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- FDOT Construction Update - Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties
- Driving in Fog
- SR-54 Public Hearing
- Tampa Airport Interchanges Construction Project Update
- Ironman 70.3 and Its Traffic Impact this Saturday
- November Construction Update
- Hillsborough County Launches County US 301 Construction on Thursday
- Himes Avenue Construction
- Railroad Construction Will Close a Portion of SR-60 in Hillsborough County
- What's Your Tastykake?
- I-75 Construction Closures
- Busch Boulevard Construction Is Now Underway
- Heavy Rains Delay Traffic Pattern Shift Near TIA
- Tampa Bay Commuters Go Green
- Tampa Airport Interchanges Updates - Eastbound SR 60 exit to TIA to switch back to right lane on Oct
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An off-duty Port Richey Deputy was involved in a multi-vehicle crash earlier this morning in Pasco County. Shortly before 6:30am, Pasco County Sheriff’s officials responded to an accident at the intersection of SR-54 and US 19. Two medical helicopters were called to the scene. Officials are reporting the officer’s injuries include minor abrasions from debris and glass. No word yet as to the extent of the injuries of the other victims. Traffic is snarled North and Southbound along US-19 as well as Westbound along Sr-54. Grand Boulevard is a good alternate for commuters this morning.
Watch: Skyway Construction and its Future
The Sunshine Skyway is as much statuesque as it is significant in bridging Manatee and Pinellas Counties. At 29,040 feet, it is one the world’s longest bridges with a cable-stayed main span. Twenty-one steel cables support the roadway, while two towers bear the bridge’s weight, a design known to be especially rigid and well-balanced.
The average bridge in Southwest Florida lasts 50 to 75 years. DOT Structures Engineer, Pepe Garcia says the biggest enemy when it comes to an aging bridge is the Florida weather, especially hurricanes.
PG: “After any kind of major storm event, certain bridges and the Skyway will be one of them, will be thoroughly inspected before traffic is allowed back on the bridge.”
Currently, the Skyway is undergoing a paint job on the bridge’s cables famous yellow cables.
PG: “The current construction project on the Skyway deals with aesthetic issues, there are no structural construction work going on at all, that is a big difference.”
A big difference to the type of structural repair work in progress on the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis at the time of its collapse.
PG: “This bridge is in a very good condition, it is well maintained… we have not found any critical structural problems that we need to report.”
The Sunshine Skyway was last inspected in September 2006 and will undergo another full inspection in 2008 as prescribed by the Federal Highway Administration. The current painting project across the Skyway, weather permitting, is scheduled to be completed later this year.
All this month in Traffic Talk, we’ll span the Bay area to survey some of the current and future construction projects on Bay area highways. This morning, we began our 4 part series with I-275 Northbound, where construction is underway in Hillsborough County - all part of an effort to widen one of the busiest thoroughfares in the state.
In fact, this August, crews began making safety and capacity improvements to the Northbound highway between Himes Avenue and the Hillsborough River. John McShaffrey is a Public Information Officer for FDOT. He recently sat down with me to discuss the work.
JM: “This is a whole new alignment for Northbound 275 in that area, if you will, we are building a whole highway next to the existing one. The Northbound lanes will be going from 3 to 4 lanes and we will be improving the interchanges at Howard and Downtown at Scott Street and Ashley Drive.”
Additionally, a median will be created where the current travel lanes are located. The median will be reserved for future transportation needs, including the possibility of light rail. Project improvements will also include noise barriers and aesthetic design treatments.
The good news for drivers, most of the I-275 proper work will occur overnight to prevent peak drive-time delays. Once the Northbound construction has been completed, crews will begin work on the Southbound travel lanes.
To view a simulated animation of the completed work on I-275 courtesy of FDOT, click on the above video link. And for more information on current and future construction work around the Bay area, visit http://www.mytbi.com.
These days, it seems some people will do anything to save a buck. Just take a look at the pictures above recorded along Florida’s Turnpike. These are some of the State’s repeat toll cheaters. And while it is illegal in the State of Florida to obscure or alter your license plate, that doesn’t seem to matter to these cheapskates.
Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Jorge Delahoz says that toll cheaters try to cover up their license plates and speed through toll plazas, hopeful to avoid being caught and ticketed for failing to pay up. And these cheaters have come up with some bold ways to try to beat the system.
