TMA Leadership Group meeting recap

The February meeting of the Tampa Bay Transportation Management Area (TMA) Leadership Group was held at Tampa International Airport’s SkyCenter One building, and saw meeting leaders from Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties gather for a robust conversation about the potential merger of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Staff kicked off the meeting by providing examples of other merged MPOs across the U.S. to contextualize how different board sizes and structures might impact seat delegations and function.

One important topic explored during the discussion was if, and how, Port Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport will have designated voting seats on a merged MPO board. No one in attendance disputed the key roles that both the Port and Airport play with respect to moving both freight and travelers from across the globe. Answers to these questions seem to hinge on whether the Port and Airport will maintain an exclusive regional perspective and whether staff or elected officials will represent these entities.

As the meeting concluded, the parties inched toward establishing consensus on the size of the board. Across the three MPOs, preferences ranged from a board of approximately 21 to 25 people. The discussion is set to continue at the next TMA Leadership Group meeting which will be held on May 17th at 9:30 am.

In addition to the discussion of the merged MPO, the group also held a vote to elect the chair and vice chairs. The elected are as follows:

• Commissioner Kathryn Starkey for Chair
• Mayor Andrew Ross for Vice Chair
• Commissioner Eggers for Vice Chair

To watch the full proceedings of this meeting and to access the meeting summary please visit the SCTPA website.