Tampa Bay Interstates Thread

HARTride 2012 · August 26th, 2007, 04:55 AM

From now on, all Tampa Bay area interstate discussions will go into this consolidated thread. A HUGE thanks to I-275westcoastfl for all of his awesome work in keeping the Tampa Bay forums organized!

Pasco seeks study of adding toll lanes to I-75
WESLEY CHAPEL The study, which will take a year, would tell officials whether adding lanes is feasible and how much the tolls might cost.
By CHUIN-WEI YAP
Published August 24, 2007

Pasco County has asked Florida's Turnpike Enterprise to study the possibility of adding toll lanes, called "express lanes," to Interstate 75, officials from both agencies said.

The study, requested by county officials July 18, is expected to take a year, a turnpike planner said.

So far, the authority doesn't have answers to critical questions: how many express lanes, where they would begin and end, and how much tolls might cost.

But the state Department of Transportation has signaled that while it's open to the idea, it plans to keep six lanes of the interstate toll-free.

As traffic managers confront ballooning road-building costs and shrinking budgets, new ideas like these are getting the welcome mat on drawing boards across the Tampa Bay area.

Last week, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan floated a proposal to build toll booths on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and County Line Road. The commission voted 5-2 to study the idea.

Express lanes are typically added toward highway medians. "The express lanes, the number of which we can't identify now, don't have as much access to on-ramp and off-ramp turbulence," said David Wood, an authority planner.

Because the Pasco section of I-75 is dominated by commuter traffic, the idea is to price the tolls according to the time of day.

"During the busiest time, the fee is increased to ensure the level of service is actually express service," Wood said.

It's called "congestion pricing," a policy that has seen variations in traffic-clogged areas from London to Singapore to Manhattan, he said. In the United States, State Road 91 in Orange County, Calif., was the first to build toll lanes alongside non-toll lanes, Wood said.

In Florida, state officials are exploring Hot Lanes - the acronym stands for "High Occupancy and Toll" - for I-95 in Miami-Dade County. But in the Pasco study, the state agency hasn't been involved yet.

"We never had formal meetings on it. However, we might have discussed it," said Don Skelton, the state's district manager in the Tampa Bay area.

"There is the general philosophy that if we have to widen more than six lanes, all options have to be examined and nothing is off the table." The express lanes would be "above and beyond" the planned expansion to six lanes, Wood said.

Kris Carson, the department's spokeswoman, said the DOT plans to hold a public meeting Sept. 13 on ideas for improvements to the I-75 corridor from Fowler Avenue in Tampa to State Road 52 in Pasco.

Wood said the study does not include Hillsborough County, which hasn't requested one from the authority.

Hillsborough officials haven't heard about Pasco's study. County Commissioner Rose Ferlita said she has heard the idea in concept but thought it would be "a little ways before it gets here."

Bob Campbell, the county's transportation chief, said Pasco had not asked Hillsborough to join the study.

"It takes a lengthy period of time and a lot of public involvement for something like that," he said. "We'd like to see a multimodal, coordinated solution. We do need new roads. If they want to entertain a conversation, we'd be open to it."

The state can't fund its $74-million plan to widen I-75 between Fowler Avenue and Bruce B. Downs from four to six lanes. The same goes for adding two lanes to I-75 from Bruce B. Downs to State Road 56, which would cost $82-million. Last month, Pasco tried but failed to persuade developers of the nearby Wiregrass Ranch to kick in funds for part of that project.

Money problems are prompting creative solutions everywhere. Turnpike officials recently completed a similar study for express lanes on I-75 in Collier and Lee counties, Wood said. In Pasco, it's not the first time toll proposals have originated from county offices.

In April, county officials held out the possibility of turning the Ridge Road extension into an 8.5-mile toll road.

Turnpike planners also are studying that project and expect to wrap up their findings this fall. But the preliminary sense is that Pasco's southern portion of I-75 still does not have enough traffic to warrant toll lanes, Baker said.

Wood said Pasco sees heavy jams during peak hours - southward in the mornings and northward in the evenings - but it could take longer periods of congestion before express lanes are justified.

"Until you have urban congestion - the kind of thing you typically see on the I-275 in Tampa or I-95 in Miami, where you have four- to five-hour peaks - that is the kind of congestion that would make people drive on toll lanes," Wood said.

Among other things, the Pasco study would also look into average incomes, types of trips and percentage of commuters on local stretches of I-75, he said.

"We may not be there yet, but we've asked them to study it," Baker said.

