Fla. HART's chairman thinks commuter rail may not be best option

TAMPA — As the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority prepares to conduct a feasibility study of all “premium transit” options for the region, its board chairman isn’t sure that purchasing CSX railroad lines and converting them for passenger traffic will benefit enough people to offset the cost, The Tampa Tribune reports.

A strong proponent for bus rapid transit, the board’s chairman, Mike Suarez, said he believes there may be a better path to address roadway congestion and give commuters more options.

The idea of converting two CSX routes into commuter rail has created a lot of excitement recently, with numerous local officials ready to jump on board. Under the CSX proposal, the Florida Department of Transportation would own, maintain and dispatch the lines for commuter use. CSX would retain perpetual freight rights. For the full story, click here.