Tampa Bay Express Summary Report Of

Home , East Tampa, Rivercrest, Robles Park, Seminole Heights, West Tampa

Florida Department of Transportation District VII Tampa Bay Express

Community Engagement Facilitation October-December 2015

Deliverable #4: Summary Report of Neighborhood Workshops Series One Principal Investigator: Taryn Sabia, Visiting Research Associate Professor

University of South Florida Center for Community Design and Research

4202 E. Fowler Avenue HMS 301 Tampa, FL 33620

Email address: [email protected] Phone number: 813-850-9736

DSR Administrative Contact: Ray Charles

University of South Florida

4202 E. Fowler Avenue Department of Sponsored Research Tampa, FL 33620

Email address: [email protected] Phone number: 813-974-5082

Project Manager: Chris Speese, Public Involvement & Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator

FDOT District VII

11201 N. McKinley Drive, MS 7-500 Tampa, FL 33612

Phone number: 813-975-6405 About the Project...... 3

Workshop Invitation...... 4

Workshop Agenda...... 5

11.02.15 Downtown Charrette...... 6 Responses Asset Mapping

11.03.15 West River Charrette...... 10 Responses Asset Mapping

11.17.15 Seminole Heights Charrette...... 14 Responses Asset Mapping

12.5.15 Children’s Charrette...... 20 Responses

12.07.15 Tampa Heights Charrette...... 22 Responses Asset Mapping

12.08.15 Ybor Charrette...... 28 Responses Asset Mapping

Summary Findings...... 32

Inter-Agency Charrette...... 34

Appendix A...... 39 Table of Contents Appendix B...... 39 1 Pictured: The proposed master plan for the Tampa Bay area as depicted in the Tampa Bay Express Draft Master Plan.

Limits: I-275/SR-60 interchange to north of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and north of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to north of Bearss Avenue.

I-4/I-275 Junction to east of 50th Street.

2 Background Statement

The Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) recently adopted the Tampa Bay Express (TBX) project into the County’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). As part of the TBX planning process, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District VII is seeking input from neighborhood residents and business owners regarding how TBX will impact adjacent neighborhoods and what mitigation efforts are desired to meet the neighborhoods’ needs.

Project Objectives

The Florida Center for Community Design and Research (FCCDR) is uniquely suited to assist FDOT District VII to reach out to those neighborhoods affected by the TBX project. FCCDR will serve as the Community Engagement Facilitator. The community engagement facilitator helps a group or groups of people understand their common objectives and assists them to plan how to achieve these objectives; in doing so, the facilitator remains “neutral,” meaning he/she does not take a particular position in the - er. FCCDR will provide method and means to enable agencies, groups, and individu- als to craft solutions to complex issues facing their community regarding the TBX project. FCCDR will report back to FDOT District VII throughout the facilitation process.

The FCCDR will facilitate numerous meetings/workshops to help them:

• Develop a common understanding of the neighborhood concerns related to the TBX project • Frame the concerns regarding the TBX project in the context of the community/neighborhoods to determine neighborhood needs • Develop shared goals and objectives addressing the neighborhood needs regarding the TBX project • Put together plans/reports to clarify and visualize the shared goals and objectives that meet neighborhood needs About the Community Engagement Process 3 Getting Engaged

This is an example letter of those emailed to neighborhood organizations, community leaders, business owners, and other residents to invite and encourage attendance at the TBX community workshops during series one. Additional advertisements for the workshops were distributed through 22,000 mailers and in local newspa- pers. Social media was also used to inform community groups about the workshop locations, dates, and times, particularly utilizing Facebook posts and messages. In- formational outreach of this nature will continue throughout the workshop engagement process for Series 2 and 3.

4 Example Agenda

Example Agenda for workshops in Series 1. Participant lists can be found in Appendix A. workshop series concluded with a community presentation.

Neighborhood Date

Downtown November 2, 2015 West River November 3, 2015 Seminole Heights November 17, 2015 Children’s December 5, 2015 Tampa Heights December 7, 2015 Ybor December 8, 2015

Participating community members were asked to identify characteristics and positive attributes about their neighborhoods. In teams, participants prioritized these attributes to describe the special qualities that the participants then mapped important assets within their neighborhoods. Creating the Asset Maps provided a basis of discussion for community members to determine overall needs in the neighborhoods and their concerns about the potential impacts of the TBX project. Included with the asset maps are lists of attributes, assets, and needs. Teams categorized their needs and provided requests for studies to accompany the TBX projects.

5 Attributes Assets • Museums • La Segunda • Lots of potential • Tampa Heights Jr. Civic Assn. • Curtis Hixon Park • Café Hey • Bayshore • Oceania Market • Street cars • Sunshine House Day School • History • Franklin Street • Multicultural • Vault • Blank slate • Tampa Theater • Some nice architecture • Friends • Stetson • Great schools • Ulele • Vinik’s Wellness Declaration • Rialto

• Tampa Theater • FMOPA Building • Friends of Riverwalk • Straz • Cultural assets • Parks (Curtis Hixon, Water- Works) • Fairly affordable • Convention Center • Amalie Arena • Tampa Bay History Center • University of Tampa Downtown Charrette • Tampa Union Station Group Responses 11.02.15 6 Downtown Team 1 11.02.15

1. Neighborhood/Urban Core o Franklin Street revitalization • Encourage live-work-play lifestyle • Riverwalk continuation • Make locals the priority o Create nodes along River • Create a gateways into downtown 5. Transit Alternatives to TBX o From Ybor o From Tampa Heights • Expand street car o From the interstate • Trolley line 2. Sense of Identity and Place Concerns • Keep historic buildings • Encourage local businesses • Exit volume onto local streets o Café Hey o Oceania Market o Exit speeds o Ulele • Florida Avenue and Tampa Street one-way pairs o La Segunda • Waterworks Park impact and design of Ashley on/off ramps 3. Connectivity and Cohesion • Bike Pedestrian Path Jefferson Ave. • Reduce size of Ashley Dr. Exit ramps • Make pedestrians a priority • Safer crosswalks • Better sidewalks • East-West Corridors (Cass St., Kennedy) • North-South Access (Tampa, Florida, Nebraska, Ashley) • Connections across the Hillsborough river 4. Public Realm Enhancements • Parks are a priority o Access to parks o Maintainence • Start up and Protect Existing o Curtis-Hixon Park o Waterworks Park o Julian B. Lane 7 Downtown Team A 11.02.15 Concerns • Design of I-4/I-275 interchange and the spance beneath it (crime, 1. Riverfront disconnected from neighborhoods) • Activate nodal points • Accessibility under the interstate • Shade • Views to downtown from interstate • Water transit • Exit ramps and speeds 2. Character • Create gateways into downtown o Ashley Exit • Integrate current InVision Plan o Green Spine • Live, Work, Play, Shop • Focus needs to be on a walkable city center rather than long distance 3. Culture commutes • Preserve/integrate historic character • Outdated design/lack of gateway to downtown • Preserve historic sites • Connectivity under interstate 4. Potential Opportunity • Lack of safe bicycle infrastructure • Mixed use • Tampa St. and Florida Ave. one way pairs • Core circulators • Tree shade • Maintain human scale • Rails to Trails • Cycle Tracks • Expand Street car • 2-way Tampa/Florida • Attract small, local businesses • Make other transit options available 5. Connected Core • Downtown circulation • Safer Pedestrian crosswalks • Wide sidewalks • Better cycling exits • Better Lighting • Connection to neighborhoods • Make connections cohesive • Street Diets

8 Requested Studies

• Coordination with InVision Tampa

• Land use plan to accompany TBX

• Economic Development Plan to show impacts of TBX

• Streetcar Expansion Study

• Transit plan- could this reduce the scale of TBX?