Chuin-Wei Yap can be reached at 813 909-4613 or cyap@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 24, 2007, 08:13:42]

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/24/No...tudy_of_.shtml

HARTride 2012 · August 26th, 2007, 04:57 AM

Now wait just a minute! Didn't our "friendly" representative John Mica ban stuff like this from being built? He certainly killed off Xpress 400. What is that language in all that anyway? Are all tolled lanes within interstates banned? Please! Someone clairify this issue!

Jasonhouse · August 28th, 2007, 03:25 AM

I'm all for increasing capacity on existing corridors, rather than creating new corridors which destroy more of what little remains of Florida's rural countryside.

HARTride 2012 · August 28th, 2007, 02:02 PM

Yeah, but my question is...is this plan even possible after the demise of Xpress 400?

97Roll · August 28th, 2007, 02:45 PM

The prohibition of tolls applied to the Orlando Xpress 400 project specifically. There are a number of interstates around the US that have some form of tolling implemented. One study that the article left out was the possible tolled express lanes in the median of I-4 in Hillsborough County. Congestion pricing and HOT lanes are the wave of the future and basically the only funding option for expansion of existing highway infrastructure.

HARTride 2012 · August 28th, 2007, 07:06 PM

Thanks for the clarification. I feel much better now.

HARTride 2012 · September 10th, 2007, 02:46 PM

What exactly was wrong with Xpress 400 that had it killed off? Send me a PM later if you can.

Anyways, I wouldn't mind paying a toll to travel I-75, US 19, or even I-4 (Hills) to bypass congestion. Such projects would probably help expand the Toll-by-Plate program down the road.

HARTride 2012 · September 13th, 2007, 02:19 AM

I-75 to be widened in Hillsborough and Pasco counties
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Bay News 9

The state Department of Transportation will soon begin expanding I-75 from south of Fowler Avenue to Highway 52.

Currently I-75 reduces from three lanes to two lanes at Fowler Avenue, and the road can be quite a bottleneck at rush hour. The road will be resurfaced and widened from four lanes to six lanes.

"The widening is really needed now," said project manager Adam Perez. "I think it's pretty obvious to everyone that the widening is needed at this time. Of course, we're constrained by funding, so what we've tried to do is put the projects out that we're going to get the most benefit from."

The project will be divided into segments, and each segment will be constructed as money becomes available.

The project also includes the reconstruction of the interchanges at Highway 52 at San Antonio in Pasco County as well as County Road 54 at Wesley Chapel. Northbound exit ramps will also be added at State Road 56.

Perez said the goal is to minimize impact on commuter traffic.

"Most of the work that involves lane closures will be done at nighttime," he said. "So the lanes that are open today should remain open during daytime hours."

Perez also said it won't be long before the DOT works on plans to widen the interstate to eight lanes.

The DOT will hold a public meeting on the I-75 expansion Thursday at the Victorious Life Church activity center in Wesley Chapel at 5 p.m.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...Pasco+counties

97Roll · September 13th, 2007, 04:06 PM

I would really like to know their definition of "soon". There is not any money allocated for the construction of this project in the forseeable future. Very misleading article...

HARTride 2012 · September 14th, 2007, 02:07 PM

I will agree with you on that one. Kind of reminds me of the TIA Interchanges project and how long that was shelved because of funding issues.

JBrisco · October 5th, 2007, 06:17 AM

Phase 1 of the new I-275 North Bound lane is under way and moving really fast, it is highly noticable at Howard and Armenia, they are already constructing the first set of bridges.
They have also been examining the bridge over the Hillsborugh River which caused 2 lanes of North Bound traffic to be closed at night for the past month, and it appears they are looking at the southbound bridge now.

I read in the mytbi file of the I-275 that they were giving it "ybor" treatment through West Tampa, can anyone confirm that? I think it would be great for that neighborhood, as it is becoming a vibrant-revitalized 'hood.
I'll grab a picture of the development next time I drive by it during the day.

jonknee · October 5th, 2007, 06:32 AM

I can snap a pic of the Hillsborough river bridge work tomorrow as it's directly outside my balcony. They drove a bunch of supports in the river and erected temporary piers on both sides that each have a crane on them. And there is indeed a lot of work going on around Howard, impressive that they have done so much so fast.

HARTride 2012 · October 5th, 2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBrisco

I read in the mytbi file of the I-275 that they were giving it "ybor" treatment through West Tampa, can anyone confirm that? I think it would be great for that neighborhood, as it is becoming a vibrant-revitalized 'hood.
I'll grab a picture of the development next time I drive by it during the day.

The overpasses, from my understanding, will hold a similar asthetic style to that of the I-4 overpasses in Ybor. The aesthetics will compliment each neighborhood that the interstate runs through. Obviously, since West Tampa is a much older neighborhood, the overpasses there will recieve a more traditional look. The WestShore flyovers will be more of the standard FDOT look.

