Smart Ways to Design Better South Tampa Roads
By Jessica Kings
South Tampa’s dense population, historic infrastructure, and geographic location result in a unique transportation situation. It is in dire need of transportation improvements, as is much of the Bay area. The city needs to find alternatives to move away from being an auto-centric community to a city ripe with public transit. There are many solutions to the problem. The downtown street car system, that caters mainly to tourists, can be extended to include residents. Introducing a modern tram will also alleviate some of the headache.
Transportation has been a hot topic in Tampa for the past several years. Bay area citizens have experienced perennial road construction, train debates, bus route alterations, and even an experimental ferry service. A central component of this dilemma is the fact that the Tampa Bay area is comprised of a multitude of neighborhoods, which range from urban and pedestrian-friendly to rural farmland. An optimal solution for one area is not necessarily a good fit for another. Each community must be studied to determine the best transportation for the overall region. To begin, we examine South Tampa.
Rush hour in most communities means traffic delays, detours, and frustration. In addition to the standard frustrations, the South Tampa area has unique issues which further complicate the ongoing Tampa Bay transportation dilemma. Its antiquated infrastructure results in frequent reactive maintenance, flooded roadways, and unavoidable congestion.
Example of a modern day tram in Nice, France.
Florida population density is 350 people per square mile, while the density in Hillsborough County is 1,205 per square mile . The Tampa Bay area is among the most populous and dense in the state. South Tampa’s population density is 4,936 per square mile — four times higher than the overall county. In addition to having a huge population density, South Tampa is also home to a military base and booming defense industry. This brings in over 15,000 employees every day to the base, which means long delays on Bayshore and MacDill Boulevards (both of which are reduced to single lanes near the base).
South Tampa is composed of historic neighborhoods with condos and apartments crammed in wherever possible. During rush hour, nearly every residential street becomes a thoroughfare. The quaint, old brick roads are transformed into extensions of highways, with commuters barreling through. The only time the traffic seems to lessen is when an afternoon rain provides everyone with waterfront property (which is another topic for another day).
Tampa is experiencing a job boom. Downtown Tampa, Westshore, the airport, and West Brandon are seeing huge increases in employment opportunities. With the surrounding areas growing, South Tampa will only continue to see transportation problems. It’s an optimal residential location due to its proximity to downtown, I-275, and the Bay area bridges. South Tampa is the heart of the Bay area, located centrally between Pinellas, Brandon, and North Tampa.
Hillsborough County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has determined that expanded highways will not be able to keep up with population and job growth. After an extensive study, MPO recommends a modern tram and a diesel multiple unit (train) for the South Tampa region. This will alleviate road congestion and shift the system from auto-centric to public transit.
TECO Line Streetcar System travels through Ybor.
There have been discussions of extending the downtown streetcar system. It currently offers a 2.7 mile route which caters mostly to tourists. Tampa is in the early stages of a project titled InVision. Its goal is to expand the streetcar line outside of downtown in an effort to attract commuters in addition to tourists.
South Tampa’s geographic location is a key benefit to its residents, many of whom work in neighboring communities. However, without improvements to local transportation, the area will only become more crowded. The City of Tampa can look to Atlanta, San Francisco, and even abroad to countries like France as examples of making public transit work for all.
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Jessica Kings is an account manager for a global solutions provider, and has lived in Hillsborough County since 2006. She can be reached at jessica.kings@gmail.com.