Asset Mapping Downtown 9 Attributes Assets • Latin/Immigrant ties • Cigar Factories • Grid System • Hillsborough River • Bikeable • University of Tampa • Existing Green Space • Blake High School • River Access • Stuart Middle School/Tampa Prep • Sense of Neighborhood • West River Walk • Friendly • St. Josephs’ Catholic Church • Old-Rooted Community • La Teresita • Cuban Food and Culture • Rollin Oats Grocery • Bus Access • Julian Lane Park • Local business presence • West Tampa Little League • Easy Airport access • Main Street • Multi-Cultural • Howard Avenue • Close to Downtown • Carnegie Library on Howard • Historical Buildings • Cigar Factories • Sense of Neighborhood • West Tampa Elementary • Access to Amenities • Small Tradesman Workshops • Don’t need to use Highway • Alessi • Centrally located West River Charrette • Florida Bakery • Landmark Architecture • Historic Ball Field Group Responses • Small Tradesman work shops 11.03.15 10 West River Team A 11.03.15 • Convert one-way streets to two-way streets • Public transit (local & regional) Priority Characteristics • Water taxi - Columbus to Downtown/TGH 1. Historic • Remove Willow off-ramps 2. Multicultural populations 4. Streetscape conditions 3. Public transportation within community • Shade trees instead of palm trees 4. Good local scale • Curb cuts 5. Convenient thoroughfare • Beautiful landscape • Rezone for mixed use Needs and Enhancements • More effective queueing of cars • Variety of materials to designate cross-walks 1. Preservation • Trees that provide shade • Historic preservation • No drag strips • Preserve neighborhood streets • Road narrowing • The people/community • Seamless connections • Expanding current historic designations • Scaled gateway to the neighborhood 2. Interactions with the Interstate • Assessment of sidewalks • Smart design could produce amenities for residents • Utilities in alleys, not on sidewalks • Human scale • Less encroachment • Lighting 5. Compliance • Porous • Better bus shelters • Learning from Las Vegas as an example • Ensure community input in design, construction and opportunities • People more important than infrastructure • Update studies based on existing plans- InVision Tampa, MPO 2040 • Pedestrians > cars • No expansion • Pedestrian connection enhancement Concerns • Seamless transitions • Lack of pedestrian focus • Right of way for pedestrians • Ease of access to downtown and Tampa Heights • Safer crosswalks • Commitment to community-based design strategies 3. Mobility possibilities • Lack of coordination with existing plans • On street parking • Dedicated bus lanes • Local roads should not be thoroughfares • More local buses (x2) • Laurel connections 11 West River Team 1 11.03.15 • More access points from West River to East River, and from North and South of I-275 Priority Characteristics o Enhance o Safe 1. Accessibility and Connectivity o Pedestrian Friendly 2. Sense of Community 5. Transit options 3. Historic Fabric and Historic Character • Street car extension into West Tampa 4. Importance of Local businesses • Local circulator 5. Transit Options • Light rail for commuting • No highway expansion Needs and Enhancements Concerns • Lack of economic development plan to 1. Maintain historical character encourage small, local businesses • Complete a Historical Asset Study • Unsafe passage under the interstate to • Willow Street needs to be its own historical district connect North and South • Keep historic buildings • Lack of pedestrian safety on corridors 2. Connectivity • Complete a Feasibility Study for transit possibilities • Create a West River Walk • Establish water taxi • Designated Bike Lanes on street • Complete Streets • Safer pedestrian path under the interstate o Lighting o Landscaping o Wide sidewalk 3. Maintain Sense of Community • Encourage local businesses 4. Better Urban Design that do not negate the work done on the plan • Complete street strategy • More shade (Oak Trees) • Walkability: make pedestrians a priority • Major corridors in need of redesign (Rome St., Cass St., North Blvd.) 12 Requested Studies

• Historical Asset Study

• Complete a transit options feasibility study

• Complete street strategy plan/guide

• Economic development study

• Urban design guidelines

Asset Mapping West River 13 Attributes Assets • Sense of community • Good schools • Central location • Parks • Proximity to Downtown • Small blocks

• Access to other neighborhoods • Ella’s • Diversity • Bungalow houses • Walkable • Local churches • Bike-able • Seminole Heights Library • Safe • Rivercrest Park • Quiet • Public River fronts • Friendly • Sunday Morning Market • Eclectic Style • The Independent • Open-minded • Craft Breweries • Innovative • Bo’s Ice Cream • Small Town feel • Porch Parties • Southern Wine • Diverse buildings • Cuban bakery • Activist community • Figure 8 art supplies • Friendly neighbors • Hillsborough River • Many new businesses • Hillsborough Ave Bridge • Local businesses • Seminole Heights pool (when reopened) • Emerging hip culinary scene • Access to interstate Seminole Heights Charrette Group Responses 11.17.15 14 Team Alpha Seminole Heights 11.17.15 • Fix Hillsborough exit at I-275 4. Street Enhancement Priority Characteristics • Complete streets • Nebraska & Florida Extremely important to revitalization, 1. Streets well-planned for multimodal transportation/walking convert to complete streets 2. Historic • Synchronize lights on Hillsborough 3. Small/local businesses • Raise as much of I-275 as possible (just like downtown) 4. Location & proximity • Two-way Tampa Street and Florida Avenue 5. Diversity • Road diets on corridors 5. Public Realm Enhancements Needs and Enhancements • Need to keep historic character of buildings • Need to keep/maintain parks, green space 1. Transit Options • Shade trees around corridors • Buses: higher capacity, more frequency • Hide interstate, keep and beautify exits, better urban design • Light rail/streetcars • Encourage local businesses • Trains • Noise abatement (via trees, plants, bamboo hedges, 2. Upfront Commitment aesthetically pleasing walls) • Should not be a design-build project Concerns • Studies, Maps, Proposals • Location of proposed retention pond • Don’t build TBX until county makes a full transportation plan design goals and strategies • Raise property values through neighborhood • A full transportation plan could reduce TBX improvements • Removing the Floribraska on/off ramps 3. Connectivity • Lack of good urban design at exits from interstate • More access points, Fix existing access points (repave) • Noise • Keep the Floribraska access on/off ramps • Pollution • Make FDOT Highways more pedestrian-friendly/two- way, crosswalks, etc. • More bike lanes • Elevated reversible lanes (Lee Roy Selmon) • No toll lanes

