Residents Asked To Help Design Rapid Bus Transit System

TAMPA, FL — It's been on the drawing board for years but now transportation officials are ready to hit the ground running with the Regional Rapid Transit, a bus system that uses dedicated lanes and limited stops to get commuters to their destinations faster.

The 41-mile bus line, called a bus rapid transit system, will run between Wesley Chapel and downtown St. Petersburg, primarily along the Interstate 275 corridor with stops at Tampa International Airport, downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida.

BRTs run more like trains than traditional buses, traveling in dedicated lanes with no traffic lights or stop signs to impede them. Stops are limited and riders have to prepay to use the service so there are no delays while riders rummage through their pockets for change. The buses also have no steps to hinder wheelchairs.

Buses will run every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes on evenings starting at 6 a.m. and ending at midnight.

Proponents of the BRT service say the system will not only reduce traffic but will improve air quality and provide more transportation opportunities for economically disadvantaged residents.

The Tampa portion of the project is expected to take about three years to complete and will be funded with the help of state and federal grants.

Last month, President Donald Trump awarded Pinellas County $21.8 million to begin its bus rapid transit project, connecting downtown St. Petersburg to the Pinellas County beach communities.

See related story: Trump Announces $21.8M In Funding For Pinellas Beaches Bus Plan

TBARTA's Regional Rapid Transit system will connect with Pinellas County's BRT over the Howard Frankland Bridge, which is scheduled to be widened. The bus service will then make limited stops at the Tampa International Airport, downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida.

David Green, TBARTA's executive director, is among the project's biggest supporters. He came to Tampa last year after completing a BRT system in Richmond, Virginia.

"We have a ton of catching up to do," said Green of the Tampa project. "But it allows us to take into consideration future technologies that are being developed."

Eventually, transportation officials hope to extend the service into Pasco, Hernando and Manatee counties. Similar services are being planned in Jacksonville and Miami and are currently in use in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Seattle, Cincinnati, Indianpolis, Las Vegas and San Diego.

To aid the planning process, residents are encouraged to take TBARTA's interactive survey. After a brief introduction, the survey takes 10 to 15 minutes during which residents will give input on developing a neighborhood station including its architecture, amenities, access and parking.

Stations are proposed at:

• State Road 54 - Pasco County
• Bearss Avenue - Hillsborough County
• Waters Avenue/Bird Street - Hillsborough County
• Tampa/Seminole Heights - Hillsborough County
• Himes Avenue - Hillsborough County
• 62nd Avenue - Pinellas County

For other ways to get involved, click here.