Business groups oppose light-rail transportation

Two business associations vote to oppose planners proposals to build a ground-level or elevated monorail system along Fourth or Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) streets.

By ANDREW MEACHAM

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 18, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Business owners on Fourth and Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) streets last week came down hard on light-rail transportation.

In recent months, a committee of residents, elected officials and others has studied the possibility of a ground-level rail or elevated monorail system connecting St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Advocates point to cleaner air, reduced traffic, and greater mobility for people who do not own cars. Planners have identified Fourth, Dr. M.L. King and 16th streets as possible rail conduits to south St. Petersburg.

The Fourth Street Business Association, meeting Wednesday at Fourth Street Cigars and Tobacco, passed a resolution opposing either type of rail transportation. Critics noted that such a system could cost from $10-million to $100-million per mile, paid for in part by a proposed gasoline tax of 5 cents a gallon.

"The handful of people who aren't paying for it are the ones making the most noise," said Fourth Street association president Ginny Lomagno, a broker for Arvida Realty Services.

Mark Taber, vice president of the M.L.K. Street Business District, said that business owners he has talked to do not want a rail line coming down their street.

Two-way traffic is another story. Tampa Bay Engineering, the firm commissioned to study adding southbound traffic to Eighth Street and northbound traffic to Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) Street along sections that are currently one-way, will be ready by late July to brainstorm with residents and local businesses. The city paid $40,000 for the study. Transportation director Angelo Rao will review the firm's report and make a recommendation to the City Council.

The concept, three years in the making, is popular among business owners.

"We just want the business district along M.L.K. to thrive," Taber said. "And if you drive up and down there, you can see it's not. It's just a racetrack."

Model boaters get to stay at Ruby Lake

Thursday night's City Council meeting got off to a slow start when members went round and round about radio-controlled boats on Ruby Lake. A proposal by Kathleen Ford to restrict the hobbyists to Woodlawn Lake failed. The council then voted 5-1 to allow the model boaters access to either lake, but restricted their hours of operation to 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Jay Lasita, Renee Flowers, Frank Peterman, Bill Foster and Bob Kersteen voted in favor of the ordinance. Ford voted against it.

Installation of traffic calming devices delayed

Residents waiting for traffic calming in 23 neighborhoods will have to wait a little longer. The Engineering and Stormwater department has taken over the job of installing the traffic humps, bumps, plateaus and other measures aimed at slowing down speeders. Once scheduled for this summer, the completion date looks more like December or January, Rao said. "The transition has caused some confusion, but I think we're getting it straightened out."

Lighting aimed at curbing prostitution

The city intends to shed some light on prostitution along Ninth Avenue N, from Fourth to Ninth Street. The 60-foot-tall "acorn lights," a street lamp design similar to those along Coffee Pot Bayou, should be in place within several weeks, said Evelyn Rosetti, program manager of the public works administration. The new lighting will remove the shadowy canopy afforded by trees, she said, thus discouraging prostitution and other crimes.

Meetings

BROADWATER: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 3734 34th St. S. Topic: Broadwater Park.

CENTRAL OAK PARK: Tuesday, 7 p.m. (CrimeWatch 6:30). Speaker: Denise Whitacre, Home Depot. Topic: hurricane preparedness.

COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS: Wednesday, 7 p.m. The St. Petersburg Times auditorium, 490 First Ave. S.

JAMES CLEARVIEW RESIDENT ASSOCIATION: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. 1050 Third Ave. N, Apt. K-2. Open forum.

JUNGLE TERRACE: Monday, 7 p.m. Walter Fuller Community Center, 7891 26th Ave. N. Speaker: fire Chief Jim Callahan.

NORTH SHORE: Monday, 7:30 p.m. (7 p.m. social). Westminster Presbyterian Church, 126 11th Ave. NE. Speaker: representative from Beef O'Brady's.

PERKINS: Monday, 7 p.m. Outdoors, 15th Avenue S and 25th Street. Open forum.

SNELL ISLE: Tuesday, 7 p.m. Snell Isle Woman's Club, 40 Snell Isle Blvd. NE. Topic: Stovall's Landing development.

UNIVERSITY PARK: Thursday, 5:30 p.m. University of South Florida, Bayboro campus, Coquina Hall, Room 231A. Parking allocated in Lot 12, Sixth Avenue S and Second Street. Open forum.

UPTOWN: Thursday, 7 p.m. Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N. Speaker: City Council member Kathleen Ford.

WINSTON PARK: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. North Branch Library, 861 70th Ave. NE. Open forum.

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