Despite some high-profile support, the voters of Pinellas County have voted no to a sales tax-funded light rail system. With 243 of 299 precincts reporting, Greenlight for Pinellas failed, 38 percent to 62 percent.
Approval from the voters would have kick-started $2.2 billion of investment in mass transit, including light rail, bus rapid transit and a 65 percent increase in bus service. The move was supposed to spur urban development in Pinellas County.
From the Tampa Tribune:
“It’s not the outcome that we expected, but the citizens have spoken and spoken clearly,” said Pinellas Commissioner Ken Welch, who also chairs the PSTA board. “But the transit conversation has to continue.”
