The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Tampa Bay
Brightline is now targeting 2028 as the opening date for rail service from Miami to Tampa via Orlando. The site of a Tampa station has not yet been revealed. Too quick takeaways. Yeah, thanks again, Rick $cott, for turning down federal (read: Obama) money in 2011 for a light rail, megalopolis line from Orlando to Tampa. It would be up and running on budget by now. Also, a Tampa rail station could be a critical part of any Rays’ Ybor stadium scenario. Its Tropicana lease ends at the termination of the 2027 season.
Cross BayFerry service resumed this week (Thursday, Oct 21) and will run through May. The service, which is underwritten by Hillsborough and Pinellas counites and the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, will become year-round in October 2024.
A report by Price Waterhouse Cooper and the Urban Land Institute ranks the Tampa Bay region 5thin the nation for overall real estate prospects. Nashville topped the list.
USF is looking to become an official Hispanic-Serving Institution, which is a U.S. Department of Education designation for schools with at least 25 percent of students identifying as Latino. Currently, Latino students comprise 22 percent of the USF student body.