Leaders from throughout Orange County rejected a proposal put forth to try to consolidate authority in transportation management. While the idea was to try to get Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties to try to coordinate their transportation plans more closely, suspicions of funding redirection were clearly a concern.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-regional-toll-agency-20121113,0,6097196.story (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-regional-toll-agency-20121113,0,6097196.story)
A proposal for a regional transit authority that would take over Metro Orlando's road-building agency was largely rejected Tuesday by the Orange County Commission. "I see a lot of risk. I'm not sure I see a lot of benefit to it," said Commissioner Ted Edwards, who added later, "We should use all of our clout to try and reject it."
The concept was presented to the board by Jim Harrison, the county's top transportation expert. But Harrison provided few real details, saying such basics as how the governing board would be appointed and how money would be spent had yet to be worked out. Harrison was talking about a tentative plan that has been in the works for months and has the backing of Republican state Sens. Andy Gardiner of Orlando and David Simmons of Altamonte Springs.
Gardiner, the Senate's incoming majority leader, has talked often of bringing together officials from Seminole, Osceola and Orange counties to oversee transportation in the area. He has not offered many specifics but said the arrangement could force the communities to work together to improve clogged roads and support the planned SunRail commuter train. He previously considered folding the Orlando authority along with three other road agencies into a division of the Florida Department of Transportation. He eventually rejected that plan, which was introduced during the Senate legislative session last year but went nowhere. Gardiner could not be reached for comment.
The director of Orlando's expressway authority, Max Crumit, would not comment directly on the plan, saying it was up to his board to take a stand. But, after listening to the comments of commissioners, Crumit said, "to relinquish control [of toll money] runs inherently against their charge of protecting our county and its residents." The expressway authority raises money primarily through tolls it charges motorists to ride on 105 miles of roads. Last year, the agency brought in $286 million.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who also serves on the authority board, said she worries a regional outfit would take money from the expressway system for projects in other counties. That possibility "leaves me with an uncomfortable feeling," she said.
Commissioner Fred Brummer said he only had one question about the proposition: "Will they [Seminole and Osceola] bring some money to the table?" About 60 percent of the drivers who use authority roads live inside Orange, with Seminole providing 11 percent and Osceola 5 percent, authority records show.
"They love to work where the jobs pay real money, and that is in Orange County," Brummer said.
No legislation has been offered as yet for a regional authority. It would have to be passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott to take effect.
Just funding redirection? Ha!
This is everyone hunched over their piece of the pie and guarding it like a hungry dog. This is everyone entrenched with the attitude "Don't mess with my pile of shit".
^Perhaps. But at the same time, you'd think if they wanted Commissioners to vote on creating something this important, they'd have had bothered to have a few details. I think a specific plan would be in order before it would even be considered. You cannot expect any elected official to vote for something like that in good conscience without knowing how it's going to work. Or at least you'd hope they wouldn't.
They may just be protecting their money. But my hat's off to them for not giving it away on some vague, half-baked idea. At least in this instance it appears to have been the responsible thing to have done.
Gosh I can't imagine why you wouldn't want a regional transit authority that operates independently of any of the individual communities it serves, just look how well JTA turned out. What could possibly go wrong?
well they kind of already have a regional transit authority...it is called Lynx.....and it operates pretty well
Quote from: tufsu1 on November 16, 2012, 08:26:25 AM
well they kind of already have a regional transit authority...it is called Lynx.....and it operates pretty well
Your response omits the most important fact. Since when does Lynx have control over roadway spending, as this proposed nightmare would have?
The north Florida regional transportation authority study recommendations will be presented to the legislature. Their website: http://www.northfloridartsc.com/Pages/default.aspx which includes info about the commission and has the draft report (under Recommendations).
So we move from JTA to mega-JTA... Oh the humanity!
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on November 16, 2012, 02:27:11 PM
Quote from: tufsu1 on November 16, 2012, 08:26:25 AM
well they kind of already have a regional transit authority...it is called Lynx.....and it operates pretty well
Your response omits the most important fact. Since when does Lynx have control over roadway spending, as this proposed nightmare would have?
umm..your response mentioned a regional transit authority...I was just pointing out thet one already existed
Quote from: Ocklawaha on November 17, 2012, 10:33:52 AM
So we move from JTA to mega-JTA... Oh the humanity!
Would JTA's structure been more successful if it had better leaders than the ones it had before or is it's structure as a Mega Independent Agency it's downfall?
If you were in charge, what kind of agency would you want, JTA as it exists today or one piece of a split agency?
Quote from: cityimrov on November 17, 2012, 08:40:46 PM
Quote from: Ocklawaha on November 17, 2012, 10:33:52 AM
So we move from JTA to mega-JTA... Oh the humanity!
Would JTA's structure been more successful if it had better leaders than the ones it had before or is it's structure as a Mega Independent Agency it's downfall?
If you were in charge, what kind of agency would you want, JTA as it exists today or one piece of a split agency?
If the leadership was more holistic in their approach and strategy instead of only looking at roads and buses (which need road support to run) and worked better with city planners for TOD, I think it would function just fine as they are.