St. Petersburg Times: Better transit means better jobs

A year after voters rejected an ambitious transportation package, Hillsborough County and the entire Tampa Bay region have lost serious ground on modernizing transit. HART, the county's mass transit agency, dropped its plan for light rail, lost its chief executive and pulled back on spending and major new initiatives. Rail's top political boosters have left or moved on to other pursuits. And the political climate for raising taxes has only worsened. It would be foolish to minimize these setbacks, but they also are opportunities for regional leaders to make a more compelling connection between better transit, jobs and a broader recovery.

The lingering effects of the recession made it tough last November for Hillsborough to swallow a 1-cent sales tax increase for roads, buses and rail. But the referendum cracked the ice in introducing the region to the concept of a modern transportation system. The measure passed in the city of Tampa, and it drew strong support in many conservative suburbs, where residents face costly and time-consuming commutes to work. Polls afterward showed that even opponents wanted a better plan brought back to the table. The effort also brought together political and business leaders on both sides of Tampa Bay.

For the full editorial, visit the St. Petersburg Times.