Continue area's 'awakening' by approving transit tax

Opinion piece by John Morse in the Tampa Tribune

I support the transit tax and could not disagree more with the shortsighted, gloom and doom prognosis of your contributor from Lutz, Sharon Calvert ("Don't be railroaded into transit tax," Other Views, Oct. 12).

I first came to Tampa in 1969, left for a tour of duty in Southeast Asia and returned permanently in 1974. Before leaving, I attended the open house for our magnificent new Tampa International Airport. Since returning, I have witnessed how public and private investments in the future of this community have transformed not only the city of Tampa but the entire Tampa Bay area into a vibrant metropolitan region.

We now have a large convention center, sports arena and modern luxury hotels in downtown Tampa sufficient to lure the Republican National Convention here in 2012.

We have a performing arts center, including three separate theaters and rehearsal facilities that are second to none.

A state of the art stadium replaced the "Ole' Sombrero."

The spring training replica of Yankee Stadium is considered by many to be the best spring training venue in the entire state. This year we added the Tampa Museum of Art and the Glazer Children's Museum alongside the completely redesigned Curtis Hixon Park. The riverside walk along the Hillsborough River is nearly completed.

To say the least, it has been exciting to watch and be a part of the awakening of this community.

None of this came without controversy, and none came without cost. Yet it is hard to imagine anyone seriously questioning the value of these investments to our community.

One fact has remained consistent throughout the past 35 years: We've been saddled with a dysfunctional public transportation system and grossly inadequate roadways.

Last summer the Tribune published a report from Forbes magazine ranking our system of urban transportation 70th in the nation. We now have an opportunity to significantly change that system.

It is an investment in the future we cannot afford to pass up.

John Morse, Tampa

For more information, please visit http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/oct/24/continue-areas-awakeningby-approving-transit-tax/news-opinion-letterday/