valeka's Blog

    Hartline is presently proposing a change to the 28X bus that travels from Plant City to downtown Tampa twice in the morning, and back from Tampa twice in the late afternoon.  What is being proposed is that the bus change from making several stops on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard to picking up passengers only on Thonotosassa Road in Plant City and at the Baptist Church at the intersection of hwy 92 and Mango Road.  According to Hartline, this will eliminate parking in areas where Hartline does not have contractual permission to use the parking lots as park n ride stops, such as Walmart and Winn Dixie.   They also believe that this will also mean a faster commute once road work starts on sr 579 (Mango Road). 

   Since the parking lot at the Baptist Church is already amost full every day, where will people park?  In my opinion, forcing regular bus riders to drive a distance to the park and ride will make it seem easier for them to just drive the entire way to work--which will only feed the present traffic problems.  Aren't there other places that could be used as Park & Ride stations?  Perhaps on hwy 92?      

    Hartline has scheduled 2 hearings, one to be held at 5:30 this Friday, March 16 and the other one on Monday, March 19.  For more information, please go to the Hartline Website.  If you'd like to keep a few of us Plant City folks on the bus and off I-4 in our cars, you have a stake in this.  And if you have property that could be used as a park and ride, HELP!  Hartline and the bus riders need you.