TBARTA names new officers with Shelton Quarles returning as chair
Tampa Bay Business Journal – by Larry Halstead Staff Writer
New officers were elected at the December board meeting of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority.
Returning as chairman is Shelton Quarles, a gubernatorial appointee.
Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard was elected vice chairman, Ann Hildebrand, Pasco County commissioner, was elected secretary and Hugh McGuire, a gubernatorial appointee, was elected treasurer.
In other news, TBARTA approved a vision statement that supports Central Florida’s efforts to develop a light rail system and discussed potential funding mechanisms, including adding a penny of sales tax in seven counties but not necessarily all at once.
The Tampa Bay Partnership recently outlined its support for the Central Florida Commuter Rail Project both as a standalone system and for its importance to the TBARTA. In a position statement, the Partnership endorsed the commuter rail, an integrated logistics center, and developing and connecting city centers through multimodal transportation.
TBARTA is tasked with providing and developing a regional multimodal transportation system that connects seven counties in the Tampa Bay area. The master plan is due to be presented to the public in February.
