In The News

New HART App Informs Hillsborough Bus Riders

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Bus riders in Hillsborough County can now download and access a smart phone app that tells them progress and time of arrival for buses along selected routes.

The app is designed to help alleviate frustration for those who have to wait long periods or don't know whether a bus has already made a pickup at the stop.

Read the complete story.

HART's MetroRapid Attracts Bus Riders In Tampa

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, August 06, 2013

A speedier bus route connecting downtown Tampa with neighborhoods around the University of South Florida and northeast Tampa has doubled its ridership since launching in May.

The new MetroRapid line saves time with fewer stops and technology that gives it green lights headed north and south through the city.

Read the complete story.

Getting From Here To There In Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, July 30, 2013

As commuters lament time spent on the road and businesses add up the costs in time and fuel for transporting goods and employees, the Tampa Bay region is again focusing on transportation solutions.

Additional buses and specially designated lanes for highway traffic are under consideration along with the potential for additional mass transit of some sort.

Read the complete story.

Copa Airlines Adds Tampa To Panama City Route

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The addition of Copa Airlines to travelers' options for flying back and forth between Tampa International Aiport and Central America is a welcome sign of increased global trade for Florida.

The new connection brings four flights a week between Panama City and Tampa in the first-ever route to a major Latin American hub.

Read the complete story.

Port Of Tampa Enters Auto Import Business

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Tampa Port Authority signals its ready to expand into the auto import business by signing a deal with Amports to ship cars from Mexico to the U.S. via Florida.

Importing autos through Tampa would bring more jobs and shipping to downtown Tampa.

Read the complete story.

Tampa Bay Reels In Big Companies, Lots Of Jobs

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Jobs, higher wages and more opportunities are coming to Tampa in 2014 and beyond with recent announcements surrounding big companies moving to or expanding services in Florida.

Is it any wonder the economic development leaders are feeling pretty pumped?

Read the complete Robert Trigaux column.

Reason Says Florida Bridges Safer Than Most

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Based on expenditures on road improvements and bridge replacements, Florida may be among the safest states for travel, according to a recent study by the Reason Foundation.

Florida trails only California and Texas for spending on highways while its bridges are deemed among the safest (and youngest).

Read the complete story.

New Ferry Service Connects St. Pete, Pass-A-Grille

Tampa Tribune Tuesday, June 25, 2013

A new ferry service connecting downtown St. Petersburg with the Pass-a-Grille beach area offers a scenic route under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

The ferry is designed primarily for leisure travelers and tourists, but also may appeal to may also commuters looking for an alternative to conjestion on east-west streets and roads traversing south Pinellas County.

Read the complete story.

Amazon Says It's Bringing 1,000 Jobs To Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Amazon, the online retail giant that ships products worldwide to consumers' doorsteps, is in talks with Florida and Hillsborough County officials about opening an operations center near Tampa.

If Amazon goes forward with plans to employ local workers in south Hillsborough County just off Interstate 75, Florida residents would be required to pay sales taxes for online purchases.

Read the complete story.

Competition Calls For Elimination Of Public Transportation Panel

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Part of the discussion at Emerge Tampa's recent town hall meeting focused on why Hillsborough is the only county in Florida that prohibits competition among transportation providers.

The issue came up when Vinny Tafuro told about restrictions placed on competing cab services during the GOP convention in Tampa in 2012. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and others say the regulations are outdated and need to change.

Read the complete story.

New Ferry Service Idea To Connect Tampa, Apollo Beach

Tampa Bay Times Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The latest proposal to provide ferry service connecting MacDill Air Force Base to the Apollo Beach, Riverview and Brandon communities of south and east Hillsborough comes from an Indiana company represented by former County Commissioner Ed Turanchik, now a lawyer with Akerman.

If successful, such a ferry could take hundreds of automobiles off local roads each day as military and non-military workers commute into South Tampa to work.

Read the complete story.

Planning Begins To Replace Howard Frankland Bridge

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Planners with the Florida Department of Transportation are studying how best to build a new span for the Howard Frankland Bridge connecting Hillsborough (Tampa) and Pinellas (Clearwater-St. Petersburg).

The plan is to seek public input as well as ideas from engineers and transportation experts, including the option for mass transit and pedestrian-bicycle traffic.

Read the complete story.

Tampa Asks Residents To Invision Future Nebraska Avenue

WFLA Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Never mind what Nebraska Avenue looks like today. Rethink it for the future. How can the City of Tampa meld old with new to create new spaces and a new sense of place.

That is the challenge as the Envision Tampa process focuses on Nebraska Avenue north of downtown.

Read the complete story.

Bicycle Trail To Link Florida's East, West Coasts

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Read the complete story.

Parking, Bicycle Lanes Add Safety To Ashley Drive

The Tampa Tribune Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa will soon gain parking spaces and bicycle lanes under a redesign aimed at making the street more pedestrian and two-wheel friendly.

The changes are part of Mayor Bob Buckhorn's priorities in attracting investments and people into downtown.

Read the complete story.