2020

Vanpooling service could be new option for Pasco’s workforce            

By

Some private sector workers soon will have a new way to commute to their jobs throughout the Tampa Bay region – including Pasco County.

The Enterprise car company is collaborating with the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority to offer vanpooling services to companies and their employees.

Arlinda Karuli, Enterprise account executive, gave a presentation on the new service at the Smart Business Series on Sept. 10, at the Overnight Success Studios in Lutz.

Arlinda Karuli, Enterprise account executive, recently gave a presentation about the potential of vanpooling to help reduce traffic on the roads, while providing another option for workforce commuters. (Brian Fernandes)

“We want to be able to work with employers to be able to introduce this program to them,” Karuli explained. “We want to [give] employees another option to get to and from work.”

Tampa Bay’s continued growth has ramped up traffic — increasing the hassle of getting to work, Karuli said.

“Single-occupancy vehicles are really affecting traffic,” she said.

But, vanpooling is an option that can get workers to their jobs in a timely manner, she added.

Enterprise already has implemented this in some states, including California, and now is offering it to government employees within Tampa Bay.

After seeing its benefits, the Bay Area’s Transit Authority and Enterprise, are ready to open this service to private sector companies as well.

By riding to work in a van, passengers can take a nap, read a book, or take advantage of the commute time in different ways, Karuli noted.

“Then, they’re coming to work less stressed, and they’re ready to work,” she said.

Another advantage of vanpooling is that it broadens the pool of potential job candidates because they don’t need to have their own means of transportation, she added.

Other pluses: It allows employees to reduce the “wear and tear” and gasoline consumption of their personal vehicles, and it offers more available parking spaces for employers, she said.

Also, this service isn’t just limited to vans, she noted. There are more than 90 makes and models available to choose from.

Enterprise initially introduces the program to a company’s human resources department, and asks for the company to identify where employees live by zip code. It can then create a cluster map to see which people could benefit from the program, Karuli explained.

The map tracks at least four coworkers who live within a 3-mile radius of each other, who could potentially benefit from the service.

The vehicles then are rented out on a month-by-month basis, being prepaid before the month begins.

The employer can then allow one worker to hold on to the vehicle and pick up fellow coworkers at a central meeting place.

If rented by the company, payments are deducted out of those vanpoolers’ pay, but are not taxable.

Enterprise determines the prepaid cost by gauging the potential mileage, fuel and toll payments added up within that month.

However, the Transit Authority grants a $400 subsidy toward the costs, ultimately reducing the cost for commuters.

The transit agency also offers an Emergency Ride Home Program. In the instance that a rider who vanpooled gets sick and needs to go home early, he or she uses a voucher in exchange for a cab ride home.

Enterprise is looking into ways to implement the use of the voucher for the Emergency Ride Home Program for other driving services, such as Uber.

Enterprise also gives insurance coverage at no cost to the employer or employee.

Enterprise offers full-service maintenance, 24-hour roadside service, bumper-to-bumper collision with no deductible, and covers damages caused to another driver’s vehicle.

And, it replaces the vanpool vehicle in the event it is not suitable to drive.

Enterprise also can grant an additional 200 miles per month toward personal use, such as grocery shopping.

“We recently met with our economic development team in Pasco County and we were able to identify some manufacturing companies that can benefit from it,” Karuli mentioned.

Coworkers also can collectively rent out a vehicle without their company’s involvement.

And, families can vanpool, too.

Another benefit is a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, when people share a vehicle, rather than driving individually, she noted.

While timing of the program’s unveiling to the public has yet to be determined, several companies have already expressed interest, Karuli said.

Published September 18, 2019

Trails putting Florida on the map

By

Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp wants to get residents moving when it comes to supporting and building a network of trails and greenways.

The first-time county commissioner recently invited trail experts to give residents an overview of current and future projects in Hillsborough and the Tampa Bay region.

Regional trails coursing through Pasco County include the Coast to Coast Trail tying together east and west coasts; and, the Suncoast Trail, with trail heads in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties

Dale Allen, executive director of the Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation, left, received an award given to the foundation by the Florida Bicycle Association. J. Steele Olmstead is the association’s president; Pat Kemp is Hillsborough County Commissioner.
(Kathy Steele)

Nearly 75 people attended the April 4 meeting at the Robert W. Saunders Sr. Public Library in Tampa. Speakers included Dale Allen, executive director of the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation; Wade Reynolds of the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization; and Anthony Matonti of Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority, or TBARTA.

“Trails are just exploding,” said Kemp.

But, she came away disappointed when she attended a regional meeting on trials in Venice in February. At least seven counties made presentations.

“Pasco had a great demonstration, good programs,” Kemp said.

Hillsborough didn’t have as much going on, but that wasn’t always the case, she said.  “It seemed like something happened in Hillsborough because they went dormant.”

Kemp hopes that the April 4 meeting will spur efforts to follow through on trail projects in Hillsborough and regionally. An annual summit on trail development in Hillsborough also would keep momentum going, she said.

On April 5, Hillsborough County commissioners asked the county’s staff to prioritize a list of hiking and bicycling trails for future projects, and to make a biannual report on progress.

All across Florida, a trail system is taking shape.

It’s one that largely began with local projects, but now is emerging as a statewide network, Allen said.

