Brian Blair has turned an examination of HARTline, Hillsborough's bus system, into an unmitigated sham. The county commissioner is so keen on showing a bus system in tatters he ensured the study panel he leads was rigged to produce that very image. His dishonesty is unfortunate, for the county would benefit from a fair review of how well HART serves riders and taxpayers. But this charade falls short, and any findings from it lack credibility.
Blair's committee, from what anyone can gather, is supposed to assess how well HART serves suburban neighborhoods. That question is loaded, because mass transit exists primarily to move people in urban settings. That's what makes the economics of operating a bus and rail system work.
But Blair succeeded in convincing his board to bar Tampa city residents from serving on the study commission. Blair also won the right to hire as his consultant a former HART official who sued the agency in an employment dispute. Worse, the committee seems intent to make up its focus as it moves along. The group just formed, and already Blair has alienated key players across the political spectrum. HART's state legislative lobbyist, Tampa attorney Mary Ann Stiles, resigned last month, criticizing the study and charging that HART's constituency "obviously has no public voice in this county."
The study group was conceived as a way to placate Blair after he floated the idea to allow suburban residents to forgo funding the bus system with their property taxes. It was clear where Blair was coming from before he put the sleeper hold on his committee. Imagine if every resident could opt out of paying for police, fire protection, schools and other public essentials.
If the county is serious about improving HART, it will give its new director, Ray Miller, time to craft a plan for improving service. As she promised, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio needs take a more active and visible role defending HART in this debate. Blair is talking nonsense - but his is the only voice the public hears. If his sham becomes confused with a solution, the suburbs, which look more urban every day, will suffer with the city.