15 Team A Seminole Heights 11.17.15 • Implement facade grants for businesses • Artwork and Murals • Make the underwild underpass • Iron Ballards Priority Characteristics connected • Brick Wall on Hillsborough 1. Community Connectivity • Pedestrian Scale Avenue 2. Centrally Located • Pedestrian Crosswalks • Signage on each bridge 3. Historic Character 4. Small Businesses • Better lighting on major thoroughfares Concerns 5. Parks/Green Spaces • Keep historic character • Lack of pedestrian-scale • Places To Stop And Rest safety on state roads 1. Transit Options 4. Environment • Noise from I-275 • Trolley • Pollution and particulates • Detour Sensibility pollutants • Frequent Mass Transit • Storm water mitigation other than ponds • Location of storm water pond • Alternative Transportation • Benches/Trash Cans • BRT • Landscaping • No build 2. Safety • Re-Routing Management • Lights On Hillsborough Avenue • Central Becoming the Main Street Underpass • Linear Park Along I-275 (Greenway) • Park/River Access • Crossing on Sligh Ave 5. Recreational & Pedestrian Connections • Safer Pedestrian Crossings on • Bike Trails Hillsborough Avenue • Green Artery • Street Furniture • Trail Path Along Right of Way of I-275 • Wider Sidewalks • Lighting • Lighting • Green Line On Nebraska • Wider Bike Lanes 6. Community Viability 3. Fostering A Main Street Environment • Noise Abatement • Two way streets before Highland Ave. • Vertical Walls Underpasses • Gateways • East - West Connectors • Convert Highland Ave., Florida Ave., • More Connectivity and Tampa St. to Two Way streets • Elevated Connectors • Support independent businesses • User friendly right of way • Addition to sound walls: plants and trees • More nodes to reduce pollution • Encourage local businesses 7. Welcoming Real Community • Main street feel on Florida and Central • Enhancing The Streets 16 Team 1 Seminole Heights 11.17.15 4. Streetscape Enhancements • Two-way all streets Priority Characteristics • Adequate storm water management 1. Connected Community • More crosswalks 2. Historic Character • Creative solutions to abate highway noise 3. Local businesses 4. Green Spaces/Parks • Redevelop Nebraska Avenue, Tampa Street, Florida Avenue, and 5. Location MLK Boulevard for multiple scales: car, pedestrian, businesses • Build and maintain parks that are accessible Needs and Enhancements o River Crest Park o Epps Park 1. Connectivity and Accessibility o Giddens Park • Dedicated bicycle lanes 5. Urban Design Guidelines • Wider Sidewalks • Reduced lane width • Transit options • Maximize low impact development o Trolley system • Environmental protection of river o Rail • Write strict guidelines to ensure the design is not lost during the o Streetcar expansion construction process • Connections underneath the interstate • No highway expansion o Make them safer Concerns o Lighting o Artwork • Noise from I-275 o Landscaping • Environmental degradation 2. Historic • Loss of design in the construction process • Map all historic assets • Keep the integrity of the character 3. Unique Character aspect of neighborhood • Encourage local businesses o Ella’s o Southern Brewing o Maurico Faedo Bakery o Nicko Tempest Disco Dolls o Southern Wine and Brewery • Culinary Scene

17 Seminole Heights Charrette Pictures 11.17.15 18 Requested Studies

• Transportation plan for the county and then revisit TBX

• Study of elevated reversible lanes for TBX like the Selmon Expressway

• Complete Streets Plan

• Main Street Plan to accompany form-based code

• Parking study for commercial areas

• Greenway to continue from Tampa Heights through Seminole Heights along I-275

• Street Corridor Design Guidelines

• Urban Design Guidelines

• Historical Asset Mapping

Asset Mapping Seminole Heights 19 Children’s Charrette 12.05.15

Common Themes • Friendships with neighbors • Houses are close to one another • Friends are near • Multi Story homes • Lots of parks • Schools • Light Colored houses • Trees • Historic houses • Family • Parks nearby • Sidewalks • Neighbors • Community

Enhancements • Civic center enhancements • Lights/lighting • Trees/parks • Sports • Streetcar • Keep/restore historic buildings • Community closeness

Concerns • Losing friends who have to move • Not being able to walk in their neighborhood

Children’s Charrette Responses 12.05.15 20 The children drew pictures of their neighborhoods, and then drew pictures of something they would like to have in their neighborhood that is not there now. Children’s Charrette Pictures 12.05.15 21 Attributes Assets • Tampa Heights Junior Civic • Tree Canopy Association • Family friendly neighborhood • Tampa Heights Civic Association • Committed Residents • Tampa Heights Garden • Strong neighborhood • Sacred Heart School organization • Tampa Free Library • Culturally Diverse • Waterworks Park • Recreation options • Sanctuary Lofts • Mixed Income • Trolley Barn • Walkable Streets • Ulele Building • Historic Architecture • Oceanic Market Building • National Register Designated historic district • Palm Avenue (multimodal/mobility) • Access to Highway • Seventh Avenue (historic)

• Access to Transit • Franklin Streets (historic focus) • Connectivity through street-grid • Columbus Drive (multimodal/mobility) • Green Spaces • Florida Avenue (multimodal/mobility) • Floribraska (multimodal/mobility) • Tampa Street (multimodal/mobility) Tampa Heights Charrette Group Responses 12.07.15 22 Team 1 Tampa Heights 12.07.15 o Sacred Heart School (Florida Avenue) o Tampa Free Library Priority Characteristics o Trolley Barn 1. Historic Character • Local Businesses 2. Connectivity o Ulele 3. Diversity o Oceanic Market 4. Tree Canopy 3. Redevelopment Corridors 5. Community • No Two-way streets • Encourage redevelopment along mixed use corridors: Needs and Enhancements o Update the comprehensive plan to encourage mixed use redevelopment 1. Connectivity o Develop redevelopment Guidelines and • Maintain and Enhance Multimodal Connectivity standards for mixed use • Enhance and protect greenways/pedestrian/Bike corridors (Form Based Code, etc.) • Trail Connections o Implement Road diets/complete streets • Extend the Tampa Heights Greenway from river to north • Encourage / incentivize Economic development • Connect to Green Artery o Palm Avenue • Bike connections – preserve/enhance bicycle facilities o Seventh Ave • Potential new connections by elevating the interstate near o Franklin Street Robles Park o Columbus Drive • Connection from Tampa Heights to Perry Harvey Park o Florida Avenue • Maintain and Enhance connections to adjacent neighborhoods: o Floribraska o Ybor City o Tampa Street o Downtown 4. Frontloading o Seminole Heights • Neighborhoods should be the priority—fund, build, and o River complete neighborhood projects before interstate 2. Preserve History construction • Historic Preservation • Existing Adopted Plans • Protect and enhance national and local historic districts • Tampa Heights Neighborhood Plan (Adopted) • Create database of historic structures • InVision Tampa (Adopted) o Historic Street Grid • Strong Neighborhood Organizations o Historic Districts o Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association o Tampa Heights Historic District o Tampa Heights Civic Association o Tampa Heights – Local Historic District o Tampa Heights Garden o Upper North Franklin Street Commercial District • RFP Process instead of Design-Build o Historic Buildings o Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association Building historic structures/fabric 23 5. Enhancements • Bridge / Highway Design • National/international Design competition • Excellent contemporary design is a must • Preserve/protect existing canopy • Add to the tree canopy • Landscaping Concerns • Loss of Junior Civic Association Building • Loss of Children’s park at the Junior Civic Association Building • Loss of community garden • Loss of homes/historic houses • Demolition of historic buildings • Loss of local businesses including Café Hey, Oceanic, La Segunda • Removal of Floribraska on/off ramps • Limited access to toll lanes for Tampa Heights residents • Decrease in property value and disinvestment in the neighborhood due to interstate expansion • Width of interstate • Condition and un-safe nature of underpasses • Lack of access to VM Ybor, Ybor City, Downtown • Destroy the historic fabric of the neighborhood • Losing part of Water Works park and Highland Street access • Nebraska BRT is too slow • Neighborhoods are no the priority • Lack of coordination with InVision Tampa and other adopted plans • Lack of innovative/modern interstate design

24 Tampa Heights Team A 12.07.15 4. Connectivity Concerns • Commuter Rail • Demolition of historic Priority Characteristics • BRT buildings 1. Historic • Transit needed East/west on • Loss of Junior Civic 2. Diverse Columbus Association and playground 3. Walkable • Some type of local connector • Loss of Community Garden 4. Urban Neighborhood • Streetcar (or some type of public • Homeless under the 5. Connection to River transit) on Florida Ave./Tampa St. interstate • Give Tampa St. and Florida Ave. • Tampa St. and Florida Ave. Needs and Enhancements back to the neighborhoods • Connect 7th Ave. • Columbus Drive speed limit 1. Youth Development Center • Bring branding of 7th Ave. West too high • Art Program for youth • Keep the Floribraska exit • Metro Rapid too slow • Relocate historic buildings upfront • Improved exits-lights/visual cues • Removal of Floribraska • Need to make improvements/relocate/etc. • Gateway on/off ramps before construction. The youth development 5. Poised for Improvement • Lack of lighting center is vital to the community and will • Redevelop Robles Park • Lack of crosswalks suffer from what-ifs/unknowns. Move the • Franklin Street center so the attention can turn back to the • Create an Art District (i.e. Wynwood) children. • Green wall (along interstate) 2. History • Landscaping along interstate • Landmarks-architectural acknowledgment • Improve interstate wall aesthetics • Historic preservation • Florida/Columbus intersection- • Move structures epicenter for Tampa Heights • Revisit criteria to determine historic assets • Connecting more streets through 3. Walkability interstate • Palm and Franklin underpass improvements • Have interactive art • Green Parkway (connect to downtown) • Canvas for public art • Improved crosswalks (more pronounced) • Benches along sidewalks • Two-way Florida Avenue and Tampa Street • Better sidewalks prior to TBX construction • Improve underpasses with lighting and art • Connection to West Tampa • Improvements to underpasses • Revitalize Florida Avenue and Columbus Dr. • More trees/keep trees • Wider sidewalks • Transit feasibility studies • Improve Palm Avenue • Improved aesthetics • Robles Park connection east of interstate to • Landscaping VM Ybor 25 Team Alpha Tampa Heights 12.07.15 4. Public Amenities and Enhancements • Franklin Steet: Commercial Revitalization Prioritized Characteristics • Protected bike lanes on major connection streets • Lighting and Art under interstate 1. Historic 5. Frontloading 2. Connections • Design BEFORE build 3. River and access to Riverwalk • Updated “No Build” Statistics for use 4. Green Spaces: Parks (Water Works and Robles) • Updated statistics upon which FDOT must use to justify 5. Commercial along Franklin TBX • Preserve the Junior Heights Civic Association Building 1. Historic Preservation • Construction mitigation plan in detail • Keep historic districts • Information on expanded impacts on value and health • Save or relocated historic buildings • Add enhancements and needs to RFP • Historic Asset Mapping 2. Connectivity transportation alternatives • Transit/Trolley • Pedestrian/Bike bridge across River problems through and auto-centric mentality • Lighting/Art around interstate • Keep Floribraska Exit • Interstate Regional Model Transit Center • Hand over all FDOT streets for local control • Bike Lanes-Protected • Fixed transit into Tampa Heights to other major areas • Safety • Full “No Build” Public hearing • Green Artery Connection • Update impact projections • Connections through Corridors Concerns • No 2-way streets • Design-Build Process • Expanded Bus Routes 1 (4,539 Riders a day) • Junior Civic Association and Building • Current entrance/exit to 275 via Floribraska • Pedestrian fatalities 3. Transit Options • TBX encourages driving and lack of transit options • Extend Trolley North and East to make for a longer line • Removal of Floribraska exit • Expand hours and frequency of an extended North Trolley • Pedestrian Bridge across the river • Decrease in property value due TBX • Safe transportation options that reduce pedestrian deaths • Disinvestment in Tampa Heights stunting revitalization • Non-automobile transit solutions that don’t encourage driving/don’t lead to pedestrian deaths • Transit/Trolley maintenance facility • Intermodel transit center for downtown with which Tampa Heights could connect