Sgt. Delahoz: “We’ve had people on motorcycles and reach back there and cover it with their hands. We had people in a hatchback where a person has crawled in the back to cover it. Most people that commit a toll violation, that’s not the only violation they are committing, they’re usually uninsured, they have a suspended license, there is something else going on.”
And the problem is becoming more common with lost revenues cheating the state out of valuable dollars used to maintain our roads.
Sgt. Delahoz: “Right now it is costing the state about 20 million dollars in revenue.”
Technology is helping officials catch cheaters. For example, at the Anderson Road Toll Plaza along the Veteran’s Expressway, every travel lane is equipped with cameras which record the make and model and time of travel for repeat offenders. That information generates a “hot list” for troopers waiting nearby. And if you are caught cheating, repeat offenders could lose their license and face hefty fines. Sgt. Delahoz says cheating just doesn’t pay.
Sgt. Delahoz: “It’s a lot cheaper to pay your toll one hundred times than to get caught and get a ticket.”
And, on a side note, for those of us law abiding citizens, if you feel you have unfairly been charged at a toll plaza, you can contact Sunpass by visiting the following link at http://www.sunpass.com/violations.cfm.
I-75 Southbound has been completely reopened approaching Brandon Boulevard. An earlier jack-knifed tractor trailer caused significant delays for morning drivers. There were no injuries reported at the scene of the crash.
A jack-knifed tractor trailer on I-75 SB has multiple lanes blocked approaching Brandon Boulevard. The Fire Department and Road Rangers are on the scene responding.
Traffic is at a crawl in both directions approaching the crash. Southbound drivers should expect delays from the approach of I-4 into Brandon Boulevard. Traffic is inching along through that region, with speeds reported to be in the teens and single digits in terms of miles-per-hour. Northbound I-75 drivers will find a gaper delay extending back to the approach of the Crosstown Expressway through to the wreck.
Commuters should plan for significant delays in the area and plan for alternate routes. North-South substitute roadways include US-301 and Providence Road.
Stay with News Channel 8 for the latest news on this developing story.
Last we told you about talks to make Hillsborough’s portion of Bruce B. Downs a toll road for Pasco drivers. I received dozens of emails about the proposal and took your concerns to our county leaders.
I first spoke with Pasco County Commissioner, Ann Hildebrand:
AR: “I have received a lot of emails about the Bruce B. Downs Toll, what are your thoughts on it representing the Pasco residents?”
CH: “We’ve also had a lot of phone calls and emails from people shocked that we would have a toll booth between the two county lines.”
The toll was proposed by a Hillsborough County Task Force, in part, to collect money from Pasco County drivers who use Hillsborough’s portion of Bruce B. Downs. Hillsborough officials say the additional monies would help to pay for the expansion and upkeep of the North-South thoroughfare.
Yet Commissioner Hildebrand says that in the past, her county has pitched in to help pay for their growing population.
AH: “Pasco County, when Meadowpoint Development was developed, a majority of our impact fee dollars were spent to make improvements in Hillsborough County on Bruce B. Downs going south.”
I also spoke with Mayor Pam Iorio and other city officials about this ongoing debate. She stresses the importance of unifying our transportation system to break such county barriers.
PI: “In the past, there has been a lot of funding over very parochial transportation issues, but the fact is people travel within counties on a daily basis to get to work and for entertainment. Those jurisdictional lines truly need to be erased.”
But for now the county lines clearly still seems to be drawn and the debate continues.
Video Report: Belcher Road Extension Opens
Tuesday, August 28th, the long-anticipated Belcher Road Extension will open prior to the evening commute. This new, four-lane divided roadway extension will allow motorists to travel a 30-mile direct route from Tarpon Springs to Tyrone Boulevard in St. Petersburg.
The extension begins between Alderman and Klosterman Roads. Officials say it will help to reroute traffic from US 19, one of the most dangerous roadways in the West Central Florida Region. 20,000 vehicles are expected to travel on this new road segment every day.
With the Belcher Road extension, 4 miles of pedestrian sidewalks and 4-foot bike lanes have been created alongside of the roadway. The new bike lanes feed into the Pinellas Trail.
