Latvala ain’t gonna be happy: PSTA, HART boards vote to oppose merger

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Hillsborough Area Regional Transit and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority boards voted Monday afternoon to oppose state legislation aimed at merging the two county bus agencies, reports Mark Holan.

A bill would require HART and PSTA to contribute a total of $100,000 to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority to “assist and facilitate” a study of the issue.

Members of the two bus agencies, meeting jointly at HART headquarters in Ybor City, said they oppose the state compelling them to spend scarce funds on an idea that will not necessarily save money or improve service.

At the very least, they said, the state should pay for the study.

…

State Sen. Jack Latvala, a Republican who represents portions of both counties, is behind the effort. He was not at the meeting.

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com, ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.