26 Requested Studies

• Land use/transportation plan

• Transit plan/studies

• Economic development study related to transportation and land use

• Urban design guidelines

• Street corridor design guidelines

• Redevelopment guidelines for mixed-use corridors

• Form-based code

• Update comprehensive plan to encourage mixed-use development

• Update impact projections of TBX

• Design competition of I-275 gateways and elevated interstate design

• Complete street and transit study on Tampa Street and Florida Avenue

• Revisit criteria to determine historic structures

• Historic Asset Map

• Construction Mitigation Plan Asset Mapping Tampa Heights 27 Attributes Assets

• Historic Character • Cigar Factory • Copper Tail • Historic Businesses • Cuban Club • Italian Club • Walkable • German American Club • Multi-Cultural • Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Church • Old Centro Asturiano Hospital • Diverse • JC Newman • Centannial Park • Social Clubs • Sociedad La Union Marti Maceo • Children’s Board • Historic Grid • Centro Ybor • Tampa History • Jose Marti Park • Historic Trail Trolley • Proximity Downtown • Tropical Brewing • Spring • Proximity To Tampa Heights • Ybor Square • Festivals • Castle • E St. Clair • Destination • E. Robces • Bryan St. • Nightlife • E. Forest • 15th Street • Unique Local Business • Nebraska • Small Business • 21st • La Segunda Bakery • Main Street feel • HCC • Athena House • Authentic • Historic District • Cuscaden Park • Philip Shore • Historic Streets • Firehouse No.2 • Patrick Catholic School Ybor Charrette 12.08.15 28 Team A Ybor 12.08.15 o Wider pedestrian right of way • Better bike infrastructure o Landscaping • Connection under inter Priority Characteristics • Connection to Seminole Heights state somewhere between o Nuccio Parkway Expansion North Nebraska and 50th 1. Cultural Diversity o Bike paths • Expansion of streetcar 2. Community • 14th/15th Street walkway from VM to • Green path (dedicated 3. Connectivity Historic Ybor bike lane) 4. Historic • Create a more human scale Concerns 5. Sense of Place • Pedestrian Safety • Redevelopment on o Sidewalk improvements Columbus Drive 1. Potential for Growth o Wider sidewalk • Exit ramps at 14th and • Understand Right of Way needed to plan o Shade current development around it • Robles Park Connection under interstate with InVision Tampa Plan • Restitch the Grid 3. Access to Public Space • Relocation of historic • Stronger connection under I-275/I-4 • Connection between VM Ybor/Tampa buildings • Two-way all streets Heights through Robles Park (green artery) • Connections between • Improvements of Columbus Dr. • Attractive and useable retention ponds with VM Ybor and Historic Ybor o Before TBX trail and decorative details • Cultural Clubs, o On street parking • Provide transportation solutions that create o Mixed use properties minimal impact • Noise from interstate o Make pedestrian friendly 4. History • Revitalize Nebraska • Historic Preservation • Improvements to thoroughfares • Do not de-certify historic buildings • Need for Storm water management • Need to move/relocate 2. Walkability 5. Sense of Community • Pedestrian connection to Encore/ • Keep all cultural clubs Channelside • Visual impact with character of Ybor o Wider/safer sidewalks on • Keep character and decorative noise Channelside/4th abatement • Expansion of the Street Car • Create a gateway to downtown (Adamo/ • Bike Paths Channelside) o Dedicated lane • Gateway on Nebraska o Along interstate • Everything built needs to add to the sense o Shade of place • Better underpass maintenance 6. Transportation o Lighting • 2-way all streets o Art • High speed rail corridor for public transit 29 Team 1 Ybor 12.08.15 • Create more parks • Landscaping Priority Characteristics 5. Urban Design • 2-way all streets 1. Character • Road Diets 2. Historic Fabric • Revitalize Nebraska and Columbus 3. Local Business 4. Multi-Cultural • Redevelop Columbus Dr., Floribraska, 14th Street, 5. Walkable 15th Street, 21st Street, 22nd Street Concerns Needs and Enhancements • Crime and safety issues under interstate • Limited access between Tampa Heights, VM Ybor, 1. Connectivity Historic Ybor, and Downtown • Access to 7th Avenue under interstate • Lack of crosswalks • Utilize underpasses—make them better and safer • Lack of Pedestrians and Cyclist Safety • Keep Floribraska entrance/exit • Highest concentration of sexual offenders and 2. Pedestrian/Bicyclist Priority predators in the county • Safer for Cyclist and Pedestrians • Unmaintained Interstate edges • Walkability • Better crosswalks • Wider sidewalks 3. Historic Fabric • Keep historic character of Ybor o Cigar Factories o La Segunda o Local breweries o Historic Trail Trolley o Cuscaden Park o Centennial Park o Multi-cultural buildings o Avenida Republica de Cuba o Sociedad La Union Marti Maceo • Respect to Architectural Design • Lighting • Better sidewalks • More trees/Keep trees • Artwork 30 Requested Studies • Streetcar Expansion Study • Urban design guidelines • Street Corridor/Mixed Use Corridor Design Guidelines • Historic Asset mapping Ybor Charrette • Bike/Pedestrian Plan • Stormwater Mitigation Plan Asset Mapping • Transit Study 31 Summarizing the Charrette Process

Community Research and Design recorded and analyzed all of the responses from the community. A total of 112 community members participated.

From there, neighborhood concerns were summarized and compared with other

Transit Options: The community wants to have multiple transit options, both for local create a more sustainable neighborhood environment.

Connectivity: One of the biggest concerns within the neighborhoods was the internal and external connectivity. Residents want to be connected to other neighborhoods, especially under the interstate, and they want those connections to be fostered and - cycle infrastructure will provide multiple ways to navigate through the neighborhoods.

Street Corridor Design: The neighborhoods want the local streets to shift from thoroughfares to complete streets. By designing for the pedestrian, the storefront owner, the bicyclist, and the car driver, the street will become safer and more cohesive.

Public Realm Enhancements: The neighborhoods want urban design guidelines to ensure that everything that is being built, and will be built in the future, will be up to efforts and make the neighborhood more attractive. Safety is a primary issue and should be addressed through lighting under the overpasses, wider sidewalks, and safer crosswalks.

Mitigation: The neighborhoods want to ensure that all of their previous design and planning efforts are not being erased, have been heard, and will be committed to by the agencies. The communities also want to see the completion of necessary studies Summary of construction begins. Workshop Series One 32 1. Transit options a. Expand service b. Expand streetcar c. Increase bus frequency d. Establish local circulator e. Establish water taxis f. New BRT lines g. Commuter rail 2. Connectivity a. Internal connectivity b. External connectivity d. Bicycle infrastructure e. Pedestrian infrastructure f. One-way streets to Two-way streets 3. Street Corridor Design a. Design guidelines b. Develop the street for different scales c. Shift from thoroughfares to complete streets 4. Public Realm Enhancements a. Urban design guidelines c. Neighborhood scale safety i. Lighting ii. Sidewalks d. Create neighborhood gateways e. Preserve historic character 5. Mitigation a. Agencies commit to design and planning efforts b. Agencies commit upfront d. Improvements before interchange construction of TBX begins Series One Themes 33 Inter-agency Charrette

The inter-agency charrette brought together FDOT Division VII, Hillsborough MPO, Planning Commis- sion, Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, and HART Agencies shared goals and planning efforts for the impacted neighborhoods. Using the themes, the Agen- cies explored overarching strategies that aligned with strategies are points of discussion for the charrettes in the second workshop series.

34 Hillsborough County, City of Tampa Group

Goals Seminole Heights • Connectivity to transit Downtown • Internal circulation • Multimodal connectivity • InVision plan (implement) • Lighting + safety under interstate at connections • River as center • Complete Street implementation • Fostering mixed use (diversify economic engine) • Implementing Community • Pedestrian safety + Accessibility • Emphasis on local businesses • Public safety (safe + inviting public realm) o Support + Sustain the neighborhood identity o Safe and Inviting Public realm o Improve safety in public realm o Safe and Accessible multimodal connectivity (lighting under I-275) o Keeping the river as center with a diverse o Promote economic development economic engine Tampa Heights West River • Implement the Comprehensive Redevelopment Plan (CRA) • Enhance underpass connections • Single family • Reestablish main streets (commercial) • Establish identity • Promote connectivity to downtown • Connectivity (transit) • Diversity of economic activities • Re-establish economic corridor • Public realm improvements (Riverwalk) Ybor o Implement CRA • Keep trucks out of Ybor o Improve connectivity inc. transit • Maintain community feel o Protect historic assets • Preserve and enhance connections o Public realm improvements (including Riverwalk and • Public realm theme riverfront parks) o De-clutter o Safer

35 MPO • Safety Analysis (E. Hillsborough Ave) o Nebraska, Walk-Bike II • 21st/22nd Complete Street Goals • Green Artery • Walk-Bike Plan • River South to Ybor Downtown • Seminole Heights Community Plan • Bicycle-friendly businesses o Form-based Code • Tampa-Florida Corridor Study • Columbus/17-18-19 Tampa Heights o One-way to two-way • Green Artery • Reduce parking maximums downtown • Tampa Heights Neighborhood Plan • Design that allows for repurposing structured parking o Greenways, Mixed Use, 1st City to be adopted • Parking requirements • Connected Gardens o Tampa Heights to Seminole Heights to Temple Terrace o Apps showing availability • Walk-Bike II • Complete Street o Central, Palm, and Floribraska o East 7th Ave • Potential for Streetcar Ext. o Columbus o ie. Central, Florida, Tampa, etc o Floribraska o Franklin Ybor • Lane Operations • Cycle Track o Temporal parking o Cass, Tyler • Speed reduction • Selmon Greenway • Tampa Comprehensive Plan Mixed Use Corridors • Green Artery • Walk-Bike Plans o Palmetto Beach, Connecting to Ybor, further north to o Connectivity River • East-West transit Circulator • Streetcar o Downtown Ybor, Tampa Heights, Palm, and Nuccio West River • Connected Gardens • Tampa-Hillsborough Greenway Plan o Palmetto, Tampa Heights o Spruce St. to Lois Ave. to River • Streetcar Extension o Stop at Howard/Armenia • Walk-Bike Plan o Willow Boulevard Seminole Heights • Sidewalk conditions and lack of cross walk locations • Walk-Bike II o Osborne, Hanna, Central • Greenway along I-275 Row • Connected Gardens o Seminole Heights to Temple terrace • Hillsborough Ave Constrained 36 FDOT Group Ybor: • Connection to Tampa Heights under viaduct • Bike/Ped under via-duct Goals • Community activities • New access at 14th/15th Downtown: • Interstate access to Downtown • SR 60 E/W through Downtown, Florida & Tampa N/S • Bike/Ped, Park/Lighting under the viaduct • Safety for bike/ped along corridor • Connectivity, local streets under the viaduct • Freight movement

West River: • Connectivity to Interstate • Mobility options • Bike/Ped. Infrastructure • Median transit corridor • Connectivity to Riverwalk

Tampa Heights: • Connection to Ybor • Greenway • Cul-de-sac vs. dead-ends • Providing space for community garden • Community activities • Trail connection with Robles Park

Seminole Heights: • Noise wall • Access to toll lanes South to West Shore/St. Pete just North of MLK • Enhance landscaping at interchanges • Minimize vegetation impacts • Minimize ROW impacts • Latent demand to the Interstate 37 Next Steps:

Charrette Series 2: Goal Setting.

Facilitators introduce major themes and goals between residents and agencies that were realm enhancements, street corridor design, and mitigation. During round 2, residents will draw/write out goals for their neighborhoods according to the themes listed. This process will and foreseen needs of the neighborhoods are.

Charrette Series 3: Design.

Taking the resident goals from round 2 and the combined efforts of the agencies to address these goals, residents will be able to re-design the major issues addressed: main corridors, underpasses, streetscapes, transit options, etc. Residents will work with the facilitators and agencies to be able to visualize the aesthetic and design needs related to the goals.

Completion.

This charrette process allows for a productive dialogue between the neighborhoods and agencies that focuses on the goals for each neighborhood and prioritizes the needs and enhancements required to achieve this potential. By addressing these needs, enhancements, and design concepts to be emphasized within the proposed TBX project and throughout plans and strategies with other involved agencies.

Next Steps 38 Appendix A:

Sign-in Sheets for:

• Downtown • West River • Seminole Heights • Children’s Charrette • Tampa Heights • Greater Ybor Appendix B:

• FAQ’s Questions and Responses

Appendix 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Appendix B: Community Engagement Meeting Questions (From Notecards Collected During First Round, 11.2.15-12.8.15)

1. In the area north of MLK, FDOT added center pullover lanes in the past couple of years. What was the cost of that project? The referenced “pullover lanes” were actually improvements to the shoulders as a part of our safety and bridge rehabilitation programs. There were four projects on I-275 north of the downtown interchange, two resurfacing and two bridge rehabilitation. These projects also involved paving the interior shoulder areas and improving the barrier systems separating the travel lanes.  Resurfacing: 258660-1/258642-1 I-275 (SR 93) from Floribraska to south of Yukon St ($19,085,408.40 Million for Design and Construction)  Bridge Widening: 258660-2/258642-3 I-275 (SR 93) from south of Floribraska Ave to north of Yukon St ($37,830,620 Million for Design and Construction)

2. Are those same lanes the lanes that would ultimately become the toll lanes presented in the Tampa Bay Express plan? No, the purpose of the I-275 projects was to improve the safety by bringing the shoulders up to current standards and constructing a barrier system between the travel lanes. In the majority of areas, there was not enough room to support a full width lane, so only a paved shoulder was constructed. The pavement is not deep enough to support a full load served by travel lanes and would have to be reconstructed to accommodate the Tampa Bay Express project.

3. Why is the MPO not part of these meetings? Hillsborough MPO has been attending the majority of the Community Engagement Meetings. FDOT provided a list of meetings to the Planning Commission/Hillsborough MPO to encourage their attendance. The other participating agencies have the jurisdiction to implement local projects requested as part of the process. For example, HART needs to be engaged in the discussions related to transit. The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County are interested in issues affecting their local roads and public facilities, as well as proposed amenities they agree to maintain. Ultimately, the MPO may receive requests from the local governments and HART for future consideration.

4. Where is the funding to build it originating from? Are we bonding this project? What is the projected cost to repay those bonds including interest? Funding is still being determined.

5. How does this promote economic growth and investment in the greater Heights area? This project will reduce congestion on our interstates and promote overall economic growth by minimizing the delay in commuter and freight travel time to the businesses in the Heights and Downtown area. By reducing the congestion on the interstate and making the system more efficient, this project will also alleviate congestion and delay on the local roads. FDOT is evaluating ways to minimize impacts to the local communities and visual design elements are being considered throughout the project to match the aesthetics of the local community. The project also incorporates a transit envelope for future premium transit opportunities.

Page 1 of 8

Appendix B: Community Engagement Meeting Questions (From Notecards Collected During First Round, 11.2.15-12.8.15)

6. Is there any equal seat at the table for the neighborhoods? FDOT understands the value that the local residents can bring to this project. In addition to our traditional public hearing process, FDOT is engaging the local neighborhoods through focused design charrettes, establishing a local office, and a speaker’s tour in the local area.

