The large investments in redesigning the county’s roads were expected to be funded by All for Transportation, a 1 percent increase in the sales tax for 30 years, approved by voters in 2018. But the tax was almost immediately challenged by lawsuits (including one by one of Hillsborough County’s elected commissioners); until the lawsuits are resolved, the almost $300 million collected so far cannot be used by the county nor dispersed to any of the cities within its jurisdiction.
With a decision pending any day now, how critical is AFT to Tampa’s future transportation needs? Stephen Benson, the Chief Planner for the City of Tampa, says the city is doing more larger infrastructure projects, but without AFT, achieving those projects will take time.