County Ponders Tax for Bus Rapid Transit
How much would you pay for a bus that comes every ten minutes?
Photos
Sarasota County Commissioners Monday in a workshop pondered the finances of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system between the Airport and the Southgate Shopping Center at Siesta Drive, and came up about $7 million short.
As always the devil is in the funding details. The federal government could devote a maximum of $75 million towards the $100 million project. The state could pick up half of the remainging $25 million, leaving Sarasota County to find the other $12.5 million.
The county already has earmarked $5.5 milion to the project, leaving it about $7 million short. Plus the county would pay the $1.5 million annual operating budget.
“We’re not looking for a financial decision today, but guidance to help shape our presentation” said Rob Lewis, executive director of planning and community development. He’ll come back in late January or early February to update commissioners with better estimates.
Steve Botello, the interim chief financial planning officer, presented a couple of options for commissioners to fill the gap.
One would be a sales tax for regional transportation. It would require public approval – like the three surtax referendums already approved.
“The transit tax could be up to one percent, and require a majority vote of the electorate,” said Botello. “It could be for transit, roads and bridges. A full one percent would raise about $54 million annually.”
Some of that could be used to directly support Sarasota County Area Transit, liberating monies used now from the general fund.
Botello had another alternative – the public service tax on electricity, natural gas, LP gas and water. This could be adopted by ordinance without the need for a referendum. Cities use this tax frequently. The maximum levy would be 10 percent, and that would raise $15.5 million annually.
“Staff is not recommending any of these,” Lewis said.
The BRT route would follow the old Seminole Gulf Railroad roadbed to Orange Avenue, then divert to the downtown bus transfer station, and then tie into U.S. 41 down to Siesta Drive. The 8.7-mile route could handle near 3,000 daily riders, said County Transporation Manager Tony Beckford. Buses would come every 10 minutes during rush hour, and every 15 minutes during off-peak hours.
Commission Chair Nora Patterson urged staffers to talk with Manatee County. “The BRT doesn’t make long-term sense unless Manatee County is doing the same.” The two counties do cooperate on transit, using a common fare card system and jointly operating a route connecting Sarasota with Bradenton.
Commissioner Joe Barbetta said, “It’s imperitive to get the city [of Sarasota] to the table. Their land-use decisions [along the BRT route] are critical to the success of this program.”
Last month during a joint city-county meeting, Sarasota City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo said, “I want to discuss the potential of another joint meeting on transportation issues, SCAT, the BRT, the downtown circulator. Is there any concensus?”
City and county commissioners agreed. On Monday commissioners said they would hold their workshop first, in late January or early February, and then meet with the city once the details began to firm up.
Proofisinthepudding
6:36 am on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Here we go again, more taxes...... Stop and stop NOW! People do not have jobs, people are losing or lost their homes and you want to create projects that require more taxes. Exactly where are your heads? TYPICAL GOVERNMENT ! Endless money to spend, no responsibility for your decisions, no reprocussion for your action's. It must be nice to have a high paying job without actually having no way to be fired........
STOP SPENDING!!@!@!!@@@@@
Rob mundy
7:59 am on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
I think it is great to see some leadership in planning that will create a working infrastructure for our future. Maybe the people who always blame government for all our problems will use this bus to the airport and go to the 3rd world where their dreams of limited government can be fully realized.
Proofisinthepudding
8:07 am on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Really, you want government expansion? You don't think they are in our lives daily enough? Third world countries are only one government that owns everything and everybody. Government was not created to own homes, make loans or tax us to death.
They were meant to have limited powers.
The elected officals make the rules, they do not have to ask your or my approval. Look at their pay scales, benefits, expense accounts and all go without responsibility of decision.
These are things they themselves voted in, not the common people. It seems that once they get into office, the good ole boy kicks in and the common problems of the day are forgotten. Why? Because they themselves do not have live the same problem daily.
Lets do it this way, you pay all the taxes you want and be a good citizen. I on the other hand pay the taxes I deem are responsible.
Lois A Levin
8:44 am on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
We need to pay for this, using whatever approach can be shown to be most palatable to voters. Sarasota must continue to improve the bus system for current users and to increase ridership; this will offer people greater mobility and decrease traffic congestion, which will also conserve natural resources.
Proofisinthepudding
8:54 am on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
I would like to ask the cost of the project, the projected revenue and cost of maintenance? You would be better off having people call the office to get a free lift somewhere. I have never ever seen a scat bus filled or even half full.
This is what I am talking about. They go for the gold instead of easing into doing this stuff. Building a new terminal on Catllemen Rd. For what? Huge buses with no people in them, payroll, maintenance, start up cost. Endless......
