Posted on 05/18/2019 8:18:03 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
Transportation leaders will study an idea to tear down and replace a portion of Interstate 275 from the downtown area to the USF area.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization voted unanimously on Wednesday to move forward with a study on the concept.
Despite moving forward with the study, the MPO said there are a lot of questions and it could take decades to do a feasibility study.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nonprofit names I-275 among top 10 U.S. highways that should be torn down
"Looking at the longer-range future, the MPO will start by getting answers to questions such as: is the cut-and-cover option feasible for Tampa with its high water table, and if so at what price tag, and could the cost be justified by the potential economic development?," said Beth Alden.
The Boulevard Tampa idea comes from architect Joshua Frank who was recently featured on a top 10 list of Freeways without Futures.
In Frank's plan he would have the nearly 11 mile stretch removed and torn down to the ground level to make into a landscaped boulevard.
This would allow for protected bike lanes, places to walk, along with a light rail or another modern mass transit system along this corridor.
DRIVING TAMPA BAY FORWARD | Latest headlines on safety and infrastructure in our area
Frank found that majority of the traffic on 275 is local traveling, and he says turning this into a boulevard would connect locals from downtown to the USF area.
The MPO will look into how feasible this over the next year before bringing back the findings to the board to consider whether they should move forward.
The Florida Department of Transportation is familiar with Frank's idea and has told ABC Action News that after hearing the concept they determined that removing the interstate is not feasible as a transportation improvement project.
"Critical assumptions in the proposal that would be necessary to make the interstate removal concept viable for further analysis (primarily the future land use assumptions and transit investment decisions) are beyond the scope and purview of FDOT’s mission and are not consistent with currently adopted local plans," said a FDOT spokesperson in email last month.
FDOT stated that this type of idea would be best suited for evaluation through an organization like MPO.
According to FDOT, I-275 carries approximately 170,000 vehicles per day. For perspective, that would be Hillsborough Avenue, Dale Mabry Highway and Brandon Boulevard combined.
FDOT also said they are focused on addressing the existing needs and problems of safety through short-term improvements.
The state agency held a public hearing last month about the idea to widen this portion of 275 by adding another lane of travel in the existing right of way.
I remember traffic being horrible around there 30 years ago when I lived in that general area. I bet the traffic is now at least twice as bad and they want to remove roads?
Many people will begin their career and retire before the study is completed.
$ signs everywhere.
It’s all about trains these days. Why spend millions improving highways that people use when you can spend billions on light rail that nobody uses.
What’s next? Tearing down high rise buildings and turning them into parks?
Politicians have to keep the money rolling on mega projects.
It's impossible for them to graft the big money on small pothole projects.
“decades to do the study”
multi-generation taxpayer funded boondoogle for consultants to do a “study” of a ridiculous idea that will never be implemented ...
Who is dumber - the idiot who came up with this concept or the idiots who want to spend taxpayer dollars to study the concept?
Really, tear down 11 miles of an interstate system? I guess they’re planning ahead for a future without cars. This really smells of corruption on a quadrillion level basis.
Fifty years from today, I predict that they will STILL studying the concept and Tampa will STILL be gridlocked.
That said, whoever proposed this 'redesign' is a moron. Making 275 into a boulevard is STUPID!!
There's a very solid, practical reason that professional architect seals are not acceptable for construction on plans for highways!
this train nonsense needs to be pushed back.
There are few applications for trains.
Buses however are wonderful. The new ones privately run use highways to places people actually want to go.
Imho, bad idea.
5.56mm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.