Important Transportation Options Survey

It’s your mobility we’re talking about! Take the survey to let your voice be heard!

The Pinellas Alternatives Analysis is a key step in developing an interconnected regional transit system in West Central Florida. The study findings will be a blueprint for transit service connecting major residential, employment, and activity centers within Pinellas County and to Hillsborough County via the Howard Frankland Bridge.

The study team and Project Advisory Committee has narrowed the range of routes to one and the range of transit types to two: fast bus and rail. A survey was developed to give you and other members of the public an opportunity to tell the study team what type of transit you want for Pinellas County. Please take the survey to participate in the conversation and let your voice be heard. Note: the survey closes on Friday, September 23rd, 2011.

To learn more about the project’s history and decision-making process, please visit the project website.
The Pinellas Alternatives Analysis is a study identifying transit options to improve Pinellas County’s and the Tampa Bay Area’s quality of life.

Please take the project survey about the future of Pinellas County’s transportation by Friday, September 23, 2011.

The survey is available here.

Green Business Practices

Mary Campbell, Urban Sustainability Agent, Pinellas County Extension

Becoming a more environmentally- friendly business is a choice that can reap big rewards. Green Business practices can help save money, attract customers, enhance your reputation and help make a business more efficient. A company policy of environmental stewardship or mission that includes sustainable practices will help create the vision. There are three main areas where a business can become more green and sustainable:

Improve energy efficiency and water conservation
Changes in work practices
Recycling and waste reduction

Improve Energy Efficiency and Water conservation
There are simple ways to reduce energy and water use and save money at the same time. An energy audit can be done by Progress Energy to review where there may be easy impacts to reduce energy use, as well as long-term investments for the future.

Implement staff guidelines for turning off computers, peripherals, as well as office and meeting room lights. Water conservation in outdoor landscapes can save thousands of gallons of water each year (see Florida Yards and Neighborhoods ).

Changes in Work Practices
To become a green business, employees need to be a part of the practice changes that will make it successful. Creating a green committee that promotes these new practices will be a good start, as well as educational programs for staff. Discussing green purchasing practices, energy conservation, double- sided copying, green meetings , reduction of paper use through electronic sharing, telecommuting and other innovative sustainable practices will help the team get started. Start small and build on these practice changes gradually until they become habits. Develop a staff pledge program and rewards around the new practices (take the Check Your Green Commitment At Work Pledge to get started).

Recycling and Waste Reduction
Reducing waste in an office can make a positive impact on the bottom line as well as reduce your carbon footprint. Get a waste assessment to determine strategies and options from Pinellas County Utilities Solid Waste.

Develop an Action Plan

1. Evaluate environmental programs that fit well with your vision and mission.
2. Communicate your environmental initiatives to customers and staff.
3. Report successes and get feedback.

Resources:
Ten Steps to Green Business Practices