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Citizen’s Bayway Task Force

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What can I do? (Just click link below)

• Email your representatives to thank them.

• Write a letter.

• Make a phone call.

• Attend a meeting (Next meeting on April 9th).

• Join our mailing list.

• Pass this site on to my friends.

What's the story?

In November, 2007 the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) publically proposed a dramatic increase in tolls on the Pinellas Bayway.  This increase would enable FDOT to issue $122 million in bonds to pay for the replacement of the Tierra Verde and St. Pete Beach bridges – which are estimated to cost as much as $180 million. 

There are many reasons that citizens opposed this toll increase.  The FDOT didn't rigorously look for other ways to fund the bridges.  They thought Pinellas Bayway travelers wouldn't object to this outrageous treatment.  The Bayway has already been paid for once, and now they were asking us to pay for it again!

In 1985 the State legislature established the toll rates for the Pinellas Bayway System.  During the 2008 legislative session Representative "Jim" Frishe and Senator Dennis Jones introduced two bills that would repeal the 1985 law.  If this had happened, all control over tolls and the use of revenue from those tolls would have been lost.  And once the pending legislation passed there would be one less barrier preventing the FDOT from selling the Pinellas Bayway to a private enterprise. 

"Transferring toll-setting authority for a local road from the legislature to a state road department is bad public policy”, says Katie Nichols, a Tierra Verde resident and former Chair of the Florida Public Service Commission. 

The Citizen's Bayway Task Force, a coalition of more than 120 neighborhood associations, educational institutions, and civic organizations came together in February, 2008 to fight the toll increase.  Their first meeting was held on February 19th.

On March 19th, exactly four weeks later, responding to the public outcry over the proposed toll increase, Representative "Jim" Frishe did the right thing; he withdrew the offending legislation.  Senator Dennis Jones withdrew his companion bill when the Senate convened on Thursday, March 20th.  This is truly democracy in action.

Bayway tolls will, for the time being at least, remain unchanged.  What a difference a month makes!

Now the question remains: How do we pay for needed bridge improvements? 

Is it inevitable that Bayway tolls should continue?  The Bayway Task Force doesn't think so.  Our Task Force will remain in place and will be working this issue with Federal, State and Local agencies.  Please stay tuned.

Citizen's Bayway Task Force

Revised: 08/14/08