I-4 woes strain superregion dream

A group of decision-makers says better transportation is vital before uniting Tampa Bay and Orlando.

By CHRISTOPHER GOFFARD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 12, 2002

LAKELAND -- On their way to discuss creating a spectacular "superregion" that would market the combined glories of Orlando and Tampa Bay, some of Central Florida's top decision-makers came face to face with the primary obstacle Friday: the choked artery that connects the areas.

With two of Interstate 4's three lanes closed for repairs, traffic ground to a crawl for miles going east from Tampa to Lakeland, where political and business leaders met at a golf club to discuss "synergy" between key cities.

"I was stuck," St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker said of the traffic. "Everyone coming over was."

The urgency of improving transportation between Tampa and Orlando was a major theme at the gathering, which included state Sen. Jim Sebesta, Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst, Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, and representatives of Bank of America, SunTrust Bank and Publix.

The gathering was hosted by Florida 2012, the group that tried to bring the Olympics to Tampa, as a way to salvage the network of people brought together by the Olympic bid. In October, the U.S. Olympic Committee cut Florida from the running to host the 2012 Summer Games. Ed Turanchik, frontman for Florida 2012, hopes the failed effort will leave a legacy of increased communication among Florida cities.

While the assembled political and business leaders expressed skepticism about some ideas on the agenda -- like the possibility of a massive amateur sports event spread between Tampa Bay and Orlando -- there was consensus on this point: One way or another, the state needs to do better than the I-4 corridor. "I think we have a crisis when it comes to transportation in this state," Hood said.

Nothing was decided at the meeting, except to reconvene soon for a daylong retreat in Lakeland to discuss how best to implement a voter-mandated high-speed rail system. With high-speed rail in place, "You can live in St. Petersburg and say, "I want to go watch the (Orlando) Magic game,' and it's just as easy as saying, "I want to go to the mall,' " Turanchik said.

St. Petersburg, Tampa and Orlando should not be competing against one another on the world stage, Turanchik said, but combine forces as a superregion in competition with other regions.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright