On June 11 the MPO to decide on widening I-275

Every year the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) adopts a new Transportation Improvement Program based on the latest Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Work program. On June 11, 2019 the MPO Board will host a public hearing for the adoption of the Fiscal Years 2019/20 – 2023/24 (TIP)

The TIP is the document that contains the list of transportation projects that are being prioritized for immediate funding countywide. The MPO staff takes projects that are already in the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), which is the county's primary transportation vision, and decides which ones are going to be built first by putting them on the TIP list. (Read the TIP list of prioritized projects) At the public hearing you have an opportunity to speak directly to the MPO Board about the proposed changes.
Amendment to the Imagine 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan Tampa Interstate Study (TIS) Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) PD&E Study

Throughout this past year we keep hearing of the importance of I-275 from Bearss Avenue to Downtown. We're told it's a regional highway, it's needed for hurricane evacuations, but the truth is it's not. In the event of an evacuation, that portion of I-275 merges onto I-75 creating a bottleneck. As for it being regional is up to debate because 66% of usage is between USF and Downtown. We're asked to agree to more pollution, more cars and nothing in the way of expanding our mass transit system to reduce congestion on state roads Florida and Nebraska. I emphasize state because funding comes from FDOT, the same agency developing I-275. So, the same agency funds both but the emphasis is consistently on I-275.
This year we need to ensure our neighborhoods are not further destroyed and used as leverage to force more highways through Tampa's economic centers. For five years now, the community has clearly, consistently stated they do not want highway widening, but instead want FDOT and Hillsborough County to invest transportation funds into funding high capacity mass transit and fixing the dreadfully dangerous existing local roads they oversee. People and homes are being destroyed because Vision Zero is not advanced.
Watch the video of the public hearing in Seminole Heights
Talking points: Modified No Build Option
* Begin and finish the HART Bus Rapid Transit study for Florida, Fowler, and Nebraska and establish a completion date
* Finish the Heights Mobility Study and set completion date* Prioritize CSX studies with projected completion dates
* Prioritize all local non-interstate Vision Zero improvements
* Keep section 7 as its separate project because the dynamics are different from Westshore (decouple Westshore and Downtown interchanges within Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)
* Add trees along the entire route as were promised years ago
* Develop the Boulevard Tampa concept and present it as part of a cohesive long term transit plan
* Do not add more general use lanes to the corridor
* Support advancing the #BlvdTampa
* Consider reduced speed limits by time of day on I-275. Use FDOT 45 mph rule
* Capital investment to purchase more busses to expand local service
* Preserve the Floribraska exit
* Gold standard, real Bus Rapid Transit (BRT in its own lane on Florida and Nebraska Avenues not an express bus on the shoulder of interstate

* The overall goal is to have FDOT work a plan that is enjoined with mass transit, complete streets and reduce the carbon footprint.
★★★★★★PLEASE NOTE★★★★★★
Line Item 27 and 28 in the TIP:
If you are for mass transit, safer streets, reducing the carbon foot print and against highway widening, then you will want to speak out against Line Items 27 and 28.
Line Item 40 and 44:
You may also wish to speak out against Line Items 40 and 44, which seek to expand roadway capacity in South County.
These expensive improvements are only necessary today because the County approved sprawling developments without requiring developers to provide their own capacity beyond the urban service boundary, and they will only lead to MORE sprawling development in South County which will require endless funds to increase roadway capacity into the future. We want commuter rail, bus rapid transit and other mass transit like the Ferry in South County.
Partners propose seven-day ferry service linking Hillsborough, MacDill, Tampa, St. PeteMetropolitan Planning Organization Board Meeting & Public Hearing June 11, 2019Send an email http://www.planhillsborough.org/contact-us/ or show up to the TIP hearing on June 11th, 6pm to specifically ask the MPO to remove Line Items 27 and 28. Emails are better than phone calls, but if you wish you can call.
• Email comments in advance to: mpo@plancom.org
• Leave a voicemail message in advance at: 813.273.3774 xt-369
• Leave comments on Facebook in advance on the MPO’s Facebook Event Page at: Facebook.com/HillsboroughMPO
Please note: Email, voicemail, and Facebook Event posts received BEFORE noon on June 11 will be distributed to the MPO Board prior to the public hearing. All comments received are public record.
This is your chance to tell the MPO which projects you want to be prioritized for immediate funding in the TIP, or conversely, which projects you want to be taken out of the TIP altogether. You can also tell them what kinds of projects you would like to see prioritized - #TransitNow!