Fla. transit supporters cry foul over rail survey findings

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) supporters say a new poll on the “Greenlight Pinellas” campaign to build a light rail system and put more buses on the road by an opponent of the plan was designed to skew results, according to a St. Petersburg Tribune report.

Supporters say the survey, which found 45% of residents opposed to raising the sales tax 1% to pay for a new commuter train, fails to mention that the new sales tax will replace a special property tax that funds PSTA operations, adding it also focuses on the more controversial rail component of the plan and omits the fact that about half of the money raised through the new tax will go toward a 65% expansion of the county’s bus network. For the full story, click here.