Sarasota News Leader
January 3, 2014
for a system along U.S 41. Both the City
Commission and the Manatee Commission
had voiced support for the latter option in
meetings in February and April, respectively.
Commissioner Joe Barbetta, who has been a
staunch advocate of the BRT as a means of
redeveloping the North Tamiami Trail, cast
the lone "No" vote on withdrawing the application. "Redevelopment follows transit," he
says, "and we're never going to get the North
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Trail redeveloped if we don't proceed with
the BRT proposal, albeit as costly as it is."
"I totally believe in public transportation,"
Vice Chairman Charles Hines adds. "It's the
way of the future." However, he points out,
"This community, in my opinion, is not ready
for [BRT] yet. … We're struggling so hard to
fund these things."
A map shows the proposed routes for the Siesta Key trolley. Image courtesy Sarasota County
