Issue: 15

November 2014

The Newsletter of the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) & Livable Roadways Committee (LRC)

Meeting of the minds: Livable Roadways & Community Traffic Safety hold joint workshop

More than 40 diverse safety professionals and advocates attended the first ever FDOT Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) and the MPO Livable Roadways Committee workshop on November 5th. The workshop was moderated by City of Tampa Councilwoman Lisa Montelione, and CTST Chair Jamie Sweeney, DKS Associates.The synergy of talent, resources and opportunities for collaboration became apparent as attendees learned about each other.

The workshop focused on the 3E's: engineering, education, and enforcement. The group heard presentations on each:

Engineering: Frank Kalpakis, Renaissance Planning Group, presented FDOT's draft Freight Roadway Design Considerations (FRDC). Participants heard about the Tampa Bay Goods Movement Strategic Plan and one of the implementing strategies striving to balance livability and freight in a context sensitive manner. Members inquired about next steps and how local jurisdictions could apply the design considerations on local roadways. For more information. visit: www.tampabayfreight.com

Education: Andrea Roshaven, Community Relations Coordinator with Hillsborough County, spoke about the "Fletcher Avenue Complete Streets Marketing Campaign" followed by Julie Bond with USF's Center for Urban Transportation Research, who presented "Fletcher Avenue: A Community-Based Social Marketing Framework." The presenters shared perspectives on the effective partnership these projects have used for educating walkers on the new safety features such as Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons. They also covered existing pedestrian and bicycle laws and about the approach in making pedestrian safety including: (WalkWise) presentations, distributing brochures, displaying posters, and promoting a video throughout the Fletcher Ave corridor. The attendees received copies of a bilingual "Hey I'm Walking Here!" brochure. For more information go to: www.hillsboroughcounty.org/CrossSafe

Enforcement:Sgt. George Edmiston and Tindale-Oliver Associates highlighted Law Enforcement's Role in Improving Pedestrian/Bike Safety. Their focus is on education and warnings first. When they do resort to citations, they range from $49.50 in Hillsborough County to $62.50 in Pinellas County. He noted that approximately 75% go unpaid and gave an example of recent fatality with ten unpaid citations in his pocket. Part of the education efforts include distribution of education cards in the field at crosswalks, transit stops, and midblock crossings. The attendees received an example of a Pedestrian Warning card. Attendees commended the graphics illustrating the effect lighting and speed has on the field of vision.

Rhonda Grimes with FDOT presented an add-on topic: "Actions to Mitigate Wrong Way Driving Crashes." Attendees received an overview of the FDOT's statistics and action plan to address recent fatalities in District 7. Short-range actions include maintenance of existing signs, installation of new signs, and pavement markings. Longer term actions include high tech solutions such as radar, motion-activated, flashing warning beacons that will alert drivers going the wrong way, and then signal the Florida Highway Patrol and other drivers via overhead messaging signs on the Interstates. FDOT is seeking approval of FHWA for these technologies. One attendee mentioned the possible development of an app that communicates DMS messages directly to your car screen.

For more information on the CTST go to the website at www.d7ctst.org or contact Stephen Benson, Stephen.Benson@dot.state.fl.us (CTST). For more information on the LRC go to www.planhillsborough.org/bike-ped-livable-roads/ or contact Lisa Silva, silval@plancom.org (LRC)

Congrats to Planning & Design award winners!

On October 30, the Planning Commission held it's 32nd Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas at the A La Carte Pavilion. Hosted by ABC Action News Anchor, Brendan McLaughlin, this awards program is a well-respected tradition honoring the very best in planning and design in Hillsborough County. A panel of judges from outside of Hillsborough County selected ten projects to receive Awards of Merit, Excellence, and Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Among the winners were two projects near and dear to the hearts of our walking and bicycling community.

Courtney Campbell Causeway Bridge

The Courtney Campbell Multiuse Trail Bridge was recognized with an Award of Excellence.

The 3,258-foot-long pedestrian bridge runs adjacent to the busy Causeway, providing a vital link in the local trail system, and breathtaking views of the area from strategically placed lookout points. At more than 45 feet above water, the bridge has the unique distinction of being the only high-level pedestrian bridge in Florida.

The judges were blown away by this substantial investment in safe walking and bicycling, offering transportation choices while celebrating a healthy lifestyle and our local natural assets along the Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway.

Green ARTery Tail Plan

The Green ARTery Trail Plan received an Award of Outstanding Contribution to the Community.

The Green ARTery Perimeter Trail is a community-initiated attempt to bring neighborhoods together to provide a safe and comfortable transportation option to connect many of the city's notable neighborhoods and parks for families, walkers, joggers, and cyclists of all levels of experience. Funded by the Hillsborough MPO, a refined Perimeter Trail concept built up the original concept developed by the GreenARTery organization.

