FL: Tampa Bay Area Mayors: Transportation Problems Hurt Economic Development

The mayors of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater agreed Tuesday, as they have before, that not having a better transportation system is the most serious disadvantage the bay area has when it tries to recruit business.

That means the region should have bus rapid transit, ride-sharing, autonomous vehicles, "and, yes, for parts of the community, rail has got to be part of the solution," Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said. "Rail for urban areas is critical."

In Hillsborough, the County Commission should let voters countywide "choose for themselves what they want their future to look like," the mayor said. Similarly, he said, the Legislature should let individual cities like Tampa hold referendums on enacting a tax for transportation.

Read the complete article at http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/economicdevelopment/Tampa-Bay-area-mayors-Transportation-problems-hurt-economic-development_168884871