TBARTA Chairman Calls on Local Leaders to “Be Bold” to Solve Transportation Issues

Oct. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Tampa, FL – In remarks to the Congress of Regional Leaders this week, Ronnie Duncan, Chairman of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) urged Tampa Bay’s business and elected leaders to “Dare to be Bold” in addressing the region’s transportation and economic challenges.

Duncan called on meeting attendees to “advocate for and support a regional transportation system’’ and pointed to the success of the Central Florida region in pursuing the SunRail commuter rail line. In spite of political and economic challenges and multiple, diverse stakeholders, the community rallied around a common vision and made the project a reality, he said.

“Rather than telling each other why they could not do it, they determined and discussed how we will do it,’’ he said. “There were many challenges along the path of progress and again, rather than giving up, they chose to rally these diverse stakeholders and overcome the challenges.”

The Tampa Bay Partnership and the Florida Institute of Government at the University of South Florida sponsored the Congress of Regional Leaders for elected officials, business leaders and community stakeholders to discuss economic, political and educational issues related to job creation and economic prosperity in the Tampa Bay region.

Speakers at the event included state Rep. Will Weatherford, USF President Judy Genshaft, USF professor Dr. Susan MacManus and Stuart Rogel, President and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Duncan noted that a regional, integrated transportation system is a key driver of the economic engine that will bring new jobs and business to Tampa Bay.

He pointed to the University of South Florida, the Tampa Bay Partnership and the local legislative delegation as a powerful “three-legged stool” that can help shape a unified vision for this region - a vision that must include a strong regional transportation system.

“In our region, we have great talent, valuable assets and a broad array of transportation needs. We have to bring the stakeholders together and focus on a unified vision – whatever that is – in the transportation arena.”

“I challenge you and everyone in the seven-county region served by TBARTA to take up the sword, take bold steps, and take control of our transportation and economic future,’’ Duncan said.

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TBARTA was created by the Florida Legislature in 2007 to plan and develop a multimodal transportation system to connect the seven counties of the Tampa Bay region – Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota. Since adopting a Regional Transportation Master Plan in 2009, TBARTA has begun implementing priority projects in each of these seven counties. The Master Plan was updated this year to include airports, seaports, freight and air quality. For more information, visit www.tbarta.com.