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Florida-based transportation agency From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority, or TBARTA, was a regional transportation agency of the U.S. state of Florida which was created on July 1, 2007. The transportation agency ceased all operations on December 30, 2023, after the governing board voted unanimously to disband.[1] The purpose of the agency was "to plan, develop, finance, construct, own, purchase, operate, maintain, relocate, equip, repair, and manage multimodal systems in Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties."[2] The agency coordinated its efforts with the Florida Department of Transportation to improve transportation in the Tampa Bay Area.
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (June 2018) |
| |
| Founded | July 1, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Ceased operation | December 30, 2023 |
| Headquarters | 4350 West Cypress Drive, Suite 700 |
| Locale | Tampa, Florida |
| Service area | Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Manatee County, Pasco County, Pinellas County |
| Website | http://www.tbarta.com |
TBARTA adopted its first Regional Transportation Master Plan in 2009. The inaugural master plan identified the vision for the regional transit network. An update was completed in 2011 that introduced a regional freight and a regional roadway network to the plan.
The 2013 Master Plan Update was a minor update to refine all three networks, and incorporate the progress made locally and regionally towards implementing the regional vision.
The 2015 Master Plan Update was developed by TBARTA’s Board and Committees in collaboration with the West Central Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Chairs Coordinating Committee (CCC) — representing each of the region’s MPOs and TPO. The 2015 Update ensures consistency with the MPOs’ Long Range Transportation Plans (LRTPs) and updates the CCC’s Regional LRTP.
For 2015, TBARTA and the CCC eliminated duplication of efforts for the Master Plan and Regional LRTP Updates by making them one and the same.
During its 2017 legislative session, the Florida Legislature installed TBARTA as Tampa Bay’s regional transit facilitating arm. In March, 2018, Gov. Rick Scott authorized $1 million allowing the authority to develop a business strategy to implement regional transit.[3]
On June 22, 2018, Executive Director Ray Chiaramonte announced his plans to resign, due to his decision to run for Hillsborough County Commissioner.[4]
In September 2018, David Green, former CEO of the Greater Richmond Transit Company, was named as the new executive director, replacing Ray Chairmonte.[5]
In June 2020, TBARTA released another master plan for fiscal years 2021-2031 marketed as Envision 2030: The Future of Transit in Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) was disbanded on December 30, 2023, after the governing board voted to do so unanimously.[6] The reasons for the disbanding of the agency was due to a lack of state funding.[7] According to Florida State Representative Jeff Holcomb, in a email to the Tampa Bay Times the representative said the agency had “unrealistic transportation options, like unmanned multi-passenger helicopters.” And that the agency “tried to gain access to CSX rail lines, which never materialized and we heard Hillsborough and the city of Tampa refuse to work with the authority.” [8] The Florida House and Senate had bills to dismantle the agency at the time of the disbanding. The counties that contributed funds to the agency were reimbursed with the funds left in the TBARTA account which was estimated to be around $200,000. [9]
 | This article needs to be updated. (June 2018) |
As of 2023, TBARTA does not operate any transit system, but the agency was discussing developing various modes of premium transit service, including express bus, bus rapid transit, light rail, and commuter rail.[10][11]
In 2017, The Florida Legislature renamed the organization to The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority.
In November 2018, TBARTA's board approved the Regional Transit Feasibility Plan, with a focus on establishing a 41-mile, bus-rapid transit option connecting Wesley Chapel to St. Petersburg via Interstate 275. The project is designed to serve as a catalyst for other transit options designed to reduce congestion on roads.[12]
As of 2019, TBARTA managed a range of commuter services in the Tampa Bay region, designed to help commuters save money, reduce traffic congestion, and help the environment, These services include Vanpool, Carpool, BikeBuddy, a regional school commuter program, and an emergency ride home program.
After the Regional Transportation Master Plan was adopted in 2009, several high-priority corridor studies were initiated by TBARTA, including:[13]
In cooperation with its regional partners, TBARTA identified eight Regional Priority Projects for 2015, based on factors such as connectivity, regionalism, ability to implement, mobility, and support, among others. These projects are:[14]
On February 28th, 2022, the Suncoast Parkway 2 (phase 1) extension opened. It extended the previous terminus of US. Highway 98 in Hernando County to State Road 44 in Citrus County.[15]
Managed lanes are an important part of step-by-step implementation of the regional transportation vision. Managed lanes are commonly referred to as "express lanes", where operational strategies such as pricing, vehicle eligibility, and/or access control are implemented to regulate demand and utilize available capacity. Examples of managed lanes include toll lanes, reversible lanes, value priced lanes, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, and thru lanes (where managed lanes on a toll road are not an extra toll). The TBARTA Managed Lanes network includes the existing toll facilities in the region as well as a mid-term and long-term network of managed lanes identified by the TBARTA Master Plan and by FDOT.
On April 30, 2010, TBARTA merged with Bay Area Commuter Services, the state-funded provider of commuter options programs in five of the seven TBARTA members counties (Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas). In doing so, TBARTA became the official Tampa Bay Area regional provider of commuter options including: carpool, vanpool, Schoolpool, Bike Buddy, Emergency Ride Home (ERH), remote work, compressed work schedule, and commuter benefits.[16]
The One Call, One Click program underscores transportation support needs and services for veterans, through a $1.1 million grant from the Federal Transit and Veterans Administrations. The aim of the grant is to better connect veterans, military families, the disabled, and regular citizens with the available transportation resources across the seven-county region, in one convenient online and call-center portal. Work continues on this program, with staff working to identify transportation service providers, contract services for call center activities, and develop a more robust online element. TBARTA was also successful in obtaining a secondary FTA grant to be used to promote and market the One Call/One Click program. The funds must be expended by September 2017.
Citrus County Transit, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), FDOT District One Commuter Services, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), Hernando County MPO, Hillsborough County MPO, Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT), One Bay, Pasco County MPO, Pasco County Public Schools, Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT), Pinellas County MPO, Pinellas Realtor Organization, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), Polk County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), Sarasota-Manatee MPO, Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT), Tampa Bay Partnership (TBP), Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC), Tampa Downtown Partnership, Hernando County Transit (TheBus), West Central Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating Committee (WCFCCC).
The governing board of TBARTA has 17 members (15 voting members and two non-voting advisors). The voting members consist of the following:
The members appointed by the respective Commissions, TBARTA MPOs CCC, or Mayors serve two-year terms and may serve no more than three consecutive terms. The Governor-appointed members serve three-year terms and may serve only two consecutive terms.
The TBARTA Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is made up of residents and business persons from around the region. Members are appointed by the TBARTA Board members and volunteer their time to advise the Board on a range of issues that affect TBARTA and the region.
The TBARTA Transit Management Committee (TMC) is made up of the region’s transit agency directors, who advise the Board on implementation of the Regional Transportation Master Plan.
TBARTA maintains an ongoing public conversation about regional transportation, via social media on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. During periods of work to update the Regional Master Plan, TBARTA also holds telephone-based town hall meetings, which garner thousands of participants. The public is always invited to TBARTA's regularly-scheduled Board and Committee meetings as well.
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