The Rewind: November TPO Board Meeting recap

November marked a brand-new beginning as Dr. Johnny Wong stepped into his role as Executive Director at the TPO Board Meeting. The Board also officially welcomed Scott Drainville since accepting the permanent position of HART CEO (and leading by example by commuting to the meeting aboard HART Route 9).

This meeting was full of many successes, including the passing of the TPO’s 2050 Plan Needs Assessment for Equity, the first to be approved in the TPO Board’s history, as well as the Needs Assessment for Congestion Management and Crash Mitigation. The Board also approved a Letter of Comment addressing the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Tentative Work Program (FY2025-2029) based on the TPO’s priority list. Some of the major projects include:

• Widening of Big Bend Road from US 41 to Covington Garden Drive
• I-75 at Gibsonton Drive Diverging Diamond
• Fletcher Avenue at 15th Street intersection improvement

The Board expressed their gratitude for FDOT’s funding of its priority projects, especially noting the vital safety, aviation, and trail projects. A request was also made by the Board that FDOT consider other TPO priorities for funding such as providing grade separation at US41 and the CSX railroad crossing to improve mobility and safety. For full details on all the projects outlined in the Work Program, visit the FDOT website.

When discussing the Needs Assessment for Congestion Management and Crash Mitigation, the Board showed a keen interest in further understanding how ramp metering and hardening shoulders function as congestion management treatments. Additionally, the Board requested further knowledge on the latest updates regarding Brightline high-speed rail’s expansion to Tampa.

Interested in viewing all the proceedings? Recordings of the TPO Board Meetings can be viewed on our YouTube channel: Transportation Planning Organization – YouTube