With the enormous growth that the Bay area has seen in the last decade, it has become clear that current highway infrastructure has not kept pace with demand. In response, city and county officials came together Friday morning charged with the mission of changing the face of transportation in West Central Flroida.
At their inaugural meeting, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, or TBARTA for short, talked about the importance first and foremost of unifying county lines. The sixteen member board also discussed their legacy project, The Regional Transportation Masterplan. This Masterplan will serve to implement TBARTA’s proposed transportation initiatives into a cohesive system. Among the goals of TBARTA is to bring a transit rail system to fruition.
For more information on TBARTA, check out the video above with exclusive interviews from Mayors Pam Iorio and Rick Baker.
Video: Bruce B. Downs Toll Plaza
Last week Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan talked with me about a possible toll plaza along Bruce B. Downs at the county line.
KH: “With the escalating cost of road construction, i think that it is imperative that we look at all of our options.”
Hillsborough County Commissioners are considering the Bruce B. Downs toll as a way to generate money from Pasco residents who use Hillsborough County’s portion of Bruce B. Downs. But residents in both counties agree that something needs to be done along this busy roadway to combat the growing traffic crunch.
KH: “Having lived in New Tampa for 13 years, I can tell you firsthand that the congestion is horrible and it is only getting worse. And according to our staff over 50% of the congestion on Bruce B. Downs is generated from Pasco County.”
The toll is only in a concept phase and the county will now consider its overall community impact and feasibility. If the project moves along, this toll is not predicted to effect until at least late 2008.
And we want to hear from you. Do you think that Pasco County drivers should pay to travel on Hillsborough County’s portion of Bruce B. Downs? Post you thoughts here. On Friday morning, I will take your questions to officials at the Transportation Task Force for answers.
A sign on I-275 warns motorists of impending closures.
Please note the following announcements from the Florida DOT regarding the funeral procession of Sgt. Ron Harrison:
The Florida Department of Transportation will assist the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and many other law enforcement agencies in setting up lane closures for the funeral procession for Sgt. Ronald Harrison on Tuesday, August 21, 2007.
The route will extend from Idlewild Baptist Church, 18375 N. Dale Mabry, to the Garden of Memories located at 40th Street and Lake Avenue. The procession will depart Idlewild Baptist Church and head south on Dale Mabry Hwy, east on Bearss Ave, south on I-275, and east on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd to the cemetery.
Complete closures will take place on southbound I-275 at the I-75/I-275 apex to MLK Blvd. In addition, closures are expected on Dale Mabry, Bearss, and MLK Blvd. Expect heavy traffic delays between 2:30 and 7:00 p.m. Message boards will be up to notify motorists of the heavy traffic delays. Motorists are urged to take alternate southbound routes including Florida and Nebraska Avenues and I-75.
Our thanks to the Tampa Bay community for their patience and thoughts as we honor Sgt. Ron Harrison.
Every day, some 440,000 yellow school buses transport more than 24 million children nationwide - but parents and students need to take heed to a danger that puts our kids at risk.
Statistics show that school buses are the safest way to transport children. Yet the most dangerous time for students is not when they are on the bus, but rather while they are getting on and off of it.
I recently spoke with John Franklin, General Manager for the Hillsborough County Public Schools Transportation Department, about school bus pedestrian safety.
JF: “The most dangerous time for a student getting on and off the school bus is when they are physically walking to and walking from the bus and when they are off the bus and around the vicinity of the bus.”
John also emphasizes that school bus safety requires everyone’s cooperation.
JF: “My message for the students is to arrive at your bus stop about 5 minutes early, wear bright colored clothes, stay about 10 steps off of the road, once the driver pulls up in the bus and comes to a complete stop, line up and then walk to the bus in an orderly fashion, very slowly.”
Also when exiting the school bus,
JF: “Make sure that when you get off of the bus you walk away from the bus or you cross 5 steps in front of the bus and look at your driver before you cross.”
And parents are an important part of bus stop safety.
JF: It’s very important that parents escort their children to the bus stop to make sure that they are safe on their way to and from the bus stop.”
Additionally, safety is a big priority for the Hillsborough County School Board, all new school buses come with larger window panes, a sloped hood as well as window panes on the side of the bus to better allow the school bus drivers to see his or her students.”
JF: “We want to make sure our students are safe and accounted for.”
