Speakers Voice Support For Friendship TrailBridge Plan Before Hillsborough County Commissioners This Morning

At least seven speakers told Hillsborough County Commissioners this morning to instill new life into the closed Friendship TrailBridge, the pedestrian-bicyclist bridge that was closed in November 2008.

I was there advising the county commissioners to approve a business plan submitted about six weeks ago that would rebuild the beloved TrailBridge into a world-class linear park above the Bay connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Both of the report's authors -- Kevin Thurman and Ken Cowart -- spoke along with Seminole Heights residents Margaret Shepherd and Susan Long. FTB advocate Neil Consentino and Ben Ritter also told the county commissioners to save the FTB.

County Commissioner Victor Crist parised the efforts of the group that submitted the plan and said the business report to save the FTB was comprehensive. Commissioner Mark Sharpe also is a strong supporter of saving the TrailBridge.

Jordan Miller, owner of Velo Champ bike shop in Seminole Heights, along wioth Jim Shirk, chairman of the Hillsborough County Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, attended the meeting to show their support. The BPAC wrote a letter supporting the FTB project and I submitted that letter to the commissioners.