Getting around Tampa Bay was the focus of a forum in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.

Leaders from several cities, and even an out-of-town guest, were at the forum to talk about light rail buses and ferries.

When it comes to getting around the Bay area, residents aren't overly impressed with their options. On Wednesday, the former Mayor of Pittsburgh gave Tampa Bay’s current transportation system a "C."

Tom Murphy flew into Tampa then caught a cab to St. Pete to talk to Bay area leaders about the need for a better transportation system. 

"Cities that invest in the future are the ones that are going to be successful," Murphey said.

For months the mayors of St. Petersburg, Tampa, Lakeland and Clearwater have been trying to convince residents of just that.

“It's embarrassing to tell a visitor, that he cannot get from Tampa airport -- the best airport in the country to anyplace else."

Now the mayors are teaming up to get voters to change things. There are two separate referendums on the November ballots in Pinellas and Polk counties.

Adding rapid bus service and eventually building light rail in Pinellas to connect communities, and sales taxes would pay for it.

“We're not just asking people to pay more in taxes, we're also talking about reducing their property taxes,” said Kriseman.

Paying more for transportation has a tendency to fall on deaf ears a similar effort in Hillsborough failed in 2010.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn is counting on a different outcome now.

“If you want good transit, it costs money. It's not free,” said Buckhorn. “If you think it's free you're going to get an abysmal product.”

The former mayor of Pittsburgh says he can relate to the transportation fight. He went through a similar battle in his city but came out on top.

Using forums like this Bay area leaders are hoping for the same. 

Mayor Buckhorn is particularly interested in seeing the Pinellas transit referendum pass in November.

It could be a strong indicator as to whether Hillsborough voters will support a similar vote to upgrade their transportation system in 2016.