Finally, all drivers need to remember that is illegal to pass a school bus when students are loading and unloading. Now, there is a toll free to reports drivers who do not stop for school buses… that number is 1-888-stop-4-kids. Just make sure to copy down the plate number of the offending driver.
Alicia Roberts with Sherri and “Crickett” at the SPCA’s National Homeless Animals Day
A special thank you to the SPCA Tampa Bay. On Saturday, I volunteered with their National Homeless Animals Day, hosting an event highlighting the work of several breed rescue organizations. These groups and their volunteers tirelessly serve some very loving and sweet animals in need throughout the bay area. The picture you see is of little Crickett, a darling Yorkshire Terrier. While Crickett now has a loving home with Sherri, who you also see in the picture, many other Yorkies, puppies and dogs are in desperate need of a forever home. In addition, the SPCA currently has more than 150 kittens and cats that also want to find a loving family and companion.
If you are interested in adopting a special furry friend, contact the SPCA Tampa Bay at 727-586-3591 or visit them at their Largo location just south of the Ulmerton and Starkey Roads intersection (9099 130th Avenue North, Largo, FL 33773).
Or feel free to also contact one of the following breed rescues for more information on a specific pup!
Russell Rescue Inc - http://www.russellrescue.com
Daschunds - http://www.daretorescue.com
Weimaraner Rescue - http://www.flweimrescue.com
Linda Bolling, a client of Wheels of Success, and two of her children with their car
HAVE A CAR YOU DON’T NEED? DONATE IT TO WHEELS OF SUCCESS
Wheels of Success, Inc., the grassroots nonprofit organization that helps working families by providing them with transportation so they can continue to work, would like to help you part with the car you don’t need or want.
“We are hoping to assist 50 families on Labor Day by giving them vehicles that are donated, which we repair, if necessary, to help them continue to remain working and viable,” said Susan Jacobs, founder and CEO of Wheels of Success, Inc. based in Tampa but serving Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
“We’ll pick up the car; it doesn’t even have to be in running condition,” said Jacobs, adding “we take all kinds, whether they’re classics or clunkers!”
Anyone interested in donating a vehicle should also know that the U.S. Department of Treasury has revised the tax laws regarding the donation of automobiles and the deductions that can be claimed. The result is: You may be able to claim more by donating your car to Wheels of Success than other non-profit organizations.
Depending on the condition of your automobile Wheels of Success may be able to offer it to a family in need of reliable transportation. As a result you would be able to claim fair market value. If another non-profit organization simply sells your car, you would only be able to claim to amount it was sold for.
Please check with your accountant about the actual amount allowed for deduction.
Wheels of Success asks those clients who benefit from the program to “Pay it Forward.” Clients receiving a vehicle “buy” it from the program by making monthly payments based on ability to pay, as well as donating 5 service hours per month to the organization. These payments enable our Clients to make a difference and help Wheels of Success keep rolling and serving others.
Since its inception in 2003, Wheels of Success has assisted 176 families and 120 have received cars. An additional 56 families have received car repairs, down payment, insurance or other assistance. In 2007 alone, 31 families have received cars and 20 additional clients have been given vehicle repairs or assistance.
The organization gladly accepts all vehicles or cash donations to help with the cost of repairs which will be matched by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County up to $10,000. They can be made by visiting the website, http://www.wheelsofsuccess.org and clicking on make a donation. For additional information, please call 813-490-9443.
Special thanks also to Susan Jacobs, Don Kruse, Linda Bolling, Gregg Laskoski, and Luis Delatorre for sharing their time with me to tell this story. By the way, Mr. Delatorre and his family at DLT Wholesales donate their time to repair the cars for the families in need to make them “road safe.”
Good news to pass along on this difficult morning. The Fletcher Avenue railroad crossing just east of the intersection of Nebraska Avenue has been reopened several days early. Repairs were scheduled to extend through August 19th.
CSX railroad officials shut down the intersection back in July to replace the damaged railbed which had become unsafe for vehicles and trains. Fletcher Avenue is a main east-est thoroughfare for drivers in northern Tampa. The closure along Fletcher caused significant travel time delays along Bearss and Fowler Avenues, its alternates.
Drivers, including USF students, are relieved to hear this roadway is once again accessible. Classes begin in only a few weeks.
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