The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) sees Westshore and Gateway as the core needed to achieve a world-class network. TBARTA is pursuing funding for high priority projects regarded as stepping stones to a stronger regional transportation network.
Three of these “critical core” projects are in the Westshore business district:
- Replace the northbound span of the Howard Frankland Bridge with a new 4-lane bridge, including a future light rail transit link between Hillsborough and Pinellas, accelerating the span as a design/build project
- TIA’s automated people mover (described in the article above), including a future extension to a new intermodal center near I-275 in the Westshore district
- I-275 express lanes from the Gateway Area in Pinellas, across the Howard Frankland Bridge to Westshore and downtown Tampa with variable tolling – the Hillsborough and Pinellas MPOs are working with FDOT to incorporate Bus Rapid Transit into the express lanes – TBARTA is seeking funding for advanced right of way acquisition
TBARTA selected these projects, because they are regionally significant, offer immediate solutions, and can be implemented incrementally. View all of TBARTA’s 2014 priorities.