The following is a guest post from Rep.
Jeff Brandes.
Light Rail is a 19th
century answer to a 21st century concern. At a time when the public’s
distrust of their
elected officials is at an all time
high, I feel it is important to
include Pinellas residents, elected officials and transportation
experts in a thorough discussion on all the options available to address
the county’s transportation needs. Governor Scott’s veto of House Bill
865 serves as a jumping off point to restart the conversation.
First we should ask, who is asking for light rail? According to
polling commissioned by the Pinellas County Transportation Task Force it
would appear the answer is no one. The poll of likely voters showed the
support for Transit expansion is soft in Pinellas County and that an
overwhelming 96% of the likely voters who would decide on the tax
increase do not even use PSTA’s services. Armed with these results PSTA
now attempts to rebrand a tax increase into a tax swap, place the
referendum on an off year municipal election ballot to depress turn-out
and spend $300,000 of tax payer money to do so. Such a tax increase
would hoist onto Pinellas County citizens a $100 million dollar tax
increase. A tax increase of such magnitude will make Pinellas businesses
less competitive and give us the highest sales tax in the state of
Florida. I feel strongly this is yet another example of government
telling the taxpayer what they need instead of the other way around.
America’s
taxpayers too often pay the tab on expensive and ill conceived projects
by transportation authorities determined to expand light rail. Here in
our state, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority
(Tri-Rail) spent $53 million operating commuter-line rail service and
collected fares totaling only $9 million. Despite bleeding red, Tri-Rail
spent nearly $1 billion on capital improvements to double- track 71
miles of rail line and promised to attract 30,000 new riders with such
improvements. The results were that just over 13,000 weekday riders used
the train in 2008 which was an increase of less than 3,000 more users
than pre-expansion numbers in 1994. Thus, Tri-Rail spent approximately
$330,000 for each new rider it attracted. With that sort of money we can
buy each rider a lifetime supply of Pruis automobiles.
So what is the
answer? The conversation must include a thoroughly vetted discussion
that includes all options for mass transit for the region. The 21st
century has been marked by our ability to be increasingly flexible due
to the innovation of technology. Approving a fixed line rail system with
no flexibility to adjust to urban density growth patterns or new areas
of interest is like asking us to give up our Smart phones, tablets and
laptops for land lines, phone booths and the telegraph. The discussion
must include new innovations in busing such as the new-model bus
companies that have made intercity buses more efficient and cheaper than
Amtrak in the Northeastern US. Increased use of fuel efficient bus
models that are organized on a flex-schedule model that puts the buses
where they are needed most during the day. The installation of Traffic
Information systems that improve the coordination of stop lights to
improve automobile traffic flow as well as innovative ways to use
dedicated lanes for peak rush hour. And yes, improved automated
automobile technology that will revolutionize the use of the automobile.
In the end, voters
should have a choice. However, the choice should be made through the
prism of a thoroughly vetted pathway where all transportation options
have been explored. Not a decision made by unelected bureaucrats who use
tax payer funded sleight of hand methods to impose a narrowly focused
and inflexible plan upon our citizens. I stand ready to get the
discussion jump started and I look forward to the ride.
Note from S Pinellas 912:
Representative Jeff Brandes will be speaking at the Pinellas Light Rail
Forum. This is going to be a terrific Day! Don't miss this meeting!