Tens of Thousands Join Transportation Referendum TeleTown Hall Meetings

September 2010 – (Tampa, FL) – Community leaders have just finished their first round of TeleTown Halls about the transportation referendum on the Nov. 2  ballot, and answered detailed questions on the specifics of the plan with 14,845 Hillsborough County residents participating on the six calls.

“Our goal for this first round of calls has been achieved,” said Gary Sasso, chairman, Moving Hillsborough Forward. “We provided very specific information to the community about transportation improvements for their part of the county, as well as a broader perspective on the jobs and corridor development investment that can be expected when this passes.”

Calls were scheduled in communities throughout the county between late July and early September. In addition to asking questions and listening to their neighbors’ questions about the transportation referendum, participants were asked to vote on whether or not they plan to support the referendum. A significant majority of participants said they will vote for the transportation referendum.

Each call was one hour, and about 20-25 community members were able to have their questions answered live during the call. Community leaders including Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio; former United States Congressman Jim Davis; Ernest Coney, Chief Operating Officer, CDC; Rhea Law, CEO and Chair of the Board of Fowler White Boggs P. A.; Michael Peterson, Governmental Affairs Counsel to the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors and State Rep. Janet Cruz (District 58) answered callers’ questions.

Community leaders explained to residents how they can help support improved transportation including expanded bus service, road improvements, light rail, and increased pedestrian and bicycle lanes. Questions were asked on a wide variety of topics, including jobs, cost of service, planned routes, new bus technology, and many more.

Calls were divided geographically so that questions regarding plan details, such as specific routes within a community, could be addressed. In addition, callers were able to leave a message if they weren’t able to have their question answered live during the call, and the campaign responded to hundreds of such questions. Another convenient way to continuing asking questions is by filling out the online form on the “Contact Us” page of www.movinghillsboroughforward.org.

Audio of the calls can be heard online now at https://www.movinghillsboroughforward.org/events.aspx for the following communities:

·       Brandon

·       East Tampa

·       New Tampa, University, Temple Terrace

·       South Tampa

·       SouthShore

·       West Tampa

“We appreciate the thousands who took time to learn more about the specifics of the plan using this TeleTown forum to share information about the referendum and answer questions,” said Sasso. “We have more calls planned for later this month, and look forward to continuing to talk about what this means for new jobs, increasing transportation options, and attracting billions of investment to our community.”

Moving Hillsborough Forward is a grassroots coalition of Hillsborough County residents, neighborhoods, environmentalists, businesses, civic groups and community leaders determined to build a modern transportation system that will include expanded bus service, pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, road improvements and light rail. Check out www.movinghillsboroughforward.org for more information.

For more information, please visit http://madduxpress.com/2010/09/13/tens-of-thousands-join-transportation-referendum-teletown-hall-meetings-10649