Lets see the numbers.......................................................................
canary
9:12 am on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Public transportation unless you have the customer base will not be successful. Go to the food stamp office, the health clinics and watch how those "poor" people arrive. It's in a car not the bus. Enough said.
Rob mundy
5:27 pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
I believe this is meant to be a more direct rapid line. Not the more slow 50 stop route. More people would take a bus if it was more direct and fast. The transfer station on Cattlemen is meant to tie multiple areas together to form a multi-city line ultimately, at some point to tie in to a potential rail network. This may seem like a dream but some people feel that alternatives to cars will become necessary as some point in the future. You probably don't understand what makes 3rd world so 3rd worldly. It is the lack of planning and infrastructure like roads, bridges, electricity, running water, sewers, airports, police, fire departments, regular mail, etc. These are the things that local and state governments provide to show business and industry that we are ready to be part of a team in a fully functioning modern capitalistic democracy. Taxes have never been lower in the U.S. . The third world doesn't have high taxes either. It's not that higher taxes will make us a better country, using money effectively should always be the rule, but cutting us down to the bone will not help us be competitive in the global economy. If we think cutting education or neglecting our infrastructure to shrink government will lead to growth, that is like a farmer believing that starving his crops of nutrients and water will make him more money. efficiency yes but not blind belief that government doesn't play an important role in a properly functioning city, state, and nation.
Proofisinthepudding
7:46 pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Good comments, but I stand on the belief that private enterprise could do a better job then the government at any thing. Planning on the future is one thing, putting it into action and paying out is another. This is not the time to spend money that people do not have.
People are suffering to pay bills, keep their homes, provide for their families and yet the local government is putting in play grounds expanding bus routes, building community centers, new housing.
You keep speaking about third world countries. They are ruled totally by their government. That is the reason they are third world countries.
The government was meant to stay out of your business, it was meant to protect your rights.
Try and not pay your taxes and see who puts you in jail or takes your home. It is time that the politicians realize they do not have an open checkbook.
I could go on and on how our liberties have been slowly taken away. You have license taxes, food taxes, home owners taxes, clothes taxes, car taxes, hotel taxes, double/triple taxation of used items, you need a permit to build just about any structure, fence, cut a tree to list a few.
So you can have a total government ruled country if you like. I prefer limited government that serves the people, not the other way around
Rob mundy
10:19 pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2011
We are all struggling right now. Who is going to help reinflate the economy? More war? No. The time to cut is after healthy growth is in place not when it is just barely beginning to recover. As the economy picks up in earnest, money will flow in and less(unemployment benefits, food aid,etc.) will flow out. then if reasonable people can find savings they should cut taxes where ever they can. Snuffing out investment now not only won't help us fiscally in the long term it will make things worse in the short term by placing an additional drag on the economy. When you speak of the holly grail of private enterprise remember that the first second and third goal of private business is to make a profit. Do you expect the oil companies to repave the roads and build new bridges with their earned billions. What liberties are you talking about. I'm sure if a private company wanted to build a prison in your back yard you would appreciate a zoning official who would protect your liberty. If a 3 time drunk driver was driving around you or a loved one you would appreciate the police officer and clerk of the court protecting your liberty. How about our brave soldiers. I am sure you appreciate them protecting our liberty. You get what you pay for. Unfortunately because we all now see our declining ability to pay for everyday items, the cost of everyday services we used to not notice so much are more in focus.
Proofisinthepudding
3:47 am on Wednesday, December 7, 2011
What exactly does a bus line have to do with the soldiers, police department or a drunk driver?
Give it a break! If you want the government to control your every move, then let them do it for you. I do not! They are elected to do what the all the people want, not just a few.
We do not need to add more government bus lines, more government personal more benefits, medical insurance, maintenance, expentitures to our tax base.
Enough is a enough.
Jane Barry
7:20 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011
A BRT between Southgate & the Airport? And the point of this insane idea is what??? Yeah, keep spending those $$$, but still refuse to repair the damage the County has done & their REFUSAL to MAINTAIN the canals & Stormwater Drainage ditches, of which the County is responsible for maintaining per the RECORDED 1956 dedication to the County by Sterling Inc (developer of Desoto Lake subdivision)! So those of us living along the canals can't tell where our property ends & the various islands between the canals & islands begin, due to the OVER growth of water lettuce, duck week, etc. So what if the water fowl, wildlife, & fish are dying....The "Board" is too busy spending OUR tax $$$s on Rowing Parks (not 2 miles away from the canals I'm talking about), more empty buses, etc.