The professional design team supported multiple public events organized by citizen volunteers from the Green ARTery organization. Now, the citizens are excited to move forward with a plan that customizes the design for each segment of the trail, including roadside multi-use pathways, off-road trails through parks and other public rights-of-way, and neighborhoods routes along low traffic neighborhood streets.

The judges felt the Green ARTery Trail Plan exceeded all judging criteria. They loved that this project was grass-roots planning at its best, and when fully implemented, will have a significant long-reaching impact on multiple neighborhoods connecting the broader community and clearly enhancing the quality of life in the City of Tampa.

Congratulations to both of these walking and bicycling dream projects!

Cyclovia rolled through downtown Tampa

On Sunday, October 19th, the Florida Department of Transportation closed a portion of Kennedy Boulevard to motorized traffic.Together with the City of Tampa, the Tampa Downtown Partnership, the MPO BPAC and their community partners, FDOT brought Cyclovia to Tampa Bay!

Cyclovia (also referred to as Ciclov�a or Open Streets) is based on the Spanish word for "cycle path." Ciclov�a is a weekly tradition that started in Bogot�, Colombia, which temporarily closes major city streets to car traffic and converts them into safe and open, car-free environments for families to run, bike, play and be well together.

The practice has become a worldwide phenomenon reaching Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Israel, India and dozens of cities across the United States. Cyclovia is a celebration of physical activity, healthy movement, and active transportation.

FDOT Secretary Anath Prasad visited Bogota and was so impressed with the Cyclovia he asked each district to work with local governments to organize them across Florida.

The Cyclovia was organized as part of FDOT's Bicycle & Pedestrian Focused Initiative, with the main goals being to improve safety through visibility and awareness of bicyclists and pedestrians and to promote active transportation.

For more information and to vote on where in Tampa Bay Cyclovia should go next, visit the Cyclovia Tampa Bay website.

Fletcher Ave almost complete!

The Fletcher Avenue complete street project is almost finished after just over a year of work. Hillsborough County's Public Works Department has been improving the 3.1 mile Fletcher Avenue corridor from Nebraska Ave to Bruce B Downs Blvd. The project included milling and resurfacing, drainage, signalization, utility adjustments, and landscaping. Bicycle lanes have been marked and signed, sidewalks completed, and six midblock crossings constructed at locations where walkers frequently cross Fletcher Ave. New street lighting and public art also have been installed.

Last but certainly not least, the County has launched a pedestrian and bicycle safety education campaign, in both Spanish and English. The MPO is helping with printing costs.

Learn more about the Fletcher Ave "Cross Safe" initiative. For more information, contact Michele Ogilvie at 813/273-3774 x317.

Safer Plant & Hyde Park Avenues planned

Prompted by a review of severe crashes, the City of Tampa and FDOT are planning changes to Plant Ave and Hyde Park Ave. Today, these roads exist as a one-way pair from Platt St to Kennedy Blvd near the University of Tampa. They have on-street parking and posted speeds of 30/35 mph and serve the neighboring commercial uses at the signalized intersections. Plant Ave is a historic brick road from Platt St to Brorein St, but also provides access to on- and off-ramps for the Selmon Expressway.

A review of fatal and incapacitating injury crashes throughout Tampa from 2009 to 2011 found that this pair of roadways had a cluster of 10 such crashes. As a result, the City analyzed the roads to improve safety and submitted them as a candidate for FDOT funding under the Highway Safety Improvement Program. Based on the analysis and field reviews, the City recommended providing two lanes in each direction and adding:

On-street parallel parking
Bike lanes
Pedestrian ramp bulb outs at the intersecting streets to shorten the crossing length and improve the sight distance for pedestrians

FDOT has included design and construction funding for these improvements in their work program. The City expects construction to begin by next June. For more information, contact Nina Mabilleau at the City's Transportation & Stormwater Services Department.

County focuses on crash-prone roads

Two years ago, the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee and MPO approved a strategic plan for fixing unincorporated Hillsborough County's worst areas for bike and pedestrian safety. The Board of County Commissioners budgeted money and now the County's Infrastructure & Development Services Department is moving ahead with top safety projects:

Waters Ave already has had lanes narrowed, bike lanes added from Dale Mabry to Pinehurst, and a Project Development and Environmental study completed on the segment from Sheldon to Pinehurst recommending median modifications, shared outside lanes, and wider sidewalks for an estimated $8 million. In addition, intersection plans have been completed for Waters at Armenia and Waters at Savarese Blvd.
Hanley Rd - Hillsborough Ave to Waters Ave: sharrows, share road signs, and a median have been installed, and the speed reduced.
In the USF area, design plans have been completed for filling in missing sidewalks, installing street lights, mid-block crossings with rapid flashing beacons at key locations on 42nd St from Fletcher to Skipper, 56th St from Fletcher to Fowler, and Bruce B Downs Blvd from Fletcher to Bearss Ave.
Bearss Ave - Dale Mabry to 22nd St: plans call for installing sidewalks on both sides and a mid-block crossing with flashing beacon near the Jimmie B Keel Library.
Providence Rd - Bloomingdale Ave to SR 60: striping was repainted and markings added to the existing bike lane.

