The Rewind: TPO Board October Highlights 

The latest TPO Board meeting covered a lot of ground, from transit upgrades to regional partnerships. Here’s a quick rundown of what happened: 

The Board reviewed committee summaries, emails, and social media feedback. One key topic is identifying intersections where “block the box” issues are problematic. Committees shared their input, and the Board took note. 

The Consent Agenda passed unanimously. 

The Board tackled a few key action items, starting with amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); Section 5307 and Fixed Guideway 5309/5337 Funds. These annual HART formula funds will go toward bus stop improvements, upgraded IT equipment, and new buses. The roll call vote passed 14–0. 

Next up was an update on the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (RIA) Grant and execution of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The initiative officially kicked off in August at Tampa Airport and represents a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau. The goal is to help move regional projects into the marketplace using federal grants, credit programs, and technical assistance. Projects from Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties have been mapped in GIS, and the team is actively seeking input and partners. The MOU is a required deliverable to keep things moving, and Board members were encouraged to meet with the facilitators. There was also discussion about whether autonomous vehicle projects could be eligible under the program—it depends on Title 22 criteria, but Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are included. The voice vote to proceed passed unanimously. 

The Board received an update on HART’s Comprehensive Operations Analysis, the first full review of the system since 2020. The proposed changes are cost-neutral, meaning they won’t increase expenses and will serve as the foundation for the upcoming Transit Development Plan in 2026. The analysis looks at potential improvements to Route 9 or Route 38, while reductions are considered for Routes 7, 48, and 37. Additionally, Routes 24LX and 25LX are proposed for elimination. HART also discussed its public outreach efforts and the current public comment period, encouraging community feedback on the proposed changes. 

The Executive Director, Dr. Johnny Wong, shared a few key updates, starting with the Regional Merger Study Principals’ Workshop on Friday, November 14, at Collaborative Labs, St. Petersburg College. It’s invite-only for elected officials in the tri-county area.

The meeting day was National Walk to School Day, and 35 Hillsborough County schools participated. Commissioner Boles asked about the Clean Air Monitoring Group and its role in the I-275 expansion. EPC monitors are already in place along the interstates, and FDOT also conducts air quality monitoring. There’s still some budget left from EPA and local grants. The I-275 expansion is expected to begin in about 10 years. 

At the close of the meeting, Mayor Ross praised Mayor Castor and the City of Tampa for leading the charge on the RIA effort. 

That’s a wrap for this month’s update! You can view the recording of the meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRD0WGVE3pk.