“I didn’t even know we had a bus. But I should be driving it.”
According to Rose Ferlita’s (former campaign) website, she currently sits on the boards of both Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) and the Public Transportation Commission. She is also currently the Vice Chair for the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee, the Commissioner of Tampa Port Authority. In November, she finished a stint on the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
Hillsborough County’s list of organizational assignments (download pdf) says Ken Hagan is on the Aviation Authority, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Public Transportation Commission, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA). He heads Hillsborough County’s Transportation Task Force!
That’s a lot of transportation stuff there. You might think that being a part of all those committees, clubs, authorities, organizations, task forces, commissions, and councils, these two would have a bit of a clue that transportation is high on the mind of some of their constituents.
You might also assume that being on these transportation related committees indicates a willingness to reach out and learn what they can about the subject. Instead, they sit in BOCC chambers, just hoping that someone will come to them to ask for a blessing on mass transit.
Since the HCBOCC will decide if mass transit should be on the ballot in 2010, Mark Sharpe suggested that the BOCC ought to begin discussing the issue. By the reaction of Ken & Rose, you could get the impression that we have all been purposefully keeping them out of the loop.
Public Transportation Commissioner Rose Ferlita:
“You guys have been meeting for two years, and now you’re coming to us?” Commissioner Rose Ferlita observed.
… Just who is this secret “we committee” and why are they only now deigning to include the county, Ferlita wanted to know.
Hey Rose, I know newspapers ain’t what they used to be, but it might be a good idea to pick one up now and again, anyway.
Transportation Task Force Chair Ken Hagan:
… The task force should be leading the discussion, he said, since commissioners ultimately decide if the issue goes to voters… “To me, I agree we need to all be at the same table,” Hagan said. “The question is: Whose table is it?”
Ah yes, Ken… Perhaps the task force SHOULD be leading these discussions. And as the CHAIRMAN of the task force, perhaps you should be taking the lead in that direction.
But you ain’t.
To Google! Search “ken hagan” transit to find 991 results, and rail for 815. Search “rose ferlita” transit to find only 679 results (rail is 467).
Try the same with Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, and you get over 3100 results for transit, and 3100 for rail.
Mayor Pam has been one of the most vocal officials in trying to move discussions of rail forward in Tampa Bay, even encouraging other governments to get moving on the idea since last summer. Unfortunately, other local boards seem hesitant to discuss the subject with any zeal, and even now, your BOCC wants to remind you that they have the lead in determining ballot items, rather than actually putting the issue on the agenda.
Rose & Ken, it actually takes some effort to be in a position of leadership on any given subject. If you want to be more involved in the discussions, I’d expect you to be proactive, and not simply hope someone asks you about it.
Alas, reactive is what goes for leadership in Hillsborough County.
crack ho
1 year ago
the bus is pretty efficient way of getting around. i used Hartline tuesday and wednesday to travel between Town and Country and downtown tampa. it took about 20 mins longer than driving. not bad at all, considering i got a lot of work done during the ride.
i would be more convinced that people would ride a train if saw a few more people on the bus. but other than myself, i only know one other person who rides the bus, ever, under any circumstances.
tommy do you ever ride on a hartline bus? i’m pretty sure you rarely, if ever, have.
steven
1 year ago
wah wah rail wah wah
Wifey
1 year ago
I used to ride the HartLine Bus everywhere after my car was stolen. It was not bad at all. The only problem riding it to work is that I have kids so if something happened and I had to pick them up I couldn’t get there fast. We tried the train and bus when we went to Orlando two years ago and that was just crazy! It took forever and we spent most the time waiting.
Wifey
crack ho
1 year ago
Hey Wifey! check this out, from Harline’s website: http://www.gohart.org/ride_guide/emergency_ride/emergency-ride-home.html
One common question many working professionals have about public transportation is what they will do when life’s little emergencies arise. How will they get home without a car if they have a sick child or have to work late?
Well, worry no more: The Emergency Ride Home program is the answer to your public transportation concerns. If at least two days a week you ride the bus, vanpool or carpool (or even ride a bicycle or walk), you can take up to 8 free taxi rides each year in cases of personal illness, family emergency or unexpected overtime. (Some restrictions apply; please call for details.)
