FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. (May 8) – Continuing development of a regional transit plan that will connect people and places across five counties, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) today launched “Envision 2030, The Future of Transit in Tampa Bay.” The program is the next step in TBARTA’s state-mandated mission to improve transit regionwide.

“Tampa Bay continues to be one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country and regional transit is increasingly needed by our residents, workers, and visitors,” said David Green, TBARTA’s Executive Director. “Envision 2030 is the process through which we will identify and plan for world-class transit that is operationally, financially, and environmentally feasible.”

In 2017, the Florida Legislature installed TBARTA as Tampa Bay’s regional transit facilitator, serving Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas Counties, with authority to develop a 10-year transit strategy. Envision 2030 will culminate with a Regional Transit Development Plan (RTDP) covering 2021-2030 and is to be delivered to the Florida Department of Transportation by September 1, 2020. 

Envision 2030 begins with a public involvement campaign to raise awareness.

“We want to hear from the people of Tampa Bay,” Green said. “There are important decisions to be made that will shape our economic development and quality of life for decades to come.  Public involvement is the foundation for identifying transit needs and building consensus on goals and priorities.”

A transit needs survey has been posted online at www.TBARTA-Envision2030.com and is now open for public input. The site includes the opportunity to send comments and suggestions to TBARTA and sign-up for a newsletter to receive project updates. There is also more information on the Regional Transit Development Plan process including an Envision 2030 fact sheet.

In addition, over the next several weeks TBARTA will meet with the public at local events in each of TBARTA’s five county area, to raise awareness and offer survey opportunities. Currently scheduled events are:

May 11:  Hillsborough County Train Day, 10am-4pm, Historic Tampa Union Station.

May 18:  St. Petersburg Farmers Market, 9am-2pm, Al Lang Field parking lot.

May 19: Brooksville Farmers Market & Bike Rally, 9am- 3pm, 615 Old Hospital Lane, Brooksville

May 25: Bradenton Farmers Market, 9am-2pm, 400 12th Street West, Bradenton

June 1: Wiregrass Farmers Market, 10am-2pm, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel

For more information about TBARTA and Envision 2030, contact Chris Jadick, TBARTA Director of Communications, at Chris.Jadick@tbarta.com or 813-639-7743.

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