* First, the bad news: Still no mass transit plan for a region–and a city–in desperate need of one. Twenty-five years ago.
The, uh, good news: Free, six-passenger, electric shuttles are coming to downtown this summer.
* Speaking of transportation. Prepare accordingly if you are taking in a Saturday night show at the Straz Center–and it’s the same day as the annual RiverFest. Last Saturday’s evening performance of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” was delayed nearly 45 minutes because of traffic congestion. But, yes, it was well worth the wait–and it was the right thing to do in an 8 p.m., half-full Morsani Hall for the sold-out show.
Moreover, it was great to see (from the Cass Street Bridge) the overflowing, energized crowds enjoying the Riverwalk ambiance. It was a graphic reminder of how far we’ve come–from industrial-use wharves and parking lots lining the Hillsborough River to a park-museum-amenity magnet for visitors and locals, including hot air balloon enthusiasts.