August 28, 2009 - Tampa, Florida - If light rail comes to Hillsborough County, downtown Tampa will be a vital piece of the puzzle. But there are many questions to be answered. To start the discussion, HART met on Thursday with community and business leaders representing the downtown area.
Alternatives Analysis Underway
This meeting is one of the first in HART's outreach efforts in its Alternatives Analysis study, a requirement for transit agencies seeking federal funding for major projects. In June, the HART Board of Directors awarded a contract to PB Americas, Inc. to conduct the AA, which studies the best way to meet transit demand in an area, whether through rail, bus, or some other form of transit. Top-ranked projects show strong local support, have secured local funding and demonstrate the benefits of building a transit system.
Downtowners Discuss Options
The workshop, which was hosted for HART by the Tampa Downtown Partnership, marked the first phase of discussion of how to best serve the downtown area with transit. The group took on issues like where a light rail line could enter downtown, its circulation within the core, connections with buses and the existing streetcar system, and other factors.
There was also discussion about future transit-oriented development projects, a mix of residential and retail development that is centered around transit stations.
Important First Step; More Meetings to Come
"This was the first of many discussions we'll have with the business community," said HART CEO David Armijo. "We're talking about how we'll serve downtown, and by extension the entire county, with transit in the future. Businesses will be an important part of that effort."
As workshop participants discussed the different options, a sketch artist was on hand to capture their ideas on paper. The sketches will be presented to the public the week of September 22nd in the downtown area. The exact date and location will be announced soon.
Next Up: Westshore, Public Workshops
A similar meeting is scheduled to take place next week in the Westshore district, which will be hosted by the Westshore Alliance. In the next several weeks, HART will also hold meetings with community and neighborhood organizations, followed by public open house events for all Hillsborough County residents to view the plans and offer their comments.
HART Mission Statement
Our Team is dedicated to providing excellent customer service while building solutions to support Hillsborough County's needs...now and into the future.
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