By David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG — Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority executive director Tim Garling resigned Wednesday, leaving an unexpected hole in efforts to build rail in Pinellas County.
Hired in September 2007, Garling leaves Oct. 18 to become director of Broward County Transit.
He will run the second-largest transit system in the county, a move Garling called a "better career opportunity." He said he will earn about $3,000 more than his $153,000 annual salary in Pinellas.
"Broward County Transit is the second largest transit system in the state of Florida and it provides approximately 40 million rides on an annual basis.... Providing public transit service in the 16th largest county in the United States offers significant challenges and opportunities for me professionally," Garling wrote in his resignation letter.
Broward handles about 38 rides an hour compared to PSTA's 22, Garling said.
Garling was hired in Pinellas because he helped oversee the development of rail in Portland, Ore. Advocates for building rail and expanding bus service in Pinellas, where transit funding lags other large areas, hoped he could help lead their efforts here in a referendum in 2011 or 2012.
"It's a huge blow," said County Commissioner Ken Welch, a PSTA board member.
St. Petersburg City Council member Jeff Danner said Garling's exit left the county flat-footed as it embarks on a new push for passenger rail in Pinellas County.
"It's horrible timing," Danner said. "Tim was the only one in the county who had built a rail system. It's disappointing to lose someone who had done more than run a bus system and knew how to apply for grants that could pay for rail. It's going to be difficult to fill those shoes."
Garling had support from most board members, but faced some rocky times. Last year, board member Julie Bujalski questioned his actions when he broke a PSTA rule by paying invoices that exceeded prices the board had approved for transportation of the disabled provided by Clearwater Yellow Cab.
Dismissing any problems with the board, Garling said he understood the fears about how his departure would affect rail. He said the county has put itself in good position to move forward with rail, given the start of an 18-month study with state and regional transit agencies on corridors for trains.
After a national search, Broward approached Garling within the past month. Robert Nelson, who retired from the Broward post, was Garling's boss for eight years in Portland.
Garling's new job was settled Tuesday, and Garling sent his resignation letter Wednesday morning, surprising employees
Danner said it might be especially hard to find Garling's replacement because Broward came up empty when it conducted a national search.
"If we do a national search, we might find the same thing," Danner said. "There's just no one out there."
PSTA has a budget hearing Wednesday night, though officials expect discussion on the agencies next step next Wednesday. Before hiring Garling, the agency appointed an interim director and hired a search firm.
Michael Van Sickler contributed to this report. David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8779.