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Friday afternoon, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined Rep. Kathy Castor, Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard and business leaders from across the region to discuss transportation at the offices of the Tampa Bay Partnership. (Tampa Bay On Track is a project of the Tampa Bay Partnership.)
On the possibility of a long term transportation funding bill, Sec. LaHood was “pessimistic” about a bill passing Congress. In the Senate, a two-year bill with bipartisan support is likely to be approved. The House is still working on a five-year bill with a much lower amount of funding for each year. President Obama prefers a six-year bill, paid for by existing funds and half of the funds that had been budgeted for the Iraq War.
For projects in the region, Sec. LaHood expressed optimism.
In response to Mayor Hibbard’s presentation of the Pinellas light rail proposal, Sec. LaHood said he thought that Pinellas was “well positioned” for New Start funds. But a regional vision and creativity will be necessary to secure federal support.
“Put your creative hats on, think outside the box,” Sec. LaHood said. “Don’t send us two or three ideas, send us one.”
Sec. LaHood also suggested that Hillsborough not give up on light rail and look to Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Portland as examples of cities to follow. Portland was notable, as it has become a center of transit related manufacturing, including building streetcars.
 Tampa Bay Partnership President Stuart Rogel (L) speaks with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano picked up where Mayor Hibbard’s presentation left off. Lopano continues to envision Tampa International as a future rail hub, as an evolution of the rail transit created by TIA’s people movers.
“Part of our master plan is to take back the role of being a rail airport,” Lopano said. “We see ourselves as part of driving the rail ideas.”
Sec. LaHood also discussed funding the U.S. Department of Transportation has secured for ports and freight. Funding supported the I-4 / Selmon Port Connector project and upgrades to CSX rail lines. In the case of Port of Tampa, funding has enabled the port to keep their channel depths consistent throughout the year, which is unlike many major ports.
It would have been impossible for Sec. LaHood to avoid the high speed rail discussion, considering the role the Tampa Bay Partnership and the leaders around the table had in keeping high speed rail alive. Sec. LaHood was just as incredulous as business leaders were following the rejection of the project by Governor Rick Scott.
“I’ve only met one person who didn’t want that rail line,” Sec. LaHood said of Scott. “That project was probably the best one out of the bunch, including California and the Northeast. And it would have been such an innovative project.”
Sec. LaHood left encouraging more creativity, bipartisanship and community actions in seeking federal support for projects across the region. He also made clear that transportation options will be necessary for the future of Tampa Bay.
“People want to live in communities where they can walk or ride bikes or take light rail,” Sec. LaHood said. “People want more alternatives. People want more options.”
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