Quegiebo · October 6th, 2007, 07:28 AM

Maybe they'll put in a large, unused fountain.

HARTride 2012 · October 6th, 2007, 03:34 PM

Yeah right. I don't think that's in the plans. But I still think the I-4 fountain was a big waste.

smiley · October 7th, 2007, 06:17 AM

Maybe they will actually use reclaimed water and add something mildly asthetically pleasing to Tampa instead of always giving us crap while other cities beautify and develop.

Go look up the city beautiful movement from the last century . . .

TampaMike · October 8th, 2007, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonknee

I can snap a pic of the Hillsborough river bridge work tomorrow as it's directly outside my balcony. They drove a bunch of supports in the river and erected temporary piers on both sides that each have a crane on them. And there is indeed a lot of work going on around Howard, impressive that they have done so much so fast.

http://www.mytbi.com/projects/projec...D=158&RoadID=1

has some pics, but about 2 months old

HARTride 2012 · October 8th, 2007, 02:01 PM

They're very slow at posting new construction photos. From my understanding, thier web staff is quite miniscule so uploading photos is the last thing on their list. I know this because I emailed Mr. McShaffery (from FDOT) on the issue about a couple years ago.

JBrisco · October 9th, 2007, 05:37 AM

Did they relocate most of the former buildings on Luarel else where?
Also, What do you think the new frontage streets will be like?
Are they going to put Laurel St. (assuming it will be the same street name) where it used to be, or on the other side?
Will Green street stay there? Those frontage roads will be very useful when rush hour rolls around. Thats going to be 9 lanes each direction 5 with out lights and 4 with.

tampajoe · October 11th, 2007, 06:06 PM

I notice the downtown interchange lights are always off (at least half ) since construction finished. I wrote John McShaffrey : Hello. I was curious to know why the downtown interchange lights were already out (most of them) on a continuous bases. The interchange was just reconstructed but when I travel through the area, every three days or so at night, half the lights are out. I suppose this could be a safety issue since we are still getting used to the interchange, and when we go through it, it’s dark. Thank-you for your time, Joe.

August 26th, 2007, 04:55 AM	#1
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	I-75 "tolled" express lane proposal From now on, all Tampa Bay area interstate discussions will go into this consolidated thread. A HUGE thanks to I-275westcoastfl for all of his awesome work in keeping the Tampa Bay forums organized! Pasco seeks study of adding toll lanes to I-75 WESLEY CHAPEL The study, which will take a year, would tell officials whether adding lanes is feasible and how much the tolls might cost. By CHUIN-WEI YAP Published August 24, 2007 Pasco County has asked Florida's Turnpike Enterprise to study the possibility of adding toll lanes, called "express lanes," to Interstate 75, officials from both agencies said. The study, requested by county officials July 18, is expected to take a year, a turnpike planner said. So far, the authority doesn't have answers to critical questions: how many express lanes, where they would begin and end, and how much tolls might cost. But the state Department of Transportation has signaled that while it's open to the idea, it plans to keep six lanes of the interstate toll-free. As traffic managers confront ballooning road-building costs and shrinking budgets, new ideas like these are getting the welcome mat on drawing boards across the Tampa Bay area. Last week, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan floated a proposal to build toll booths on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and County Line Road. The commission voted 5-2 to study the idea. Express lanes are typically added toward highway medians. "The express lanes, the number of which we can't identify now, don't have as much access to on-ramp and off-ramp turbulence," said David Wood, an authority planner. Because the Pasco section of I-75 is dominated by commuter traffic, the idea is to price the tolls according to the time of day. "During the busiest time, the fee is increased to ensure the level of service is actually express service," Wood said. It's called "congestion pricing," a policy that has seen variations in traffic-clogged areas from London to Singapore to Manhattan, he said. In the United States, State Road 91 in Orange County, Calif., was the first to build toll lanes alongside non-toll lanes, Wood said. In Florida, state officials are exploring Hot Lanes - the acronym stands for "High Occupancy and Toll" - for I-95 in Miami-Dade County. But in the Pasco study, the state agency hasn't been involved yet. "We never had formal meetings on it. However, we might have discussed it," said Don Skelton, the state's district manager in the Tampa Bay area. "There is the general philosophy that if we have to widen more than six lanes, all options have to be examined and nothing is off the table." The express lanes would be "above and beyond" the planned expansion to six lanes, Wood said. Kris Carson, the department's spokeswoman, said the DOT plans to hold a public meeting Sept. 13 on ideas for improvements to the I-75 corridor from Fowler Avenue in Tampa to State Road 52 in Pasco. Wood said the study does not include Hillsborough County, which hasn't requested one from the authority. Hillsborough officials haven't heard about Pasco's study. County Commissioner Rose Ferlita said she has heard the idea in concept but thought it would be "a little ways before it gets here." Bob Campbell, the county's transportation chief, said Pasco had not asked Hillsborough to join the study. "It takes a lengthy period of time and a lot of public involvement for something like that," he said. "We'd like to see a multimodal, coordinated solution. We do need new roads. If they want to entertain a conversation, we'd be open to it." The state can't fund its $74-million plan to widen I-75 between Fowler Avenue and Bruce B. Downs from four to six lanes. The same goes for adding two lanes to I-75 from Bruce B. Downs to State Road 56, which would cost $82-million. Last month, Pasco tried but failed to persuade developers of the nearby Wiregrass Ranch to kick in funds for part of that project. Money problems are prompting creative solutions everywhere. Turnpike officials recently completed a similar study for express lanes on I-75 in Collier and Lee counties, Wood said. In Pasco, it's not the first time toll proposals have originated from county offices. In April, county officials held out the possibility of turning the Ridge Road extension into an 8.5-mile toll road. Turnpike planners also are studying that project and expect to wrap up their findings this fall. But the preliminary sense is that Pasco's southern portion of I-75 still does not have enough traffic to warrant toll lanes, Baker said. Wood said Pasco sees heavy jams during peak hours - southward in the mornings and northward in the evenings - but it could take longer periods of congestion before express lanes are justified. "Until you have urban congestion - the kind of thing you typically see on the I-275 in Tampa or I-95 in Miami, where you have four- to five-hour peaks - that is the kind of congestion that would make people drive on toll lanes," Wood said. Among other things, the Pasco study would also look into average incomes, types of trips and percentage of commuters on local stretches of I-75, he said. "We may not be there yet, but we've asked them to study it," Baker said. Chuin-Wei Yap can be reached at 813 909-4613 or cyap@sptimes.com. [Last modified August 24, 2007, 08:13:42] http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/24/No...tudy_of_.shtml Last edited by HARTride 2012; April 6th, 2013 at 02:01 PM.

