AAA reports gas prices continue to recede amid the country’s troubled recessionary times and high unemployment… why? Chalk it up to the fundamentals of supply and demand. With demand way down as fewer people work and travel during these tough times, higher supply levels equate to lower prices at the pump. And every penny saved can help.
Gas prices have dropped seven cents over the past two weeks, according to The Lundberg Survey published Sunday. The Survey reports the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular is $2.52, down just over 12 cents since August 7, and indicates these prices mirror a fall in the price of crude oil, which has dropped nearly 12 cents a gallon in that same time.
Furthermore, industry analysts agree the trend for gas prices will only continue to descend. Currently, gas prices in the Tampa Bay region range from $2.32- $2.48 a gallon for self-serve regular.
Lakewood Drive will remain closed through approximately 12 p.m. Thursday between Brandon Boulevard and Lake Meadow Circle following an early morning fatal crash in Brandon. According to officials, a single car ran off of the roadway into a TECO power pole, killing the driver. Another passenger was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. TECO crews will also remain on-scene repairing the downed pole.
Drivers should plan for North-South alternates for Lakewood Drive to access Brandon Boulevard/SR-60 including Hilltop Road and Gornto Lake Road.
So I know this article is from last year (http://villageofjoy.com/interesting-bus-stops-around-the-world/)... but I recently stumbled on pictures of these eclectic bus-stops from around the world. Since most of us have waited for a bus at least once in our lifetime… we can relate. Do you know of anything like this in the Bay area?
Alicia 
Going green may not have to break the bank if you cruise around town in one of these 5 new ultra-efficient and reasonably priced cars… What do you think? http://www.mainstreet.com/slideshow/smart-spending/5-sweet-new-rides-under-12k?cm_ven=msunited
All lanes of US-92 are blocked at McIntosh Road for a serious crash… plan for E-W alternates including I-4 and MLK.
The right lane will be closed on westbound State Road 60 between 39th Street and 34th Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday (September 1 - 3). The turn lane will also be closed at 34th Street. The closures are needed for utility relocation work in advance of the I-4/Selmon Expressway Connector project that will begin construction in 2010.
Switch for Spruce Street and TPA traffic entering Memorial Highway / Westbound SR 60
By 5:30 a.m. Monday (August 31), there will be a new traffic pattern for drivers exiting Tampa International Airport (TPA) and westbound Spruce Street onto northbound… Memorial Highway / westbound State Road 60. This traffic will merge into the roadway where traffic coming from I-275 and Kennedy Boulevard was put into a new alignment on August 19. This will result in drivers from TPA and Spruce following these changes:
1. Traffic will now exit to the RIGHT (a 2-lane exit ramp) to go onto the Courtney Campbell Parkway (towards Clearwater).
a. Traffic going to Independence Parkway, Memorial Highway, Hillsborough Avenue, etc. will exit to the RIGHT north of the Courtney Campbell Parkway.
b. Drivers should closely watch for signs since after the combined exit to Independence/Memorial/Hillsborough, drivers will be on the Veterans Expressway and will have to PAY TOLLS.
Pasco drivers anticipate delays… a serious accident along SR-54 at Old County Road 54 in New Port Richey has all lanes blocked on this busy east-west route. A medical helicopter has been called to the scene.
Commuters should plan for alternates including Massachusetts Avenue and Trinity Blvd.
Traffic still being detoured in Pinellas Park as the intersection of 49th Street and Park Boulevard remains closed following an overnight fatal crash and investigation. Drivers in the area should plan for alternates including 34th and 66th Streets and 62nd Avenue North.
Head out on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, for the 6th annual Leigh Dittman birthday-fundraiser, benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children.
This annual event started when Leigh decided for her 3rd birthday that instead of presents, she wanted to help Shriners Hospitals for Children, where she has been a patient since before she was born. Now 9 years old, Leigh and her family, friends and Shriners family continue the tradition of celebrating her birthday while supporting the hospital system.
The fun begins at 6 p.m. at the India Cultural Center, located at 5511 Lynn Road in Tampa. There will be food, drinks, raffle prizes, and silent and live auctions.
Leigh was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. The condition affects the production of collagen in her bones, resulting in bones that easily fracture or break. Her family was referred to Shriners Hospitals for Children before she was born, and now Leigh considers the hospital her second home and the staff her extended family.
View a video and find out more about this event at http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/Tampa/News/news03250903.aspx
Pinellas Park, FL - 118th Ave./Bryan Dairy Rd. will be CLOSED under US 19 to all through traffic between 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 20th and 6:00 a.m. Monday, August 24th for intersection construction.
During these closures:
· US 19 will remain open.
· Motorists will NOT be able to cross 118th Ave./Bryan Dairy Rd. from the Frontage Roads or under US 19 on 118th Ave.
· Only right turns will be permitted at the intersection from all directions.
