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Counties unite to discuss road woes
By SUSAN THURSTON
© St. Petersburg Times, CROSS CREEK -- Transportation experts in Hillsborough and Pasco counties are bracing for the next wave of development around New Tampa and, this time, they hope to be ready. About 10,000 homes are planned along the border, based on new figures compiled by the counties. With the houses will come cars and more traffic, particularly at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and County Line Road. "It's going to be horrible," said Jim Davison, of Hunter's Green and a member of the New Tampa Transportation Task Force. In order to prepare, county and city of Tampa officials are coordinating plans for the once sleepy intersection. It already gets crowded during rush hour and will get worse as new homes are built and the Target opens on the northwest corner. Officials met Tuesday night with the task force and people from Pasco to discuss details and review maps showing which developments have been approved and what road projects are planned. They hope that by looking at the area as a whole, they can better plan for the future. "I think the maps are very telling," said Pat Bean, Hillsborough's deputy county administrator, who organized the group. "I don't think there's been anything that shows it so dramatically." The group began meeting in May to come up with ways to reduce congestion as growth occurs on both sides of the county line. It marked the first time government planners and residents from both counties teamed up to tackle issues affecting motorists in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. "We're blazing new trails here in a sense," said Frank Margarella of Hunter's Green. The maps showed about 6,090 homes are planned for Northwood and Meadow Pointe in Pasco County and 3,189 for Live Oak and Grand Hampton in Hillsborough. Not included were the Scala and K-Bar projects in Hillsborough, which are slated for thousands of houses. Tom Thomson, Hillsborough's transportation director, said developers have agreed to make some improvements along Bruce B. Downs and County Line Road. He planned to research the development agreements so the group would know what other projects are needed. Elton Smith, Tampa's transportation manager, said several projects are in the works to help alleviate traffic near the border and throughout the New Tampa area. Among the highlights: The extension of Cross Creek Boulevard to Morris Bridge Road. The city is in the final steps of getting land for the remaining one-quarter-mile link and hopes to see construction in the next four months. Improvements to the intersection of Bruce B. Downs and Cross Creek/New Tampa Boulevard. The project to add turning lanes is expected to start by the end of the year. The opening of the State Road 56 exit along Interstate 75 in February. The city also is negotiating with a contractor to do the planning, design and environmental study for the proposed east-west road linking New Tampa Boulevard and Interstate 275. Once the terms of the deal are completed, the study will take about two years. - Susan Thurston can be reached at (813) 226-3463.
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