The first annual Pinellas County Transit Summit will take place Monday, March 22, at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park.
The
event begins at 7:30 a.m. with registration and a Continental breakfast
and is scheduled to end at 10 a.m. Space is limited, and participants
are asked to register by Friday, March 18, at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce website.
After introductory remarks by Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners Chairperson Karen Seel and Steven Raymund, chairman of the board for Tech Data Corp., the program will proceed with a wide-ranging discussion of potential benefits of public transit for Pinellas County.
Among
the presentations planned is an update on high-speed rail and separate
discussions on transportation needs for local colleges and
universities, transit's effect on tourism and economic growth and
transit-oriented development.
The keynote speaker is Donald Keuth, president of the Phoenix Community Alliance. Keuth was instrumental in getting a sales tax passed to help finance the Phoenix Light Rail project, which was projected to carry 22,000 passengers per day but carries an average of 50,000 on a given weekday.
After a question and answer session, Seel will discuss plans for the Pinellas County Transportation Task Force.
For information, contact Jessica Eilerman or call 727-388-0682.
Writer: Carter Gaddis
Source: Jessica Eilerman, St. Petersburg Chamber
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