September 13th, 2007, 02:19 AM	#8
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	I-75 to be widened in Hillsborough and Pasco counties I-75 to be widened in Hillsborough and Pasco counties Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Bay News 9 The state Department of Transportation will soon begin expanding I-75 from south of Fowler Avenue to Highway 52. Currently I-75 reduces from three lanes to two lanes at Fowler Avenue, and the road can be quite a bottleneck at rush hour. The road will be resurfaced and widened from four lanes to six lanes. "The widening is really needed now," said project manager Adam Perez. "I think it's pretty obvious to everyone that the widening is needed at this time. Of course, we're constrained by funding, so what we've tried to do is put the projects out that we're going to get the most benefit from." The project will be divided into segments, and each segment will be constructed as money becomes available. The project also includes the reconstruction of the interchanges at Highway 52 at San Antonio in Pasco County as well as County Road 54 at Wesley Chapel. Northbound exit ramps will also be added at State Road 56. Perez said the goal is to minimize impact on commuter traffic. "Most of the work that involves lane closures will be done at nighttime," he said. "So the lanes that are open today should remain open during daytime hours." Perez also said it won't be long before the DOT works on plans to widen the interstate to eight lanes. The DOT will hold a public meeting on the I-75 expansion Thursday at the Victorious Life Church activity center in Wesley Chapel at 5 p.m. http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...Pasco+counties

October 5th, 2007, 06:17 AM	#11
JBrisco USF Architecture Student Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FLA Posts: 1,525 Likes (Received): 0	Tampa Bay Interstates Thread Phase 1 of the new I-275 North Bound lane is under way and moving really fast, it is highly noticable at Howard and Armenia, they are already constructing the first set of bridges. They have also been examining the bridge over the Hillsborugh River which caused 2 lanes of North Bound traffic to be closed at night for the past month, and it appears they are looking at the southbound bridge now. I read in the mytbi file of the I-275 that they were giving it "ybor" treatment through West Tampa, can anyone confirm that? I think it would be great for that neighborhood, as it is becoming a vibrant-revitalized 'hood. I'll grab a picture of the development next time I drive by it during the day. Last edited by TampaMike; November 17th, 2011 at 10:18 PM.

October 6th, 2007, 07:28 AM	#14
Quegiebo SoHo Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,005 Likes (Received): 2	Maybe they'll put in a large, unused fountain. __________________ Never Underestimate the Power of Stupid People in Large Groups! Anonymous A head buried in the sand cannot see the light of truth. g. lilly

October 6th, 2007, 03:34 PM	#15
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	Yeah right. I don't think that's in the plans. But I still think the I-4 fountain was a big waste. __________________ Public Transit As Told By HARTride 2012 - Public Transit told from a unique perspective! - Tampa Bay, New York City, Hampton Roads, Europe \| Follow me on Twitter \| "Like" my page on Facebook

August 26th, 2007, 04:57 AM	#2
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	Now wait just a minute! Didn't our "friendly" representative John Mica ban stuff like this from being built? He certainly killed off Xpress 400. What is that language in all that anyway? Are all tolled lanes within interstates banned? Please! Someone clairify this issue!

August 28th, 2007, 03:25 AM	#3
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,269 Likes (Received): 7	I'm all for increasing capacity on existing corridors, rather than creating new corridors which destroy more of what little remains of Florida's rural countryside.

August 28th, 2007, 02:02 PM	#4
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	Yeah, but my question is...is this plan even possible after the demise of Xpress 400?

August 28th, 2007, 02:45 PM	#5
97Roll Tampa, FL Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 143 Likes (Received): 0	The prohibition of tolls applied to the Orlando Xpress 400 project specifically. There are a number of interstates around the US that have some form of tolling implemented. One study that the article left out was the possible tolled express lanes in the median of I-4 in Hillsborough County. Congestion pricing and HOT lanes are the wave of the future and basically the only funding option for expansion of existing highway infrastructure.

August 28th, 2007, 07:06 PM	#6
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	Thanks for the clarification. I feel much better now.

September 10th, 2007, 02:46 PM	#7
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	What exactly was wrong with Xpress 400 that had it killed off? Send me a PM later if you can. Anyways, I wouldn't mind paying a toll to travel I-75, US 19, or even I-4 (Hills) to bypass congestion. Such projects would probably help expand the Toll-by-Plate program down the road.

September 13th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#9
97Roll Tampa, FL Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 143 Likes (Received): 0	I would really like to know their definition of "soon". There is not any money allocated for the construction of this project in the forseeable future. Very misleading article...

September 14th, 2007, 02:07 PM	#10
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	I will agree with you on that one. Kind of reminds me of the TIA Interchanges project and how long that was shelved because of funding issues.

October 5th, 2007, 06:32 AM	#12
jonknee Downtown resident Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tampa Posts: 2,285 Likes (Received): 0	I can snap a pic of the Hillsborough river bridge work tomorrow as it's directly outside my balcony. They drove a bunch of supports in the river and erected temporary piers on both sides that each have a crane on them. And there is indeed a lot of work going on around Howard, impressive that they have done so much so fast.

October 7th, 2007, 06:17 AM	#16
smiley Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,095 Likes (Received): 0	Maybe they will actually use reclaimed water and add something mildly asthetically pleasing to Tampa instead of always giving us crap while other cities beautify and develop. Go look up the city beautiful movement from the last century . . . __________________ Do I contradict myself? Well then, I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes. I don't pretend 'cause I don't care.

October 8th, 2007, 02:01 PM	#18
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,103 Likes (Received): 24	They're very slow at posting new construction photos. From my understanding, thier web staff is quite miniscule so uploading photos is the last thing on their list. I know this because I emailed Mr. McShaffery (from FDOT) on the issue about a couple years ago. __________________ Public Transit As Told By HARTride 2012 - Public Transit told from a unique perspective! - Tampa Bay, New York City, Hampton Roads, Europe \| Follow me on Twitter \| "Like" my page on Facebook

October 9th, 2007, 05:37 AM	#19
JBrisco USF Architecture Student Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FLA Posts: 1,525 Likes (Received): 0	Did they relocate most of the former buildings on Luarel else where? Also, What do you think the new frontage streets will be like? Are they going to put Laurel St. (assuming it will be the same street name) where it used to be, or on the other side? Will Green street stay there? Those frontage roads will be very useful when rush hour rolls around. Thats going to be 9 lanes each direction 5 with out lights and 4 with.

October 11th, 2007, 06:06 PM	#20
tampajoe Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tampa FL / NY Posts: 75 Likes (Received): 0	I notice the downtown interchange lights are always off (at least half ) since construction finished. I wrote John McShaffrey : Hello. I was curious to know why the downtown interchange lights were already out (most of them) on a continuous bases. The interchange was just reconstructed but when I travel through the area, every three days or so at night, half the lights are out. I suppose this could be a safety issue since we are still getting used to the interchange, and when we go through it, it’s dark. Thank-you for your time, Joe.

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