· Access to businesses will be maintained.
· Message boards and signs will assist motorists around work zone.
Detour dates may vary due to weather.
Northbound Memorial Highway / Westbound SR 60 Traffic Switch
Project: Tampa Airport Interchanges
Affects: Northbound Memorial Highway and Westbound State Road 60 Traffic
When: Wednesday, August 19 (Tuesday night into Wednesday by 5:30 a.m.)
Why: Switch traffic to the new northbound alignment, which will also allow for reconstruction of the existing northbound Memorial Highway/Eisenhower Blvd.
KEY CHANGES
1. Traffic coming from Kennedy Boulevard or I-275 on northbound Memorial Hwy. / westbound SR 60 will now exit to the RIGHT (a 2-lane exit ramp) to go onto the Courtney Campbell Parkway (towards Clearwater). This replaces the existing “triple left” turn onto the Courtney Campbell. Traffic going to Independence Parkway, Memorial Highway, Hillsborough Avenue, etc. will exit to the RIGHT north of the Courtney Campbell Parkway. Drivers should closely watch for signs and know where they want to go. After the combined exit to Independence/Memorial/Hillsborough, traffic will be on the Veterans Expressway and will PAY TOLLS.
2. For traffic coming from Spruce Street and Tampa International Airport (TPA), they will continue to exit to the left (one-lane exit ramp) for about one-to-two additional weeks. [After this period, these drivers will also be put into the new alignment and exit right to Clearwater.]
3. For these one-to-two weeks, Spruce Street and TPA traffic will NOT be able to exit to Independence Parkway—instead, they will continue north and use the Memorial Highway exit.
In an effort to provide more efficient service for riders, HART announced schedule adjustments to some of its bus service effective Sunday, July 26th, 2009.
Commuter Express Service
There are changes to the following Commuter Express routes:
Route 22X - Dover/Brandon Express
Route 24X - FishHawk/Riverview/MacDill AFB Express
Route 25X - South Brandon/MacDill AFB Express
Route 27X - FishHawk/South Brandon Express
Route 47LX - SouthShore Limited Express
Route 59LX - Westchase/Town ‘N Country Limited Express
Local Service Schedule Adjustments
There are some schedule changes to the following HART Local routes:
Route 2 - Nebraska Avenue
Route 6 - 56th Street
Route 7 - West Tampa/Citrus Park
Route 8 - Progress Village/Brandon
Route 15 - Columbus Drive
Route 18 - 30th Street
Route 19 - Port Tampa Route 30 - Town ‘N Country
Route 32 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Route 45 - UATC/Rome Ave./Westshore Plaza
Route 88 - Town ‘N Country Connector
New Configuration for Marion Transit Center
Stops at Marion Transit Center, HART’s downtown hub, are being reconfigured to improve the flow of traffic and increase efficiency.
For a detailed description of all of these schedule changes, visit HART’s new website at http://www.goHART.org! The site also provides trip planning feature powered by Google Transit, fare cards in the Online Transit Store, and complete route maps and schedules. You can also call the HARTinfo Line at (813) 254-HART to learn more.
The Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge and Intracoastal Waterway immediately surrounding will be intermittently closed Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for demolition of the two bascule piers and their towers of the former bridge structure. A detonation is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., weather permitting.
Also, an approximate 2,400-foot safety zone will be enforced by the Pinellas County Sheriff Office. Boaters will be detoured away from immediate area by the U.S. Coast Guard.
According to a Spokesperson for Pinellas County, the blast will not be visible to the public and the only anticipated audible noise will be a thud. Extra precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of manatees and dolphins in the area.
Traffic trying to access the bridge will be detoured over to Gulf Blvd. south to Walsingham Road/State Road 686 to Indian Rocks Road.
*** UPDATE
Flooding has all lanes blocked in Hillsborough County along US-41 at Causeway Blvd and Adamo Drive.
Flooding reported along the WB Crosstown Expressway near 22nd St.
*** Flooding Alerts:
PASCO - US 19 NB at Ranch Rd
PASCO - Ranch Road between US-19 and Zimmerman Rd
HILLSBOROUGH - Dale Mabry between Kennedy Blvd & Bay to Bay Blvd.
HILLSBOROUGH - US-41 & Causeway Blvd.
*** UPDATE: Just into the Traffic Center: As the waters shift along the highway, traffic is now squeezing through the intersection of US-19 and Ranch Road. Right now, the right lane is blocked along northbound US-19 at Ranch Road. Ranch Road itself is closed between US-19 and Embassy Blvd.
US-19 is now SHUT DOWN in both directions at Ranch Road in Pasco County due to flooding. Use Little Road as an alternate.
All Southbound lanes of the Veteran’s Expressway are CLOSED past Van ##### due to a crash. Dale Mabry can be used as an alternate here until the wreck clears.
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