The Coast to Coast trail, for instance, includes about 14 individual trails built by local governments. When the trail opens in 2020, it will connect Volusia County in the east with Pinellas County in the west. A portion of the 250-mile trail will cut through Pasco.

Kathryn Starkey is a Pasco County Commissioner.
(File)

People can ride bicycles from the Kennedy Space Center to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Allen said.

“The economic impact of this is tremendous,” he said.

Florida’s trail system benefits from a number of factors, including year-round warm weather. But, Allen said the state has other assets as well, including its state parks.

Florida is the only state in the nation to win the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence three times for the maintenance of its parks.

The state also has thousands of miles of abandoned rights-of-way along railroad lines. Many trail systems around the country are being built on those old routes, including the Coeur d’Alene Trail in Idaho along 71 miles of the Union Pacific rail line, and the High Line in New York City on an abandoned, elevated rail road trestle.

Allen said the High Line is the second biggest tourist attraction in New York City.

In Pasco, a trail is proposed to follow the Orange Belt rail line. Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey often mentions the trail as an economic boon to Land O’ Lakes.

Dade City often is cited as a future hub for bicyclists traveling the trail network.

The Coast to Coast trail could benefit Dade City’s efforts, said Allen, in response to a question posed after his presentation. But, he added, “They’ve got to do it right. Putting lanes for bicycles along roadways won’t do it.”

The trails must be safe, scenic and lead to destinations people want to visit, Allen said.

In Florida, safety is a critical issue. The state consistently over the years ranks at or near the worst among states in annual pedestrian and bicycling fatalities.

Data shows that nine out of 10 Floridians own bicycles. But, Allen said one out of 10 owners don’t ride them. “The roads are too dangerous,” he said. “To go to best from worst, we have a lot of work to do.”

Published April 26, 2017

Tampa Bay Express gaining favor in Pasco

By

A project to build express toll lanes on interstate highways, known as the Tampa Bay Express, has picked up an endorsement from the Pasco County Commission.

Commissioners voted 4-1 on May 10 to send a letter to the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization urging a favorable vote on the project.

The planning organization is scheduled for a June 22 vote on a project that has gained wide support in Pasco as a solution to commuter gridlock.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano voted no. He cited concerns about the increasing reliance on toll roads to generate revenues. He did approve of the potential for rapid bus service included in TBX.

“All the toll roads in the world don’t necessarily help your traffic,” he said.

The Hillsborough MPO’s decision will determine if the project goes forward as a transportation priority.

State highway officials peg the initial construction costs at about $3.3 billion. Some state estimates put the costs at as much as $6 billion.

“This is very, very important for the residents of Pasco County,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore. “We think about quality of life, especially for residents who commute back and forth to Hillsborough County and Pinellas County on a daily basis.”

For some, commuting times can be more than two hours a day, Moore said. “If we save 30 to 45 minutes for them, just think about the increased quality of life, the time they will spend with family and friends, not on the road.”

In recent weeks, the Pasco Economic Development Council and The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce also have come out in favor of the TBX.

The Pasco MPO added its voice to the chorus on May 12 by approving a resolution in favor of TBX.

Outside of Pasco, the TBX has been a divisive issue for months.

Some Tampa city leaders, including Mayor Bob Buckhorn, are strongly in favor. But, community activists in Tampa’s historic neighborhoods of V.M. Ybor, Ybor City, Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights strenuously object.

They say the added express lanes will slice through their streets, wiping out more than 100 businesses and residences.

Opponents have held protest marches and packed public meetings. Yard signs opposing TBX are a common sight.

The Sunshine Citizens is pushing against the project.

Most recently, the civil rights office of the Federal Highway Administration agreed to a preliminary investigation of TBX, based on a complaint that the toll system benefits wealthy commuters and motorists, while harming minorities who live in the affected neighborhoods.

If approved, nearly 50 miles of new toll lanes would be built adjacent to existing non-toll lanes along Interstate 275, Interstate 75 and Interstate 4. The toll lanes would stretch from St. Petersburg to Wesley Chapel, but also along Interstate 4 to Plant City and southward along Interstate 75 toward Manatee County.

Toll fees would vary depending on traffic volume, with most expensive costs likely at rush hours.

A new span of the Howard Frankland Bridge, between Tampa and St. Petersburg, also is part of the overall highway project.

And, the express lanes would open up to rapid bus service.

“I can’t emphasize how important this project is as a cornerstone of the master plan for the seven county region,” said Ramond Chiaramonte, chief executive officer of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA). “I think we’re at a critical juncture. This is something that can transform this region within a decade from where we are now to a functioning transit system where we have express transit buses beginning to connect our suburban areas.”

The project could add about 90,000 temporary jobs during construction, said Richard Gehring, Pasco’s strategic policy administrator. While Tampa Bay is one of the largest job generators in the state, he said, “One of the biggest constraints on Tampa Bay is the transportation system.”

Work is underway to the north on about $400 million in highway projects, such as the State Road 52 interchange redesign at I-75, and TBX is a critical complement in efforts to reduce regional traffic congestion, Gehring said.

About 52 percent of Pasco residents commute outside the county daily, with about 66 percent of those motorists heading to jobs in Hillsborough, said James Edwards, director of Pasco County’s MPO.

“This is the first step to say we’re going to give Pasco commuters a choice,” he said.

Plus, Edwards said, “We look forward to reverse trips from Tampa.”

Published May 18, 2016