7. How can we ensure no demolitions or acquisitions during outreach? Throughout the 1990s, a significant public outreach process was completed supporting the Tampa Interstate Study (TIS). As a result of this process, FDOT began acquiring properties around the downtown interchange within the TIS limits. FDOT’s right of way acquisition and relocation program is subject to federal and state laws. Because some of the concepts are still under development, the right of way maps have not been finalized.

8. Where is VM Ybor, East Tampa, West Tampa, and Downtown? Please refer to the neighborhood map below, indicating the neighborhoods surrounding the Tampa Bay Express who have been involved in the community outreach meetings.

Page 2 of 8

Appendix B: Community Engagement Meeting Questions (From Notecards Collected During First Round, 11.2.15-12.8.15)

What Tampa Bay Express segments is this for? The Design Charrettes are focused on Segment #6 & the southern portion of #7 on the map below.

9. Can we redesign the Tampa Bay Express within the current roadbed? (i.e. no widening) All express lanes are designed within the existing footprint to avoid additional right of way acquisition with the exception of the Howard Frankland Bridge Replacement (#3), I- 275/SR 60 Interchange (#4), the I-4/I-275 Downtown Interchange (#6) and a few drainage ponds. The reconstruction of the two Interchanges is necessary to remove the bottlenecks of the general purpose lanes.

10. Is it possible for FDOT to design a belt way to solve the transportation issues? The majority of traffic in the Tampa Bay area flows from our residential areas (suburbs) into three major business districts, Downtown Tampa, Westshore area, and the Pinellas Gateway, as opposed to “through” traffic. A beltway will not serve these travel movements and may also promote growth in areas that would be inconsistent with the local government comprehensive plans. The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) has studied the concept of a beltway since the mid-1990s, but the plan has not moved forward due to the lack of public support.

11. Project impacts city neighborhoods (Tampa Heights, Seminole Heights, Ybor, etc.) but serves a benefit to the outlying areas (New Tampa, Pasco, Polk, etc.). Why should we build lanes to only service outlying areas? The purpose of the interstate is to efficiently move people, goods, and services in, around and throughout the region. By reducing the congestion on the interstate and making the system more efficient, this project will also alleviate congestion and delay on the local roads. FDOT is evaluating ways to minimize impacts to the local communities.

12. Why does the FDOT not conduct a current statistical model of interstate demand? Their current model is based on survey data from 1996-97 and grossly over predicts demand. FDOT relies on the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Model (TBRPM) to predict travel demand within the Tampa Bay area. This model is based on the latest comprehensive plans from the local governments and is validated with surveys, traffic counts, transit data, and outside data sources, such as the American Community Survey. The model is continuously updated to increase its accuracy. The current version of the TBRPM reflects the land uses and growth patterns that were predicted in the Hillsborough County and City of Tampa Comprehensive Plans. The most current TBRPM will be used during the reevaluation phase. Page 3 of 8

Appendix B: Community Engagement Meeting Questions (From Notecards Collected During First Round, 11.2.15-12.8.15)

13. How many people (singles and families) are located at each endpoint? How many can economically afford to utilize the toll lanes? The Tampa Bay Express would benefit all drivers, regardless of their income or socio-economic level. The intent is to increase the capacity of the highway and promote trip reliability and safety. Users will always have a choice to use the express lanes. Many of the anticipated Tampa Bay Express users (especially during peak hours) would be commuters. The graphic below illustrates 2012 and 2040 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) for the interstate roadway segments, and indicates the year at which the traffic volumes exceed the capacity of the existing roadway segment. Tampa Bay Express offers drivers several options for commuting including express lanes (tolled), bus service, and general use lanes (free). Recent figures from the 95 Express in south Florida show that despite increased traffic volumes along I-95, 95 Express has helped increase travel speeds by 200% on the local lanes and by 300% on the express lanes (former HOV lanes) in both directions.

14. How can the Tampa Bay Express project be so isolated so that the Go Hillsborough plan (that is not Tampa Bay Express) can succeed? Sales tax? Tampa Bay Express is a regional series of interstate projects sponsored by FDOT. Think of the Interstate as the transportation network “spine”. Tampa Bay Express is funded by the State Transportation Fund, consisting of State and Federal gas taxes.

Go Hillsborough is a County-sponsored transportation initiative focused on improving the local road network. This would include the supporting infrastructure around the “spine”. Go Hillsborough is supported by sales tax paid within Hillsborough County.

The two initiatives are complementary, but are managed and funded separately. However, the Department, Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa all work closely to maximize the synergy generated by any transportation improvement projects, including transit opportunities.

Page 4 of 8

Appendix B: Community Engagement Meeting Questions (From Notecards Collected During First Round, 11.2.15-12.8.15)

15. What alternative/mass transit options have been considered in the plan? To accommodate any premium transit that may be implemented by the local agencies in the future, Tampa Bay Express is including a transit envelope (in the I-275 median from Westshore to Downtown Tampa and I-4 from Downtown Tampa east to Polk County) and the reinforcement of NB span of the Howard Frankland Bridge.

FDOT has sponsored numerous transit studies, most recently the Express Bus in Express Lanes Study (sponsored in partnership with the Hillsborough County MPO and HART), which found that this premium transit option would be feasible and successful in our region. (Click here for more information: http://www.tampabayexpress.com/express- bus/ ) Tampa Bay Express will also provide free use of express lanes for public transit.

FDOT also sponsored the Streetcar Extension & Modernization Study, the Westshore Multimodal Study, and the Tampa Bay Intermodal Study. As a result, FDOT has also purchased property for Multimodal Centers in Westshore and Downtown Tampa to facilitate premium transit. Later this year (2016), FDOT and HART will begin a new Premium Transit Feasibility Study to look at various premium transit options to serve our region.

16. Are all meeting dates and topics listed on the website? Yes. Please see http://www.tampabayexpress.com/community-engagement/

17. What population or community does the proposed Tampa Bay Express serve? Primarily? Tampa Bay Express and the Interstate serve regional travel movements that include all locations within the City of Tampa and its neighborhoods, as well as communities within Hillsborough and beyond, delivering passengers to Tampa International Airport, freight to Port Tampa Bay, tourists to the beaches and workers to and from their jobs each day.

18. A FDOT representative had said that Tampa Bay Express was to help Pasco County and those residents not living in the urban core to get to work. Aren't these the same people who voted down the mass transit referendum? The referendum was voted down by Hillsborough County residents. (Pasco voters were not involved in this referendum). Tampa Bay Express is a regional project and is funded by the State Transportation Fund, consisting of State and Federal gas taxes. All interstate users will benefit from Tampa Bay Express including Pasco and Pinellas residents that utilize the interstate for travel to and from Hillsborough. Alleviating congestion on the interstate will also decrease the residual traffic that would utilize local roads.

19. From MLK North there is no median between existing lanes. Where will Tampa Bay Express lanes be placed? Currently the shoulder to the inside of the existing lanes would be used for the express lanes. Some sections of that shoulder will need to be reconstructed to full depth pavement to allow for traffic to drive on that pavement. No additional right of way is needed North of MLK. Once completely built, the pavement will have to be restriped.

