ZEPHYRHILLS – Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are continuing talks about joining forces to secure more funding for larger transportation projects across the Tampa Bay region.
Tania Gorman not only serves as executive director for the Pasco County MPO but she’s also a resident of Zephyrhills. She updated the Zephyrhills City Council on Oct. 13 about efforts to consolidate.
“Tampa Bay is growing fast,” Gorman said. “I moved here in 2019 and all I saw were beautiful cows and now I can’t get out of my house on Chancey Road. So, we know we’re growing fast. We want to consolidate to be stronger, faster and efficient and also align with the regional goals of how we want to move our people, our services and our goods around the Tampa Bay area.”
The MPOs have enlisted Whitehouse Group to facilitate discussions, like the MPOs are scheduled to have at the Regional MPO Principals’ Workshop on Nov. 14 at St. Petersburg College. Gorman invited Zephyrhills leaders to that event so they could make their voices heard.
Gorman said representatives have met with MPOs across the nation to discuss what it’s like to merge. Local leaders planned to meet with MetroPlan, a merged group of MPOs in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, at the end of the month.
She explained that some of the challenges of merging MPOs are consolidating data and deciding on a governing board. She said Tampa Bay leaders have been discussing joining forces for 30 or 40 years.
“Do you have any fears that Pasco, being the smallest county and kind of the crown of Tampa Bay, would be marginalized at all if we do join?” Council Member Steve Spina asked her.
Gorman explained how there are ongoing talks about the makeup of the board. They’re leaning toward 25 members. There have been talks among Pasco County MPO members about the cities having a rotating seat. She said cities could also be represented as a board committee, though there are many ways to incorporate their interests.
“The advocacy reaches a whole other level when we talk about regionalism,” Gorman said. “The MPOs would be going to work every day not solely for each of their counties but for the regional good.”
Zephyrhills Council Member Lance Smith, who serves on the Pasco County MPO, said there was some concern among city reps on the board they would lose out by merging with larger counties.
“The way they explained it to us was we’d be a better contender for some really large federal dollars when they’re available for the region, like for a huge interchange on (Interstate) 275 or something going to the port,” Smith said.
