Florida Plans New Commuter System In Tampa Bay

November 7, 2008 7:34 p.m. EST

Sarasota, FL (AHN) - The seven-county Florida state Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority plans to develop a commuter transport system using passenger rail and express buses.

The authority held forums in Sarasota, Manatee and other counties that would benefit from the three draft regional master plans. The plans present three scenarios of the commuter transport system from Crystal River to North Port.

The first proposal, which is the least expensive, will mostly use express buses and existing highways at bus-only lanes on U.S. 41 from Bradenton southward to Venice. It will construct 48 rail and bus stations.

The second proposal will keep the Sarasota-Bradenton rail service, 101 miles of rail linking Lakeland, Tampa, and Sarasota. But it will scrap rail service north of Bradenton and will be replaced by express buses, which will run on U.S. 301 and Interstate 75 to Tampa. It will construct 108 rail and bus stations.

The third proposal calls for better bus and rail service in all of the counties with emphasis on urbanized, high-density areas. It will run in 97 miles of short-distance CSX rail, with stops every 10 minutes, and 125 miles of long-distance CSX rail, with stops estimated at 20 minutes apart. The tracks run parallel U.S. 301 between Bradenton and Sarasota's downtowns.

Short-distance rail would service Bradenton and Sarasota, with bus service to North Port, Tampa and St. Petersburg. This plan requires 91 bus and transit stations.

The authority, which was newly established by Florida legislature, plans to adopt a final plan early next year. The authority was created to design a master transportation plan for the Tampa Bay region including its funding and implementation.