Page 5 of 8

Appendix B: Community Engagement Meeting Questions (From Notecards Collected During First Round, 11.2.15-12.8.15)

20. What is the projected future date that FDOT sees the Tampa Bay Express project solving traffic issues? The traffic projections are currently being updated as part of the Design Change Reevaluation using the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Model. The Tampa Bay Express project will have an immediate impact on the congestion of the interstate. In addition, Tampa Bay Express will be expected to reduce the traffic currently diverted onto the local neighborhood roads. Studies have shown that implementing toll lanes not only ensures a reliable trip for the toll lane users, but the general use lanes show an increase in overall travel speeds during peak periods.

21. With a project of this scope and scale do you feel that a group of roughly 600 will be sizeable enough? (The projected amount of people to attend these charrettes was quoted as 600) The charrettes are only one of the public outreach tools that the department is using to communicate with the public. The other tools include: focus groups, special presentations, public workshops, newsletters, website, news media, and collateral materials. These activities have been underway, since late 2013. FDOT also plans to implement non-traditional techniques including social media and other web- based idea exchanges, as well as a establishing a local community outreach office to be located in downtown Tampa.

22. Who approved the outreach and how much does this outreach cost? FDOT initiated the public outreach program in 2012. The current contract totals $212,227.

23. Are there any additional projected off-ramps to be added from I-4 or I-275? Limiting the discussion to the downtown interchange from the Hillsborough River, east to the I-4 Connector and north to MLK, no additional general purpose off- or on-ramps will be added. The express lane ramps are under development as part of the Traffic and Revenue Study and are subject to change. Extensive coordination is on-going between the City of Tampa and the Department to make sure the Tampa Bay Express concepts and City’s InVision plan are balanced and support each other. The Department is modeling alternatives to better integrate the distribution of interstate and expressway traffic into downtown. The proposed connections of City streets will dramatically change impacts and distribution of traffic in the downtown area. The Department is also studying with the City of Tampa the possibility of re-opening city streets previously cut- off by the interstate as either streets, pedestrian walkways, or visual connections. With the improved efficiency of the interstate, traffic will move from the City streets back to the interstate and express lanes.

24. Does the communities’ input have any relevance? Yes, FDOT must have the communities’ input to fully understand the context of the project. The communities’ input allows FDOT to understand the community values and resources and identify design opportunities to help preserve and enhance those resources.

25. Has the cost been examined in terms of dollars, environment, and people? The concepts for the Downtown Tampa Interchange are still under development. Preliminary costs for this project have been estimated for design, ROW, and construction, but will be updated. Community and environmental impacts are being examined as part Design Change Reevaluation, which should be available in late 2016.

Page 6 of 8

Appendix B: Community Engagement Meeting Questions (From Notecards Collected During First Round, 11.2.15-12.8.15)

26. Why is FDOT not looking at HOV lanes and light synchronization before expanding? First implemented in the late 1960s, HOV lanes are typically reserved for the use of high occupancy vehicles, such as carpools, vanpools, and buses. In recent years, the effectiveness of this strategy has been questioned at the state and federal level, because of diverse travel patterns, social preferences, and high violation rates. In addition, the variability of the HOV lane usage ranges from underutilization or “empty- lane” syndrome in some areas to extreme congestion in other areas, which affects system reliability and consistency. Federal reports have documented the need to supplement the HOV strategy with other management strategies to optimize the efficiency of these roadways and offer alternatives to wider array of motorists.

As a result, the majority of agencies with HOV systems in the U.S. either have or are considering policy changes to optimize system performance. One of the most effective congestion management strategies is dynamic tolling. Dynamic tolling is when the tolls are higher during peak periods and lower during off-peak times. Dynamic tolling provides a new transportation alternative to all users, not just high-occupancy vehicles. Dynamic tolling addresses the need for better lane management by balancing the usage of the tolled lanes in peak and off-peak periods and relieves congestion from the general use lanes. The required infrastructure to separate the lanes and control access also improves enforcement capabilities. The general use lanes will remain free and can also be used by anyone.

Traffic light synchronization would not apply to the interstate system, but is an important local government consideration. Several of the local governments are in the process of implementing advanced traffic management system (ATMS) projects that may complement the express lane system. ATMS integrates technology (cameras, sensors, computers, etc.) to monitor and manage traffic conditions. FDOT is also rolling out several ATMS projects throughout the Tampa Bay area to better inform motorists of the accidents and delays on the interstates and arterial roadways.

27. Is there any land being taken north of MLK? There is one pond proposed in the northwest quadrant of the MLK/I-275 interchange. However, there is no additional right of way acquisition proposed, north of MLK.

28. Which exits will be eliminated? Within the downtown interchange, the I-275 southbound off-ramp and I-275 northbound on-ramp at Floribraska Avenue will be eliminated.

29. How do the neighborhoods ensure that enhancements and needs agreed to in this process are not taken away/defunded due to over-budget, etc.? The charrettes are part of the Tampa Bay Express public outreach program supporting the reevaluation of the previously completed Tampa Interstate Study, Tampa Bay Master Plan, and Project Development and Environment (PD&E). The results of the charrettes will be summarized and included in the PD&E reevaluation. Commitments made to the community and other government entities will be documented in the PD&E reevaluation that is sent to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In order to receive and spend federal dollars, the Department must demonstrate to FHWA that those commitments identified in the PD&E reevaluation are being met. Page 7 of 8

Appendix B: Community Engagement Meeting Questions (From Notecards Collected During First Round, 11.2.15-12.8.15)

The commitments in the PD&E reevaluation are converted into contractual requirements. Those contractual requirements are presented in the request for proposal (RFP) and become part of the contract. Because this is a design-build contract, the contractor submits and is selected based upon a fixed price to complete all of the proposed work. The contractor will be held to the contract requirements in order to get paid.

30. In reference to the current website diagram for starter projects: What do the diagonal lines attaching to I-275 represent? What do the numbers on top of those diagonals represent? The diagonal lines going to and from the interstate represent the exit and entrance ramps. The numbers on these diagonals indicate the average daily number of vehicles leaving or entering the interstate. The arrows indicate the direction of the traffic and the lines going across the interstate are the cross streets. For a visual reference please see the below image.

31. What other corridors are being considered for transit? Premium transit? Transit routes are normally determined by transit providers such as HART and PSTA. FDOT can provide financial support to transit providers for capital expenditures and new service development at a 50/50 State/Local match. FDOT has sponsored numerous studies such as the Streetcar Extension, Westshore Multimodal Study, and the Tampa Bay Intermodal Studies. FDOT is also partnering with HART on a Regional Premium Transit Study that is scheduled to start in Fall 2016. Other than the median of I-275, previous studies have considered many other corridors such as the ones prepared by HART and PSTA. Corridor alignments, as well as the definition of premium transit, will be determined by local agencies through feasibility studies based on technology, station locations, right of way availability, potential impacts, community input and many other factors.

Page 8 of 8