beautifulplanet
Lead Service Attendant
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2014
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Just 7 days until November 4, 2014 - which in many different ways might leave a lot of people excited about and impatiently waiting for that night's results regarding so many different matters.
Some rail advocates in Pinellas county, in Florida, might not only hope for their desired outcome, but also be relieved the months that lead up to the day of their referendum are over. These are supporters of a transit initiative called "Greenlight Pinellas", proposing to create a new funding mechanism to vastly improve the county's bus service as well as start building a light rail line connecting St. Petersburg, Clearwater and other communities within the county.
[Continues below "Greenlight Pinellas" concept map. ]
The local transit authority PSTA proposed a concept, and groups like Friends of Greenlight support it, while groups like "No Tax for Tracks" oppose it. Of course many people might think it's just to oppose or support any policy, especially in the months and weeks leading up to a public decision on a matter. To some it might seem in this case, the opposition went beyond just proclaiming "we oppose that policy" and left rail and bus supporters wondering how to deal with all that, as Daniel Ruth of the Tampa Bay Times explained in his column:
Ruth: As Greenlight vote nears, opponents accelerate the lunacy
Thursday, October 9, 2014 11:18am
Daniel Ruth, Times Columnist
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/ruth-as-greenlight-vote-nears-opponents-accelerate-the-lunacy/2201409
Especially incredible to some may be the last part mentioned in the column, and there is a separate article about how opponents state they can demonstrate how light-rail is a failure by showing a picture of an empty "light-rail park-and-ride lot", while actually it was the parking lot of a local arena:
Greenlight Pinellas opponents argue Denver light rail is a failure
October 23, 2014
By Joshua Gillin
http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/oct/23/no-tax-tracks/greenlight-pinellas-opponents-argue-denver-light-r/
Many might be curious to find out in a week, what the voters decided, if St. Petersburg, Clearwater and many other cities on the peninsula will see improved bus service and a light-rail system (to possibly eventually connect to Tampa) or not. Even if it is not their desired outcome, some might be relieved that some preculiar aspects of the election season are a thing of the past, while probably thinking it was still worth it, and continuing to be a rail advocate in the future.
Pinellas county's decision might also have implications on neighboring Hillsborough county's efforts to put a transit referendum including rail on the ballot in 2016 - in case Pinellas county moves ahead one can build on that success and try to coordinate efforts regionally, in case Pinellas county opposed better public transportation funding the Tampa Bay area will know that at least for now in will be on its own trying to create an attractive public transportation system.
To learn more about ideas for possible future public transportation in the Tampa Bay area there is also the advocacy group Connect Tampa Bay offering its suggestions for how to proceed. On the advocacy group's Facebook page (that already attracted more than 1,000 "likes"), there are also frequent postings with updated information and links to recent media coverage.
Some rail advocates in Pinellas county, in Florida, might not only hope for their desired outcome, but also be relieved the months that lead up to the day of their referendum are over. These are supporters of a transit initiative called "Greenlight Pinellas", proposing to create a new funding mechanism to vastly improve the county's bus service as well as start building a light rail line connecting St. Petersburg, Clearwater and other communities within the county.
[Continues below "Greenlight Pinellas" concept map. ]
The local transit authority PSTA proposed a concept, and groups like Friends of Greenlight support it, while groups like "No Tax for Tracks" oppose it. Of course many people might think it's just to oppose or support any policy, especially in the months and weeks leading up to a public decision on a matter. To some it might seem in this case, the opposition went beyond just proclaiming "we oppose that policy" and left rail and bus supporters wondering how to deal with all that, as Daniel Ruth of the Tampa Bay Times explained in his column:
Ruth: As Greenlight vote nears, opponents accelerate the lunacy
Thursday, October 9, 2014 11:18am
Daniel Ruth, Times Columnist
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/ruth-as-greenlight-vote-nears-opponents-accelerate-the-lunacy/2201409
Especially incredible to some may be the last part mentioned in the column, and there is a separate article about how opponents state they can demonstrate how light-rail is a failure by showing a picture of an empty "light-rail park-and-ride lot", while actually it was the parking lot of a local arena:
Greenlight Pinellas opponents argue Denver light rail is a failure
October 23, 2014
By Joshua Gillin
http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/oct/23/no-tax-tracks/greenlight-pinellas-opponents-argue-denver-light-r/
Many might be curious to find out in a week, what the voters decided, if St. Petersburg, Clearwater and many other cities on the peninsula will see improved bus service and a light-rail system (to possibly eventually connect to Tampa) or not. Even if it is not their desired outcome, some might be relieved that some preculiar aspects of the election season are a thing of the past, while probably thinking it was still worth it, and continuing to be a rail advocate in the future.
Pinellas county's decision might also have implications on neighboring Hillsborough county's efforts to put a transit referendum including rail on the ballot in 2016 - in case Pinellas county moves ahead one can build on that success and try to coordinate efforts regionally, in case Pinellas county opposed better public transportation funding the Tampa Bay area will know that at least for now in will be on its own trying to create an attractive public transportation system.
To learn more about ideas for possible future public transportation in the Tampa Bay area there is also the advocacy group Connect Tampa Bay offering its suggestions for how to proceed. On the advocacy group's Facebook page (that already attracted more than 1,000 "likes"), there are also frequent postings with updated information and links to recent media coverage.
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