Joggers could get a new option on the Courtney Campbell

[HARTride 2012]

Joggers could get a new option on the Courtney Campbell

Sunday, May 18, 2008

TAMPA (Bay News 9) -- The Department of Transportation is considering a plan to build a new recreational trail along the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

The new project would be a dedicated multi-use trail that stretches eight miles.

Area resident Rick Tressler enjoys a daily jog along the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

"I think it's a good atmosphere," Tressler said. "And to see the water on each side gives you peace of mind. It makes very enjoyable scenery."

He said the one drawback is that traffic is not far away from where he runs. To solve that issue, the trail would be built on the outside of the beach access road away from traffic.

The biggest challenge of the project would be continuing the trail over the causeway bridge.

There are two options:

1. Add the trail to one side of the existing bridge.

2. Build a separate structure for the trail apart from the existing bridge.

Project engineer Kirk Bogen said the goal is to give exercisers their own dedicated trail.

"That would provide the safety, so we don't mix the traffic with the people so that we reduce the s or potential incidents we see out there," Bogen said.

The new trail would eventually connect similar trails on both sides of the bay.

Tressler said it's something he would welcome.

"Anytime we can work out in safety away from the traffic, it sounds good to me," he said.

The Department of Transportation is looking for public input. It has scheduled two public meetings in the coming week.

The first meeting will be held Monday evening from 6 to 8 at the Westshore Plaza Mall in Tampa.

The second meeting will be held Thursday evening from 6 to 8 at Clearwater Christian College, building D located at 3400 Gulf to Bay Boulevard.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...rtney+Campbell

[FloridaFuture]

Not bad, but I think the money for this could be better spent by improving sidewalks across the bay area.

[HARTride 2012]

I see your point. There are still so many roads here that have poor sidewalks or no sidewalks at all.

Actually, I'd rather see such money spent on things that really need attention.

[smiley]

or they could widen the damn road - 4 lanes from Tampa to/from north Pinellas?

[HARTride 2012]

Unfortunately, I don't see widening happening anytime soon. Heck, it isn't even talked about by FDOT, which means its probably not even on the long-term list.

[smiley]

lots of space for an elevated monorail track over the causeway . . .

[HARTride 2012]

They could add rail to all three bridges as far as I'm concerned. It would be better than the traffic conditions on the bridges now.

[Jasonhouse]

Someone find a source for about $5 billion in funding, and we could build all kinds of stuff.

But who is going to be the one who unites two counties who are typically at odds with each other? Tbarta? Let's hope that they do a heck of a lot more than build a couple of toll roads in the middle of nowhere, which is pretty much the opposite of what we should be doing right now.

[tampasteve]

Meh, sounds interesting but not needed, IMO. If people want to jog across the bay they can use the "Friendship bridge" rather than us spending millions of a project like this. How about adding sidewalks where they are needed? Or making the ones we have nicer, like Fletcher ave.?

Waste of money, IMO.

Steve

[HARTride 2012]

We also need to increase the amount of bike lanes...

[HARTride 2012]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

Someone find a source for about $5 billion in funding, and we could build all kinds of stuff.

But who is going to be the one who unites two counties who are typically at odds with each other? Tbarta? Let's hope that they do a heck of a lot more than build a couple of toll roads in the middle of nowhere, which is pretty much the opposite of what we should be doing right now.

I won't hold my breath on TBARTA until it gets itself together. Otherwise, I will be left with the same feeling that you have.

In fact, my fear is that they will take on the East-West Road, which all of us know is too expensive to build. I hope they will not do things that conflicts with their "mission"

[I-275westcoastfl]

Originally Posted by wslupecki

We also need to increase the amount of bike lanes...

I disagree, no bike lanes outside of the somewhat urban areas in Tampa Bay. Most bike lanes I see around here are a complete waste of money as I see nobody riding on them, when I do see somebody on the bike they use the sidewalk, lets face it pedestrian activity is not that much to require bike lanes everywhere. That and with the way people drive I for one wouldn't use the bike lanes. As for this, in a time of budget cuts and all a waste of money, I've heard news stories of playgrounds not having enough funding and there are plenty of poor sidewalks around. Put the money into that!