TAMPA, Fla. -- At the July 19th
meeting of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) Board of
Directors, the Honorable Fran Davin was elected to assume the duties of the HART Board Secretary, a vacancy created when the Honorable John Dingfelder resigned
from the Tampa City Council. Former Councilman Dingfelder was the Tampa City
Council representative to the HART board. His resignation also resulted in two
internal HART board vacancies. HART Board Chair Ron Govin moved to fill those
vacancies by appointing HART Board member Wallace Bowers to represent HART on
the Metropolitan Planning Organizations Board (MPO) and appointed Dr. Steve
Polzin to be the Vice Chair of HART's Major Projects committee.
HART Board Member David Mechanik was selected to
represent HART on the Pinellas Suncoast Transportation Authority's (PSTA)
Alternatives Analysis Project Study Committee. Mr. Mechanik will serve as the HART
liaison regarding connectivity issues as Pinellas begins to evaluate a solution
to their congestion and connectivity issues.
After hearing public testimony which included Tampa
International Airport (TIA) Interim Director, John Wheat, endorsing the study of
a Rapid Transit line into TIA, the HART Board voted to extend the West Corridor
Alternatives Analysis study area to Tampa International Airport Passenger
Terminal. The board also voted to extend the North-South Corridor beyond Skipper Road
after listening to a presentation on the potential benefits of an extension.
After deliberating feasibility, the HART board
eliminated further study of an alignment under consideration on the West Corridor. Two West Corridors options remain
under study. Three alternative paths continue to be under consideration in the
Northeast corridor. The analysis is also developing recommendations on the best
technology or mode, with bus, bus rapid transit and light rail under
consideration. Information to guide the
selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative, the alternative which best meets
the needs of the community, is scheduled to be presented to the HART Board at
the next two meetings in August. This includes ridership, travel time, constructability, land use and community considerations. Information on the
study is available on the project website - www.gohartaa.org.
The next HART Board meeting
August 2nd, 8:30 A.M.
County Center 601 E. Kennedy
Boulevard, 18th Floor
Tampa,
FL, 33602
Planning Commission Boardroom
For HART updates and to view presentations from meeting, go to
www.goHART.org.
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