Traffic = bane of my existence
I was stuck in traffic on Lumsden Road this week when I thought: "Wouldn't it be nice to have a light rail system?"
I recently returned from a vacation in New York City, and getting around was a breeze with the subway. If only Tampa had a convenient mass transit system.
Of course, there is the HART bus system. But it would take me an hour to get to work by public transit, compared to the 10 minutes in my car. To time your potential commute, check your route on Google maps and click on "By mass transit" in the pull-down tab next to "Get directions."
But there's hope in sight. The county's Transportation Task Force is working on improvements that may include light rail, a rapid bus system, and improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians. The group plans to make a recommendation to county commissioners this fall, and the issue may make the 2010 ballot.
The Transportation Task Force is informing residents of its planning efforts and discuss how they'll be implemented and funded. Head over to one of these open house meetings (from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a presentation from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.). Here are two in our area:
Tuesday, June 16
Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Road, Riverview
Thursday, June 18
South County Regional Service Center, 410 30th St. SE, Ruskin
Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer
(Photo: I bet these guys wish they were on a light rail system instead. Times files.)
*
State Road 60 has long been a defining feature of eastern Hillsborough County: commuter thoroughfare, shopping hub and dining spot. 60 & South offers an array of news, announcements, community activities, local sporting events from the communities north of State Road 60 to the emerging communities farther south. Visit this blog daily for information about your neighborhood and community.
Saundra Amrhein covers retirement living in Sun City Center and cultural and immigration issues in Wimauma, Ruskin, Dover, Brandon and Plant City. Before working in east Hillsborough, she covered police news in Tampa; social services and government in Pasco County; and growth and development in Hernando County. She's originally from Pittsburgh and is married to a professional magician. In her free time, she practices yoga and has been working toward a master's degree in Latin American Studies at the University of South Florida. You can reach Saundra at 
Sherri Day the Brandon Bureau Chief, loves suburban life. She enjoys leaving the urban jungle behind for the peace, quiet, sound of laughing children and random wildlife in her deed-restricted community. Though still fairly new to the bay area - she moved here in 2004 - Sherri knows what makes small communities special. She was born and raised in Tifton, Ga., a small-town in the southwest part of the state. Sherri received her bachelor's degree from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She moved to Tampa from Brooklyn and lives in the 'burbs with her husband, one-year-old daughter and two cats. Share your news & views with Sherri at 
When I first came to Brandon in 1988, I thought, "There's a McDonald's here, so it can't be all bad." After a year, I moved to St. Petersburg and then Lakeland. When it became time to return to Hillsborough County in 1993, I could have picked Carrollwood, South Tampa or Temple Terrace, but the "60 " South" area just seemed like home. Fifteen years and three kids later, our roots have taken hold in Seffner like a majestic oak tree. We couldn't be happier. You can reach Ernest Hooper at 
Chandra Broadwater covers growth and development, including the areas of
Riverview and Lithia. Chandra grew up in a military
family and the suburbs make her feel right at home, bringing back memories
of a childhood spent in the back of a minivan as her mother carted the
family around to countless after-school activities. (Just as her mother
predicted, she regrets that she didn’t stick with piano.) And now that she
drives herself, she enjoys exploring the "60 & South" area and meeting
everyone along the way. You can reach her at 
Jessica Vander Velde joined the Times in 2008 after graduating from the University of Florida. She grew up in the suburbs of Tampa, planning not to return. But she's back and loving it. Nothing beats Plant City strawberry U-picks and lazy afternoons kayaking down a local river. She'll readily pass on tips about fun things to do in southeastern Hillsborough County. Jessica can be reached at 
Kevin Smetanahas lived in Brandon most of his life, and he eagerly returned to the suburbs to join the Times in November after spending six months in South Carolina reporting for a newspaper, TV station and Web site. Kevin is a graduate of Bloomingdale High and USF. He covers news in the Brandon area, but on the blog he writes about local sports -- both team and individual. He's an avid runner and cyclist and a member of the FishHawk Road Runner's Club. If you have information on athletics, you can reach Kevin at 
This is great info, thanks! I plan on being there - we have waited too long for mass transit solutions that work!
Our quality of life is impacted so negatively because of the lack of planning and allowing the developers to continue this mass sprawl.
Why would anyone stand in the way of mass transit? Is there anyone who actually wants to continue sending our American dollars to the Saudi's for their royal family to promote anti-Americanism????
Posted by: Thank you, thank you, thank you | June 15, 2009 at 11:59 AM