Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio: “We must have a state-of-the-art light rail system to be competitive in the 21st century.”
With plans for a federally funded high-speed rail line linking Tampa and Orlando on the fast track, some of the Tampa Bay area’s most powerful political and business interests are pushing to secure funding for a connecting light rail system. But with local and state governments facing continued budget deficits across the board, those hopes rest on Hillsborough County citizens footing the bill. #
That means legions of taxpayers and anti-tax groups need convincing. #
In November, residents of the state’s fourth-largest county will vote on a penny sales tax referendum, which, if approved, would mean an increase to 8 cents on the dollar. Of the funds generated, 25 percent would go to road improvements and the other 75 percent to increased bus service and a light rail system. #
Construction of a light rail system has proved the most controversial portion of the referendum — anti-tax groups doubt claims that light rail will succeed. #
“I think there are a lot of sunny-day scenarios being put forward that people are going to pay to ride something like this, but I just don’t see it happening,” says Sharon Calvert, president of the Tampa Tea Party and a grassroots campaign against the referendum, notaxfortracks.com. #
Convincing Calvert to vote for a tax hike may be a lost cause, but there is a group of powerbrokers in Tampa hoping nearly $1 million in campaign contributions and a lot of town hall meetings will turn the tide for others, despite the area’s economic woes. #
“This is still a very difficult economy, so we are working to make our case,” says former congressman Jim Davis, who now works for Tampa’s Holland & Knight law firm. #
Davis is a member of Moving Hillsborough Forward, a group made up mostly of business interests in the Tampa Bay area. The organization has raised more than $975,000 in campaign contributions, with the goal of making the case for light rail. #
Contributors include Davis’ firm Holland & Knight ($25,000), Regions Bank ($25,000) and Tampa Electric Company ($40,000). Sports interests have also donated. The Tampa Bay Rays gave $15,000, and Raymond James Financial – which operates the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ stadium – donated $50,000. #
Moving Hillsborough Forward also has political support from the likes of Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who is making the rounds at town hall meetings in and out of the city pushing for the sales tax referendum. #
Proponents of light rail are also feeling the pressure from another entity that wants to see it happen: the federal government. #
That because construction plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Tampa and Orlando are already well underway — with surveying, soil sampling, and real estate appraisals along I-4 in progress. President Barack Obama awarded the state $1.25 billion in stimulus money to get the project done. #
But it is going to cost $2.6 billion to build the 84-mile high-speed rail line, leaving the state to come up with the rest to have the project up and running — projected to come in 2015. #
“When you look at the state budget, it’s not going to be easy,” Davis says. “But the bottom line is they will find a way because with this funding coming in, it has to get done.” #
That sentiment also goes for light rail in Hillsborough. The high-speed rail stop planned for downtown Tampa needs to connect to light rail that can transport riders into the heart of Tampa and Hillsborough County. #
When asked if there is pressure from the federal government to construct light rail, Davis says, “Of course, of course, there is.” #
“This really isn’t if, but when, this is going to happen. First, let me say I think the referendum will pass, but if it doesn’t, we will try again until we find a way,” he adds. #
Even with a sales tax increase still up in the air, government entities continue to spend money to study the costs of construction and plan routes for light rail. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit approved nearly $2 million for a study last year, hoping to present plans to voters before the November election. #
The debate over the sales tax increase is becoming a campaign talking point in state and local races as well. #
It is a factor in the state Senate District 12 race between Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman and state Rep. Kevin Ambler. Norman – who voted no in a losing effort to block it from going to the November ballot – still opposes it. Ambler is for it. #
“I just think in this economy, with people suffering like they are, this is the worst time to be raising people’s taxes,” Norman says. #
The issue is also taking center stage in the Hillsborough County Commission District 7 Republican primary, a battle between incumbent Mark Sharpe and challenger Josh Burgin, who has made opposing the tax the center of his campaign. #
Sharpe – who is in favor of the sales tax increase and voted to put the referendum on the ballot – did not return a phone call for comment. Burgin warns that raising taxes in anticipation of the Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail is a gamble. #
“I will be surprised if that project will even be completed,” he says. “I want to see where the state is going to come up with $1.2 billion.” #
Tampa Mayor Iorio says high-speed and light rail plans should be considered by voters as separate issues. She says light rail is essential regardless of what happens with the high-speed line, in order to solve the region’s extreme transportation challenges. #
Iorio is one of the biggest advocates for light rail, and if voters approve, it could be a legacy moment for a mayor who will leave office due to term limits in 2011. #
“Even if there were no plans for high-speed rail, we would still be doing the same thing,” says Iorio. “We must have a state-of-the-art light rail system to be competitive in the 21st century.” #