By using another mode of transportation, rather than driving alone, you are reducing traffic and parking congestion, curbing auto emissions and improving the quality of life in our community. By providing incentives like the Emergency Ride Home Program, we hope to encourage everyone to commute the smart way!
How Do I Enroll?
To register, call Bay Area Commuter Services at (800) 998-RIDE. You’ll be enrolled in the Emergency Ride Home Program. Once registered, you’ll receive an ERH card number and fact sheet. That’s all there is to it!
so, everybody can get to their government job via Hartline! and one thing’s for sure: ya won’t have to sit next to any construction workers on their way to work, because they’re all unemployed!
Wifey, counting you, now there’s THREE people i know who, under certain circumstances, might ride a bus! WOOO HOOOO! see ya on the #2, rollin’ down NEBRASKA AVENUE!
this message brought to you as a public cervix by the crack ho.
Chris
1 year ago
I rode the HARTline buses a long time ago and occasionally do now. They really are efficient and, all things considered, comfortable. Lots of people don’t ride them because our cities aren’t laid out for buses – they’re too spread out and there’s too much walking involved after you get off the bus. Plus there are the nutbag drivers who think they’re in NASCAR making you take your life in your hands when you cross an intersection. If you’ve ever seen someone try to cross in a crosswalk *with a walk light* only to be foiled by car after car after car turning right after Miami stops, raise your hand.
George
1 year ago
Buses are a much better mode of mass transit than rail, in my opinion. Buses are more flexible in their response to changing demographics, there isn’t the huge cost of land acquisition and they are cheaper overall to operate. Even when light rail is in place and operating, buses are needed to bring riders from areas distant from the railhead.
John
1 year ago
George: Buses are only as good as the roads they ride upon. That alone describes how efficient buses in this area — not just HART but all the regional bus systems – are.
And no, widening roads further won’t improve it (as is the logic of continued transit-by-way-of-road-and-deal-with-congestion around here)
John
1 year ago
BTW — I also agree with the second poitn of your comment: Buses ARE needed. Mass transit systems are nto supposed to be one mode alone. They’re supposed to be several modes, working in coordination. Buses, trains, taxi service, etc.
The problem is that the arguments are “one way or no way” with regards to adding transit options: Improve busing and no rail; add rail but don’t plan to do anything else logistically; don’t do anything and widen roads because people want their freedom and freedom alone.
George
1 year ago
John, with more ridership of buses, the congestion on the roads diminishes. A bus with twenty riders on it removes twenty cars and trucks from the commute, not to mention dispersing the parking throughout the county.
Clyde
1 year ago
The fundamental problem we’re dealing with here is the unparalleled convenience of the personal automobile. Even with the traffic problems we have locally (Ha! You think this is bad? Try the DC metro area sometime)the auto still is superior. It offers infinite scheduling flexibility and point to point delivery which no public transportation system can offer. I don’t think we ever will get away from autos until operating costs drive people to public transportation. For awhile there, I thought we were on the way but then fuel prices came down. Not to say we shouldn’t get started, and with light rail, but progress will be very slow. It needs to be coupled with changes in zoning to encourage development around rail stations. Another problem, indicated by the latest dust-up, is that the BOCC still feels they should be running things and resent these upstart Tampans going off on their own without permission. I must admit things are better since Ronda Storms moved on to state-wide aggravation, but…
Tino
1 year ago
“with more ridership of buses, the congestion on the roads diminishes”
So what happens to congestion when you take away traffic lanes and convert them to rail?
Head down to Channelside after an event at the Forum and watch everyone try to squeeze out of there in one lane. Great planning!
Tino
1 year ago
“with more ridership of buses, the congestion on the roads diminishes”
So what happens to congestion when you take away traffic lanes and convert them to rail?
Head down to Channelside after an event at the Forum and watch everyone try to squeeze through there in one lane. Great planning!
tom chastain
1 year ago
rose ferlita is a real strong ethical politican standing up for the people of hills county telling us that the bocc is not allowed to be apart of the light rail meetings. this lady has some guts.this transportation system cost alot of money and miss ferlita is right on the mark to be with the people on this one cause its our tax dollors that are going to be paying for this and the mayor should not be talking about this in private. rose ferlita should be our next mayor she is a true culture warrior she really knows how to look out after the peoples tax dollors