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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 23, 2003
Re: Has light rail's time arrived? story, Jan. 12.
Once again Pinellas County government is thinking about looking into mass transit as an alternative to our over-congested roadways. Once again Pinellas County government has short-sighted the entire idea because of county lines and political disputes young and old.
Just why is Pinellas County focusing on going it alone with a plan for building a light rail system? Its residents do not just commute to places in Pinellas County; nor do they all live south of Enterprise Road in Clearwater. Will someone, anyone, please seriously consider the idea of a joint venture in mass transit with Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa?
This is, after all, the "Tampa Bay" area and not the "Tampa/St. Petersburg" market, as it's often termed to express separation of the two cities. There is separation between many cities and counties in the United States and yet they work together in mass transit.
Could the Long Island Railroad work if Suffolk County, N.Y., wanted its own private rail system on Long Island? No, because Suffolk County is a suburb of New York City and that's where its citizens commute. Could Alameda County, Calif., run its own rail line and get maximum usage by keeping the line separate to San Francisco? No. That's why the system is named Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART for short).
Yet Pinellas County (and Hillsborough County for that matter) keep thinking of separate answers for joint problems. Pinellas should be working with a task force that includes Hillsborough County to make mass transit work. Being unified in planning, constructing and funding a light rail line in the area would make the entire system much more cost effective.
-- John Fontana, Palm Harbor
Re: Has light rail's time arrived? story, Jan. 12.
Before we spend millions of dollars on a light rail system, why don't we do what we can to increase ridership on the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's bus lines?
PSTA needs to have an express service between downtown St. Petersburg and downtown Clearwater, and earlier starting hours and downtown shuttles to relieve pressure on Routes 52 and 18. Special travel lanes and those devices to hold the traffic lights would be a great help as well.
If we can't increase ridership on an existing mass transit system with improved service, then it is unlikely that we will have enough ridership on light rail to make it worthwhile.
-- Joe Key, Clearwater
Re: County may form a transit authority, story, Jan. 15. Having lived in Pinellas County for the last 41 years, I have had the pleasure of hearing the county's ideas on how to fix the transportation network many times. The formation of a transit authority could solve the county's transportation problems as long as it is not made up of anyone who is currently on the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
I base this statement on MPO meetings that I have watched on the county cable channel. Almost every decision the MPO makes hinders traffic flow in Pinellas County. I have to assume that these are intelligent people who just have poor common sense and in some cases need to see a new hairstylist.
I very much look forward to hopping on the St. Petersburg Times High-Speed Rail System at the Largo Diversity Station and riding it all the way to the King Station in downtown St. Petersburg.
-- David S. Williams, Clearwater
Re: 2 cities consider naming streets for King, story, Jan. 15.
If Central Park Drive in Largo is ever renamed, I believe it should be Thom Feaster Drive. He did so much to beautify our city and help its growth.
-- Leona M. Brown, Largo
To all Canadian tourists: We appreciate your business, but please adjust your speedometers from kilometers to America's "miles per hour." Most cars are equipped with a simple switch on the dashboard, or the speedometer itself is marked for both. These simple adjustments will reduce most of the road rage you now experience from irate local drivers.
Please tell all of your fellow Canadians about this simple solution to all the horn-blowing in Tampa Bay.
-- Dan Moore, Clearwater Beach
As a recent graduate of the Citizen's Academy of Largo, I would like to thank City Manager Steve Stanton, Mayor Robert Jackson, members of the City Commission, all department heads and their staff members throughout the city, Doug Matthews and Karen Barth for a worthwhile experience.
Having lived in Largo since 1975, I've been involved in many volunteer activities and have had the opportunity to meet many city leaders and personnel. I was not aware, though, of just how dedicated and exceptional they are, but as we learned about each department through the 10-week program, the longevity, enthusiasm and pride shown from everyone from the department head down through the ranks were the aspects that impressed me the most.
Is everything perfect in Largo? No more than it is in any municipality in our country. Is there room for improvement and growth? Of course there is, and many people are working hard to right some of the areas and attitudes that need improvement.
I want to strongly encourage all Largo residents to become involved in this worthwhile program and especially challenge those who do nothing but complain or find fault, particularly at our commission meetings, or who don't even vote, to take the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of our city. For all the negative headlines you read, I think you would be surprised to hear about and experience all the good that is happening here.
I would also challenge everyone to attend their neighborhood meetings scheduled in the next few months regarding the city's strategic plan and to become part of the exciting future of Largo. Your ideas and possible solutions are needed!
-- Sue Porter, Largo