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By JOSH POLTILOVE
The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - Rather than deal with cramped parking near the parade route, thousands of people paid $8 each to ride shuttle buses from Raymond James Stadium to Gasparilla 2006.
They might not have that option for the 2007 event.
Gasparilla organizers have no plans to offer shuttle service, potentially causing thousands more drivers to seek parking spaces in south Tampa or downtown for the Jan. 27 day parade.
Organizers estimate up to 500,000 people will attend the event.
With a federal law forcing Hillsborough County’s public transit agency out of the picture, organizers say they are left with a bid from an out-of-town shuttle vendor that would force them to charge paradegoers $18 to $20.
“That’s just unacceptable,” said Darrell Stefany, head of EventMakers, which markets and manages Gasparilla. “Nobody would ride the shuttles.”
Since about 2000, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority has provided buses for Gasparilla. EventMakers paid HART $29,000 to cover the agency’s costs for the 2006 parade, with about 4,500 people using the 30 shuttles.
But HART isn’t available for 2007, spokeswoman Jill Cappadoro said. A federal statute says public transit systems must step aside when private charter operators are willing to provide the service.
“If the winds change … and we can be there, we’d be there in a moment,” Cappadoro said.
Vicki Pollyea, who lives three blocks from Bayshore Boulevard, said the extra vehicles could block roads and create hazards in her neighborhood.
“If there are 4,500 people trying to look for more parking places, that’s going to impact the safety of this entire area,” she said.
Roy LaMotte, the city’s transportation manager, said the lack of shuttle service would bring an “infiltration” of drivers to south Tampa.
“We’re certainly looking into the matter to see what we can do,” LaMotte said. “But I don’t know what we can do.”
Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder, who serves on HART’s board of directors, encouraged the agency to work with federal officials to create an exception to the statute because no bids came from Tampa.
“I understand the [statute’s] intent is to allow for the private sector to compete, and that’s all fine and good,” he said. “But I would think that would just relate to us competing on a local level. … My hope is the federal government might be a little more reasonable.”
Dingfelder said paradegoers can ride regular HART routes to downtown and south Tampa. He and LaMotte also encouraged people to park in Ybor City and ride a trolley downtown.
But Stefany said the trolleys already are near capacity on parade day. He hopes to persuade HART to change its decision since no other bid was acceptable to EventMakers.
Cappadoro isn’t optimistic.
“Just because the event coordinator doesn’t want to pay, I don’t believe that means that we can step in,” she said.
Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 835-2105 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.
Events Ahoy!
The 103rd Gasparilla celebration docks Jan. 27 along Bayshore Boulevard and downtown Tampa. Included in this year’s bounty:
The Gasparilla Invasion: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., ending at the Tampa Convention Center.
Gasparilla Parade of Pirates: 2 to 5 p.m., beginning at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards and ending at Jackson and Marion streets.
Pirate Fest: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., on Florida Avenue from Kennedy Boulevard to Channelside Drive.
For information, go to www.gasparillapiratefest.com.
The Hartline spokesperson Ms.Cappadoro does not seem to understand. Duh… It is not the event that pays for the transportation to the parade it is the public. But, it must be expected, she works for the govt. With all the tax money the county is shafting the public with the ride should be a freeby.
Boy, isn’t “Privatizing” public works wonderful! I bet it’s the solution to all of our problems! Just ask all of the Republican “toadies” that worship at Bush’s feet! Privatizing everything makes things wonderful! Like the nearly $4.00 each way I have to pay to drive on a private highway (5 miles only) allowed by a “toadie” Republican legislature here in Virginia because we don’t want to pay more taxes. Heavens, why would we want to pay what amounts to a few cents per trip at most in taxes when we could pay several dollars per trip to “Private Enterprise”...I feel so priviledged! Good luck on your parking situation. I’m sure you’ll get no help from the Bush people, Jeb or GW. You see they get driven everywhere they have to go and get to park in special places and we have to pay for it!
Can school buses be used? I know it might create horrible flashbacks for some people but at least it would get them there. I was born and raised in this area and I have never attended the Gasparilla Parade. I probably will this year so having a bus route is a splendid idea. I hope something gets worked out.
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Posted by Jim Mullen, Tampa on 12/29 at 11:37 PM
I don’t understand. An effective mass transit system should anticipate rider ship trends and volume and then adjust its routes to best serve its citizens. We know a large population will want to go downtown in the morning and come back that afternoon.
Why can we not adjust the routes? When they determined that New Tampa had enough rider ship, didn’t the buses start a route up there? Or did they have to let public buses bid on that first as well? Oh yeah, Mr. Andrede-get a life!