This month’s meeting was eagerly anticipated by many in the community. In the first half of the meeting, the TPO Board approved the Vision Zero Streets Study on Sligh and Waters Avenues. Several Board members expressed their gratitude for the TPO staff’s hard work in identifying ways to help improve these high-injury roadways. The report recommends a three-lane roadway model for what are currently four lane roadways, with one lane in each direction, a center left turn lane with pedestrian refuge at crossings and a shared-use path. This prompted some questions from the Board members regarding how the implementation of these models would affect the roadway’s capacity for traffic considering their close proximity to the interstate. TPO Staff explained that additional analysis would need to be conducted to further understand the impacts.
The Access 2050 Plan Public Outreach Survey Results were also approved by the TPO Board. A request was made by the Board members to have more detailed map data displaying the survey responses in correlation to their zip codes and district. It was noted that this would be helpful in providing more insight into the community feedback provided in the Major Projects portion of the survey. TPO Staff clarified that this information is currently being drafted and will be made available to the public during the second phase of the Long Range Transportation Plan update.
Following the approval of the action items, the TPO Board received a status report on the Cost Feasible Financial Scenarios portion of the Access 2050 Plan. At the conclusion of the presentation, the Board was asked to give feedback on what should be included in the local potential revenues. Commissioner Cohen advised to continue with the Cost Feasible Scenarios using the Community Investment Tax as well as the renewed seven-cent gas tax but no other additional funding sources. Board members showed support for this statement.
The Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2025-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) followed the Cost Feasible Financial Scenarios status report. Members of the community participated in the public comment portion of the meeting to vocalize their thoughts and concerns regarding the projects outlined in the TIP. There were several comments made about the need for safety, particularly pedestrian safety, to become a greater priority when implementing projects. Feedback from the TPO’s Committees was also outlined in the TIP presentation with a special note of the Citizen Advisory Committee’s recommended changes. They are as follows:
- Shift priority #64 (E4): Streetcar Extension to #63
- Shift priority #64 (E5): Airport to Downtown Transit to #63
- Shift priority #70 (E20): Brightline Station Multimodal Connections to #63
- Shift priority #96: HART CSX Study to #91
Prior to making a motion to approve the TIP, Commissioner Wostal made a motion to amend the description of the I-275 (Hillsborough Ave to N of Bearss Ave) project, ranked at #93 on the TIP Priority List, to be listed as a roadway capacity project rather than only shown as building a noise wall and implementing safety enhancements. Some concerns arose amongst the Board about the implications this may result in without having input from the community as well as how changing the status of this project would affect the others on the priority list. Dr. Wong explained that data analysis would have to be completed to confirm if this adjustment would have a significant impact but was confident that it would not. Florida Department of Transportation staff also clarified what the adjustment would mean for securing funding based on the project’s ranking. Ultimately, this motion was approved by an 8 to 7 vote.
The TPO Board then approved the TIP with the request that they discuss the four projects that the Citizens Advisory Committee expressed concerns about at their August meeting.
Interested in viewing all the proceedings? Recordings of the TPO Board Meetings can be viewed on our YouTube channel: Transportation Planning Organization – YouTube