Anti-light rail group South Pinellas 912 hosted a forum on discussing the possibility of light rail in Pinellas County.

Some county leaders are moving forward with a plan to run light rail from Clearwater to St. Petersburg, but South Pinellas 912 is not in favor.

Members said the project is unnecessary and too expensive.

“We need to understand that we can’t afford this,” group organizer Barbara Haselden said. “We need to look at what the cost of this is going to be -- not just the installation -- but it’s the long term repercussions of maintaining a train.”

During the forum, South Pinellas 912 leaders spoke about current issues with county transit and the cost of the project.

"I think it’s important for local governments to work within the money that they have,” South Pinellas 912 member Jonathan Chambers said. “Instead of trying to find a way to get more money to build a system, in this case light rail, which does not have a supported need here.”

With those in opposition, there are those residents in favor of light rail, which is why the issue is expected to go before taxpayers.

To pay for the project voters would likely have to approve a referendum raising the county sales tax.

The transit plan also calls for upgrades to the county’s bus system.

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