At its June 2nd meeting, the MPO held a public hearing before adopting a $1.4 billion Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP funds a wide variety of projects over the next five years and begins to realize the MPO’s 2040 Plan.
Public transit and rideshare improvements are an important part of the TIP, including:
- Replacing older buses in HART’s fleet with CNG fueled vehicles
- Providing vans for the regional vanpool programs
- Continuing two cross county express bus routes to Clearwater and Wesley Chapel
- Funding assistance from federal grants for bus and share-a-van services
The TIP also includes major projects to add roadway capacity for a growing economy, such as:
- Widening Bruce B Downs Blvd from 4 to 6 lanes from Pebble Creek Dr to Pasco County (2015)
- Widening US 301 from 2 to 6 lanes from SR 674 to Balm Rd (2016)
- Interchange improvements, including:
- I-275 / Memorial Hwy (SR 60) and I-275 / I-4 in downtown Tampa, purchase right-of-way for future widening
- I-75 / I-4 construction of northbound ramp (2016)
The 2040 Plan highlights the need to preserve and renew our existing transportation assets, so the TIP advances projects like rehabbing the Hillsborough Ave Bridge over the Hillsborough River in 2016, and resurfacing:
- I-4 from 50th St to McIntosh Rd (2018)
- Florida Ave from Sligh Ave to River Shore Dr (2016)
- E Hillsborough Ave from N Miami Ave to 56th St (2018)
Reducing crashes and vulnerability to flooding are among the MPO’s highest priorities, and the TIP will fund safety and drainage projects on:
- Bougainvillea Ave walk/bike safety improvements from 30th to 46th St (2016)
- Sidewalks at Stowers, Summerfield, Eisenhower, Cypress Creek elementary schools (2018 and later)
- Drainage improvements on Dale Mabry, Gandy, Hillsborough, Kennedy, and US 301 (2016)
The TIP also funds projects to minimize traffic for drivers and shippers such as:
- Intelligent Freeway Management Systems on Courtney Campbell Causeway (2017) and I-75 from Progress Village to Manatee County (2019)
- Advanced Traffic Management System deploying smart signal technology at over 500 intersections in the City of Tampa (2017 through 2020)
The adopted TIP goes into effect on October 1st of this year and includes all state and federally funded projects through September 30, 2020. It also lists all locally funded transportation projects. More information is available at TIP Program or by contacting Rich Clarendon.