Next on the drawing board are safety projects on Northdale Blvd, Mango Rd, Parsons Ave and 78th Street. For more information, contact Michele Ogilvie at 813-273-3774 x317.

131st Ave & 46th St to be complete streets

Hillsborough County's Public Works Department recently launched a "Complete Streets" project for 131st Avenue and 46th Street / Skipper Road in the vicinity of the University of South Florida. The purpose is to address the safety and comfort all users of the roadway network.

As part of this, the County asked the MPO to fund a study to develop an integrated concept plan for street and landscaping improvements, with particular attention paid to pedestrian, bicycle, and transit accommodations on both roadways. Both corridors are being studied for enhancements to ensure that any modifications improve their safety, function, and aesthetics.

The project limits on 131st Avenue are from Nebraska Avenue to Bruce B Downs Boulevard and from Fletcher Avenue to Bruce B Downs Boulevard on 46th Street / Skipper Road. The concept plan will be finished by February 2015. After that, the project will need to be funded for construction in Hillsborough County's Capital Improvement Program.

For more information contact Michele Ogilvie at ogilvem@plancom.org or 813/273-3774 x317.

Public has its say on Upper Tampa Bay Trail

On September 17, 2014, Hillsborough County's Parks and Recreation Department held a public workshop on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. Staffers sought input on alternatives that could provide a final link between the existing trail terminus at Peterson Road Park and North Mobley Road.

The three alternatives include options that access:

the western side of Lake Rodgers Park and runs parallel to Crawley Road
the eastern side of Lake Rodgers and exiting on Mobley Road west of Gunn Highway
the eastern side of Lake Rodgers Park but cross Gunn Highway providing an eastern access parallel to Mobley Road

County staff is currently analyzing the input received from the public as well as determining environmental, safety, and cost impacts. They expect to recommended a route for this link by early 2015. For more information visit the project page on Hillsborough County website or contact Richard Sanders at 813/272-5275.

FREE Bike Safety Classes offered in November

The Tampa Downtown Partnership's Tampa BayCycle, the SPOKESpeople for all things cycling, will provide free bike safety classes in conjunction with the forthcoming launch of Coast Bike Share. In partnership with the City of Tampa, Tampa BayCycle will hold classes in November, with more classes to be added throughout the city in upcoming months.

A certified instructor will walk class participants through the basic "Top 10" tips on bike safety in an informal classroom style setting. Each participant will receive safety gear, such as a helmet, light set, or vest. The one-hour classes are free and open to the public, and begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted for the remaining scheduled classes:

Monday, November 10 - Kate Jackson Community Center (821 S Rome Ave)
Wednesday, November 12, 12:00 noon - Kahwa Coffee Caf� (400 N Ashley Dr)
Wednesday, November 12 - Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Recreation Complex (2200 N Oregon Ave)
Monday, November 17 - Desoto Park Playground Activity Complex (2617 Corrine St)
Tuesday, November 18 - Sandra Freedman Tennis Complex (59 Columbia Dr)
Thursday, November 20 - Duckweed Urban Grocery (803 N Tampa St)

Please RSVP by visiting tampabaycycle.com. To request a free bike safety class for your neighborhood association or organization, please visit tampabaycycle.com/events.

Do the Local Motion - Fall 2014

Tampa Downtown Partnership's 'Do the Local Motion' kicked off its seventh season on Friday, October 3. 'Do the Local Motion' is a free, guided walking tour program offered to encourage exercise while showcasing Downtown Tampa's attractions, history, and hidden gems with a different theme each walk. Program attendance and community support keeps growing with each year as we bring some new themed walks, while keeping some of the favorites in the schedule.

Tours are offered October through May, every first and third Friday of the month, departing at 12 noon from 'Do the Local Motion Village' in Lykes Gaslight Square Park. The one-hour walks begin with a quick warm up exercise led by a Downtown Y instructor.

The season is augmented with occasional evening and weekend tours*, including two evening fundraising tours at a Tampa Bay Lightning game in March and the Tampa Yankees game at Steinbrenner Field in April.

One of the many programs, Do the Local Motion is brought to you by Tampa Downtown Partnership and its partners.

Upcoming tours for in 2014 will feature these themes: