Selmon-Crosstown Expressway Discussion

HARTride 2012 · October 16th, 2007, 05:23 PM

This thread is devoted to news regarding the Lee Roy Selmon-Crosstown Expressway. Topics include the new reversible express lanes and the future I-4/Crosstown Connector.

Interstate 4, Crosstown may finally be connected
Tuesday, October 16, 2007

TAMPA (Bay News 9) -- A connector road between Interstate 4 and the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown expressway has been discussed among city leaders for years.

But the roadway became a step closer to reality Monday when a deal was reached to finance the project. The Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority would pay for $45 million of the $600 million tab.

The Turnpike Enterprise would contribute $80 million and the state's department of transportation would pick up the rest of the bill under the plans of the agreement.

With financing set, the next step would be to secure a contractor. That could happen by late 2009. Construction is expected to begin in 2010 and take four years to complete.

Part of the problem getting the project started has been rising costs for concrete and steel. That prompted the state to seek its financing partners, the authority and turnpike enterprise.

The connector road would create another entry point into Tampa and divert truck traffic to Port Tampa off Ybor City streets.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...y+be+connected

HARTride 2012 · October 16th, 2007, 05:24 PM

Another step closer for the connector. I'm certainly looking forward to the beginning of construction.

JBrisco · October 16th, 2007, 05:41 PM

Me too, very usesful especially during Rush Hour.

HARTride 2012 · October 17th, 2007, 04:59 AM

Project Information

http://www.mytbi.com/urs.asp

Select one of three components under the I-4 category.

HARTride 2012 · October 17th, 2007, 03:45 PM

Agencies will split the costs of Ybor link
An I-4-Crosstown connector likely will be finished by 2013.
By MIKE BRASSFIELD, Times Staff Writer
Published October 17, 2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT

Breaking News Video

TAMPA - Today, 31st Street in Ybor City is a wasteland of weedy vacant lots and scrap yards. In two years, construction is supposed to begin there on an elevated road that will plug a gap in the Tampa Bay region's highway network.

The catch is, this long-awaited link between Interstate 4 and the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway has become so costly, highway officials have been laboring over how to pay for it.

Now, after months of discussion, three road-building agencies have ironed out how they'll split the tab. The state Department of Transportation will pay the lion's share of the $600-million cost, with Florida's Turnpike Enterprise paying $80-million and the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority paying $45-million.

The specifics of the deal are slightly disappointing for the Expressway Authority, which runs the Crosstown. It had hoped to take on a bigger piece of this project to gain control over the tolls charged on the new road.

But ultimately, the agency is just pleased that the Crosstown Connector will finally be built, likely by 2013.

"It's a good thing for the region," said Expressway Authority spokeswoman Sue Chrzan. "Connecting these two roads will make a great way for people to go from one side of Tampa to the other without having to go through the downtown interchange" where I-4 meets I-275.

State officials have yet to decide what the toll will be; they have discussed a range from 25 cents to $1. Tolls on the rest of the Crosstown range from 75 cents to $3, depending on distances.

The connector will be a mile-long series of elevated bridges. It will follow a railroad corridor beside 31st Street in an industrial zone about 10 blocks east of Ybor City's historic and entertainment district.

Aside from giving cars another route, its trucks-only ramps will funnel fuel tankers and cargo trucks directly between I-4 and the Port of Tampa, keeping them out of Ybor. About 11,000 trucks a day come and go from the port.

"It will take a lot of truck traffic off the roads, which will be a huge benefit," said port spokesman Andy Fobes.

The project's price tag has ballooned to roughly $600-million because of the rising costs of road and bridge construction.

So the Transportation Department looked for financial help from two toll road agencies - the Expressway Authority, which operates only in Hillsborough County; and the Turnpike, which operates statewide.

Though they've settled on their three-way partnership, they have yet to decide exactly how they'll split all the tolls, Chrzan said.

The Expressway Authority had discussed paying $125-million and taking on the Turnpike's share of the project. Then the local agency could set the tolls on the new road and keep the money collected.

That would simplify matters because the road will be directly connected to the Crosstown, which the Expressway Authority already controls. And that way, the tolls would be funneled back into Hillsborough toll road projects, Chrzan said.

But the Transportation Department rejected that plan because it was cheaper for the Turnpike to borrow $80-million by issuing bonds, and the Turnpike already had taken steps to do so.

The Turnpike also makes the point that the tolls it collects also benefit local drivers - because the statewide agency has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into roads such as the Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway, both of which are due to be widened or extended.

Mike Brassfield can be reached at brassfield@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 17, 2007, 00:10:17]

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/17/Hi..._split_t.shtml

HARTride 2012 · October 17th, 2007, 06:08 PM

For those of you who may be confused, this will be another tolled road with overhead gantries. No toll booths will be built from my understanding.

thehappysmith · October 17th, 2007, 06:39 PM

^
Good. I know people are still iffy about buying the SunPass but it's time the expressway authority force people to join the 21st century and stop plunking quarters in a basket. The reversible lanes on the Crosstown are the highlight of my driving week (Thursday evenings) because there's no traffic and you don't have to slow down for the toll. Like the jughandle Sunpass lanes on the northern stretches of the Veterans, I do hope eventually all the toll roads in the state will be able to ditch their toll booths and operate on a Sunpass - or - Pay-By-Plate standard.

And may I just say: Dang. I mean, we think we finally have the financing, but we're not going to seek a contractor for two more years? A lot can happen in two years. I'm sure there's a valid reason for the delay but it's still pooey.

HARTride 2012 · October 17th, 2007, 08:53 PM

According to a FL Turnpike representative that I spoke with a few months back. Trying to get Toll-by-Plate to go statewide will be a major but time consuming effort. Mainly because the Orlando and Miami Expressway Authorities must agree to have the program also. I'm assuming it will be a couple years at best before Toll-by-Plate expands significantly. Of course with the I-4/Crosstown Connector, this will probably expand the program some in the Tampa area.

JBrisco · October 18th, 2007, 06:11 AM

The veterans has it, because I've ran several tolls with out my sunpass, and I never get a ticket. Either does my dad.

thehappysmith · October 18th, 2007, 03:03 PM

^ I don't know whether it's statewide or not yet. IF (big if) you have a Sunpass or you've set up pay-by-plate, if you run a sunpass toll without a sunpass they'll photograph you and bill you based on your plate. If you haven't signed up for a sunpass yet you're not in their system and you get a fine. I ran a toll in Dade County in January because we were fiddling with the SunPass (seeing how far from the windshield it could be and still work; we were planning to market a SunPass hat or sunglasses but as we learned, it won't work) and when we called the turnpike authority they said as long as we were in the SunPass system we'd be charged for the toll and wouldn't be fined. That's mighty convenient (one more reason to buy the windshield candy).

HARTride 2012 · October 19th, 2007, 02:16 PM

Perhaps Toll-by-Plate is already on the Veterans. I know the Lutz-Lake Fern Rd interchange will have no plazas when it opens down the road. So it will be either SunPass or Toll-by-Plate.

Now whether it is statewide, I doubt it is right now. Again, according to the Turnpike representative I spoke with, it most likely will be several years before Toll-by-Plate goes statewide because the Orlando and Miami expressway authorities (which by far, are larger than THCEA) must agree to go with the system also. The Veterans and Crosstown Expressways don't connect to other tolled roads so it is not so difficult to manage the program on these thoroughfares.

Jasonhouse · October 20th, 2007, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBrisco

The veterans has it, because I've ran several tolls with out my sunpass, and I never get a ticket. Either does my dad.

I'm not sure if they are able to ticket poepl just yet... I must admit, I figured out some time ago that the elevated lanes on the Crosstown didn't give tickets if you hadn't registered your plate. I haven't done it in a few months, but I drove on that thing like 10-15 times earlier this year and never got anything sent to me.

HARTride 2012 · October 21st, 2007, 01:53 AM

Interesting...but very lousy. I'm suspecting corruption in the system...

97Roll · October 22nd, 2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wslupecki

Interesting...but very lousy. I'm suspecting corruption in the system...

A more likely explanation is that they are still working out the bugs in an extremely complicated system

HARTride 2012 · October 22nd, 2007, 11:06 PM

Big technology advances take time to perfect...or so we think...perfect.

That's what I meant to say by "corruption". Sorry, if I didn't clarify that.

JBrisco · October 23rd, 2007, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

I'm not sure if they are able to ticket poepl just yet... I must admit, I figured out some time ago that the elevated lanes on the Crosstown didn't give tickets if you hadn't registered your plate. I haven't done it in a few months, but I drove on that thing like 10-15 times earlier this year and never got anything sent to me.

I've gotten tickets before I had a sunpass.

Jasonhouse · October 23rd, 2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97Roll

A more likely explanation is that they are still working out the bugs in an extremely complicated system

Right?

Slupecki... Not everything is corrupt dude. sheesh!

HARTride 2012 · October 23rd, 2007, 05:15 PM

Yeah. Just good old bugs in the system. That'll get cleared up sooner or later.

Maxim98 · October 23rd, 2007, 09:34 PM

Yeah, I've been on the crosstown and forgot to put up the sun pass... no slap on the wrists yet.

FloridaFuture · October 23rd, 2007, 10:25 PM

As far as the Sunpass goes they usually won't give you a ticket if you go through wothout paying. They check your plate number (camera) to make sure you are actually registered to have a Sunpass and if so they charge your account, if not then they may fine you.

I bet they are forced realize the transponders aren't perfect and brake, run out of power or people go through to fast. Should be a fine if they people go through to fast but I don't think they do.

Now has anyone seen the Sunpass for say the Suncoast Pkwy? It's nice how it is just an anrch on a seperate lane off to the side, and you go through it normal speed. Creates less congestion, confusion and accidents. You of course just have to have room to build that extra lane which isn't usually possible in the city.

October 16th, 2007, 05:23 PM	#1
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	Selmon-Crosstown Expressway Discussion This thread is devoted to news regarding the Lee Roy Selmon-Crosstown Expressway. Topics include the new reversible express lanes and the future I-4/Crosstown Connector. Interstate 4, Crosstown may finally be connected Tuesday, October 16, 2007 TAMPA (Bay News 9) -- A connector road between Interstate 4 and the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown expressway has been discussed among city leaders for years. But the roadway became a step closer to reality Monday when a deal was reached to finance the project. The Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority would pay for $45 million of the $600 million tab. The Turnpike Enterprise would contribute $80 million and the state's department of transportation would pick up the rest of the bill under the plans of the agreement. With financing set, the next step would be to secure a contractor. That could happen by late 2009. Construction is expected to begin in 2010 and take four years to complete. Part of the problem getting the project started has been rising costs for concrete and steel. That prompted the state to seek its financing partners, the authority and turnpike enterprise. The connector road would create another entry point into Tampa and divert truck traffic to Port Tampa off Ybor City streets. http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2...y+be+connected __________________ 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 Last edited by HARTride 2012; October 17th, 2007 at 06:11 PM.

October 16th, 2007, 05:24 PM	#2
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	Another step closer for the connector. I'm certainly looking forward to the beginning of construction. __________________ 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 17th, 2007, 04:59 AM	#4
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	Project Information http://www.mytbi.com/urs.asp Select one of three components under the I-4 category. __________________ 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 17th, 2007, 03:45 PM	#5
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	Agencies will split the costs of Ybor link An I-4-Crosstown connector likely will be finished by 2013. By MIKE BRASSFIELD, Times Staff Writer Published October 17, 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT Breaking News Video TAMPA - Today, 31st Street in Ybor City is a wasteland of weedy vacant lots and scrap yards. In two years, construction is supposed to begin there on an elevated road that will plug a gap in the Tampa Bay region's highway network. The catch is, this long-awaited link between Interstate 4 and the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway has become so costly, highway officials have been laboring over how to pay for it. Now, after months of discussion, three road-building agencies have ironed out how they'll split the tab. The state Department of Transportation will pay the lion's share of the $600-million cost, with Florida's Turnpike Enterprise paying $80-million and the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority paying $45-million. The specifics of the deal are slightly disappointing for the Expressway Authority, which runs the Crosstown. It had hoped to take on a bigger piece of this project to gain control over the tolls charged on the new road. But ultimately, the agency is just pleased that the Crosstown Connector will finally be built, likely by 2013. "It's a good thing for the region," said Expressway Authority spokeswoman Sue Chrzan. "Connecting these two roads will make a great way for people to go from one side of Tampa to the other without having to go through the downtown interchange" where I-4 meets I-275. State officials have yet to decide what the toll will be; they have discussed a range from 25 cents to $1. Tolls on the rest of the Crosstown range from 75 cents to $3, depending on distances. The connector will be a mile-long series of elevated bridges. It will follow a railroad corridor beside 31st Street in an industrial zone about 10 blocks east of Ybor City's historic and entertainment district. Aside from giving cars another route, its trucks-only ramps will funnel fuel tankers and cargo trucks directly between I-4 and the Port of Tampa, keeping them out of Ybor. About 11,000 trucks a day come and go from the port. "It will take a lot of truck traffic off the roads, which will be a huge benefit," said port spokesman Andy Fobes. The project's price tag has ballooned to roughly $600-million because of the rising costs of road and bridge construction. So the Transportation Department looked for financial help from two toll road agencies - the Expressway Authority, which operates only in Hillsborough County; and the Turnpike, which operates statewide. Though they've settled on their three-way partnership, they have yet to decide exactly how they'll split all the tolls, Chrzan said. The Expressway Authority had discussed paying $125-million and taking on the Turnpike's share of the project. Then the local agency could set the tolls on the new road and keep the money collected. That would simplify matters because the road will be directly connected to the Crosstown, which the Expressway Authority already controls. And that way, the tolls would be funneled back into Hillsborough toll road projects, Chrzan said. But the Transportation Department rejected that plan because it was cheaper for the Turnpike to borrow $80-million by issuing bonds, and the Turnpike already had taken steps to do so. The Turnpike also makes the point that the tolls it collects also benefit local drivers - because the statewide agency has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into roads such as the Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway, both of which are due to be widened or extended. Mike Brassfield can be reached at brassfield@sptimes.com. [Last modified October 17, 2007, 00:10:17] http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/17/Hi..._split_t.shtml __________________ 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 17th, 2007, 06:08 PM	#6
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	For those of you who may be confused, this will be another tolled road with overhead gantries. No toll booths will be built from my understanding. __________________ 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 16th, 2007, 05:41 PM	#3
JBrisco USF Architecture Student Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FLA Posts: 1,525 Likes (Received): 0	Me too, very usesful especially during Rush Hour.

October 17th, 2007, 06:39 PM	#7
thehappysmith Two-bit Hack Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Greenville Posts: 333 Likes (Received): 0	^ Good. I know people are still iffy about buying the SunPass but it's time the expressway authority force people to join the 21st century and stop plunking quarters in a basket. The reversible lanes on the Crosstown are the highlight of my driving week (Thursday evenings) because there's no traffic and you don't have to slow down for the toll. Like the jughandle Sunpass lanes on the northern stretches of the Veterans, I do hope eventually all the toll roads in the state will be able to ditch their toll booths and operate on a Sunpass - or - Pay-By-Plate standard. And may I just say: Dang. I mean, we think we finally have the financing, but we're not going to seek a contractor for two more years? A lot can happen in two years. I'm sure there's a valid reason for the delay but it's still pooey.

October 17th, 2007, 08:53 PM	#8
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	According to a FL Turnpike representative that I spoke with a few months back. Trying to get Toll-by-Plate to go statewide will be a major but time consuming effort. Mainly because the Orlando and Miami Expressway Authorities must agree to have the program also. I'm assuming it will be a couple years at best before Toll-by-Plate expands significantly. Of course with the I-4/Crosstown Connector, this will probably expand the program some in the Tampa area. __________________ 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 18th, 2007, 06:11 AM	#9
JBrisco USF Architecture Student Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FLA Posts: 1,525 Likes (Received): 0	The veterans has it, because I've ran several tolls with out my sunpass, and I never get a ticket. Either does my dad.

October 18th, 2007, 03:03 PM	#10
thehappysmith Two-bit Hack Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Greenville Posts: 333 Likes (Received): 0	^ I don't know whether it's statewide or not yet. IF (big if) you have a Sunpass or you've set up pay-by-plate, if you run a sunpass toll without a sunpass they'll photograph you and bill you based on your plate. If you haven't signed up for a sunpass yet you're not in their system and you get a fine. I ran a toll in Dade County in January because we were fiddling with the SunPass (seeing how far from the windshield it could be and still work; we were planning to market a SunPass hat or sunglasses but as we learned, it won't work) and when we called the turnpike authority they said as long as we were in the SunPass system we'd be charged for the toll and wouldn't be fined. That's mighty convenient (one more reason to buy the windshield candy).

October 19th, 2007, 02:16 PM	#11
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	Perhaps Toll-by-Plate is already on the Veterans. I know the Lutz-Lake Fern Rd interchange will have no plazas when it opens down the road. So it will be either SunPass or Toll-by-Plate. Now whether it is statewide, I doubt it is right now. Again, according to the Turnpike representative I spoke with, it most likely will be several years before Toll-by-Plate goes statewide because the Orlando and Miami expressway authorities (which by far, are larger than THCEA) must agree to go with the system also. The Veterans and Crosstown Expressways don't connect to other tolled roads so it is not so difficult to manage the program on these thoroughfares. __________________ 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 21st, 2007, 01:53 AM	#13
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	Interesting...but very lousy. I'm suspecting corruption in the system... __________________ 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 22nd, 2007, 11:06 PM	#15
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	Big technology advances take time to perfect...or so we think...perfect. That's what I meant to say by "corruption". Sorry, if I didn't clarify that. __________________ 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 23rd, 2007, 05:15 PM	#18
HARTride 2012 Let's go... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 10,107 Likes (Received): 24	Yeah. Just good old bugs in the system. That'll get cleared up sooner or later. __________________ 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 23rd, 2007, 09:34 PM	#19
Maxim98 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA / London, UK Posts: 1,244 Likes (Received): 0	Yeah, I've been on the crosstown and forgot to put up the sun pass... no slap on the wrists yet.

October 23rd, 2007, 10:25 PM	#20
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	As far as the Sunpass goes they usually won't give you a ticket if you go through wothout paying. They check your plate number (camera) to make sure you are actually registered to have a Sunpass and if so they charge your account, if not then they may fine you. I bet they are forced realize the transponders aren't perfect and brake, run out of power or people go through to fast. Should be a fine if they people go through to fast but I don't think they do. Now has anyone seen the Sunpass for say the Suncoast Pkwy? It's nice how it is just an anrch on a seperate lane off to the side, and you go through it normal speed. Creates less congestion, confusion and accidents. You of course just have to have room to build that extra lane which isn't usually possible in the city.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode