Citizen's Bayway
Task Force
Charter (Phase II)
Insuring the transportation needs of our community are met
From the
Citizen’s Bayway Task Force
The Citizen’s Bayway
Task Force is a coalition of Pinellas County
Homeowner and Neighborhood Association
representatives that came together in February, 2008 to defeat the proposed
toll increases along the Pinellas Bayway System. On March 19th we were
successful at defeating proposed legislation that would have allowed the
FDOT unbridled authority to set tolls on the Bayway.
With the FDOT toll increase plan shelved for now the Bayway Task Force is moving into the next phase of our effort. Please note that the Task Force does not have a position on the option that should be used to repair, rehabilitate, or replace the aging bridges, but we believe that any solution must be affordable without an increase in tolls.
Towards this end, our organization's goals effective March 20, 2008 are as follows:
An expeditious, independent audit of the use of funds from the FDOT Bayway toll reserve account is needed
Any funds diverted from the Bayway toll reserve should be returned, with interest
The Ft. De Soto toll should be eliminated as soon as possible
Over time, the Pinellas Bayway tolls should be further reduced or eliminated
The FDOT, Pinellas County, the City of St. Petersburg, and the City of St. Pete Beach should cooperate to insure that the Bayway system is safe, operates in a cost-effective fashion, and meets the transportation needs of our community
A small team of representatives from the affected government agencies and the Bayway Task Force should work together to find alternative funding for any needed Bayway improvements
The leader of the Alternative Funding Team should be a member of a local government organization
The requirements for alternative funding should be guided by a rigorous
re-examination of the FDOT conclusions about the options (repair,
rehabilitation, replacement, doing nothing) for each bridge