FDOT Secretary Says Tampa Needs To Plan For Rail Connection

[Brian_Tampa]

As reported by the Tampa Bay Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2013/10/30/fdot-secretary-says-tampa-needs-to.html

FDOT Sec. Prasad is basically telling the political leaders here in Tampa that they need to make changes to the way potential train station areas are zoned.  That way AAF, through their related land development companies, can make investments in developing the surrounding properties.  I understand that Miami has created a special development district specifically for AAF.  If Tampa was smart, they would do the same.  I know that the land for the station that was to be part of the HSR project cancelled by Gov. Scott is mostly owned by state and local government agencies.  It is also located on the northern edge of downtown Tampa adjacent to I-275. Also nearby is the Marion Transit Center operated by HART, the county bus service.  Other new major developments are taking place just east and northwest of this site.  Hopefully the leaders of Tampa and Hillsborough County will pay attention to what Sec. Prasad is telling them. 

It is interesting that Sec. Prasad is also saying that Tampa is the "natural progression" for a future extension of AAF and not Jacksonville.  I do remember that the state did a study back in 2006 I believe that had ridership estimates for different city pairs within Florida.  Tampa to Orlando and Tampa to Miami ridership numbers were significantly higher than Jacksonville to Miami or Jacksonville to Orlando.  Maybe he is referring to this report:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rail/Publications/Plans/06VisionPlan/ExecReportFinal.pdf

AAF is basically copying the "Coastal Route" described on page 11 of the report.  I believe AAF is using this as their template - along with the ridership and engineering studies done for the HSR project back in 2010.  If Gov. Crist is elected again next year, then I believe it will be a very interesting couple of years ahead for rail transportation in Florida.

[thelakelander]

Prasad is right.  As long as Tampa has been talking about doing LRT, they should have been rezoned land to allow for greater density and infill along proposed transit corridors. As for AAF, the best thing Jax has going for it is the track is already in place.  Since TOD seems to be just as important to them as ridership, building a new 100% line to Tampa may not be as financially feasible or quick to implement.