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For decades Pinellas County has been, by far, Florida's most densely populated county, dwarfing Broward in the number of people per square mile.
The result has been horrendous traffic gridlock, which has spawned such goofy ideas as double-decking U.S. 19, once dubbed "Useless 19."
With the county of about 917,000 people essentially built out, there is not enough land to continue adding lanes to existing roads or otherwise expand road networks.
New solutions must be pursued.
This is why Pinellas residents need to decide whether to invest in a vastly upgraded transit system — including a proposed 24-mile, light-rail line from downtown St. Petersburg to Clearwater, and greatly expanded public bus service.
For Pinellas County commissioners, the task at today's meeting should be easy: Adopt a resolution that would declare their intent to put a referendum on a proposed transportation surtax on the Nov. 4, 2014, general election ballot.
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