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Tampa CRA boards reallocate $700,000 to keep streetcar fare-free through fiscal year
Summary
Tampa CRA members voted to reallocate roughly $700,000 from four CRA budgets to cover a shortfall in the fare-free streetcar program through the end of the fiscal year; board discussion highlighted the program’s ridership gains, long-term funding uncertainty and calls to broaden the revenue base.
Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency board members voted to transfer CRA funds from multiple districts to cover a roughly $700,000 shortfall and keep the city’s historic streetcar fare-free through the end of the current fiscal year.
Supporters said the fare-free policy has boosted ridership and taken vehicles off congested roads; opponents cautioned the arrangement is temporary and urged the city and outside beneficiaries to identify a sustainable funding plan. The board approved the transfer with one recorded no vote.
The board discussion and the CAC-level deliberations leading to the proposal centered on a funding gap Hanorg estimated at about $700,000. CRA staff presented a plan in which downtown, the Channel District and the two East Ybor (“EBOR”) CRA budgets would contribute partial shares to make up the shortfall for the remainder of the fiscal year. Courtney Orr, CRA development manager for the urban core, described a three-way split presented to the CACs…
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