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University
North Transportation Initiative |
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Transportation
Information Service This newsletter was created to inform, update, and
educate members of the University North Transportation Initiative and the
public on local mobility issues, projects and developments. August 2001 Vol. 5 No. 11 Transportation Talk… People
sometimes ask why devices like roundabouts and speed humps are installed on
their community roadways. Although
these and other similar physical measures often increase the aesthetics of a
roadway, they also serve the purpose of traffic calming. Traffic calming is the combination of
physical measures and transportation techniques that reduce the negative
effects of motor vehicle use, such as heavy traffic or fast drivers, and
improve conditions for nonmotorized street users, such as bicyclists and
pedestrians. Some example of traffic
calming techniques and devices used regularly in the University North area
include the following: ·
Bike
Lanes - Used by
bicyclists. Also encourage traffic to
slow down. ·
Police
Enforcement - Used to
enforce Safe Vehicle Laws. ·
Roundabouts - Used to direct traffic and encourage
traffic flow. ·
Speed
Humps - Used to
slow/discourage traffic. ·
Cul-de-sacs - Intended to close roadways to
vehicular through-traffic. ·
Education - Intended to inform residents on safe
on-street vehicle travel. For more information on traffic calming,
visit the Federal Highway Administration at www.fhwa.dot.gov Commuter Woes A large number of Florida commuters are generally unsatisfied with
untimely road construction, the level of congestion, and the traffic flow,
according to a FDOT survey taken by residents and visitors between November and
February. In fact, only thirty-nine
percent were satisfied that road construction in the state was completed in a
timely fashion. Fifty-two percent found rates of congestion acceptable, and
only sixty percent were happy with traffic flow. In Tampa, however, commuters have many
choices for reducing the stress of the daily commute. For example, by visiting Tampa Bay Interstates, at www.tbinterstates.com, commuters can
determine in advance when lanes or entire sections of highways will be closed
due to construction. Furthermore, by
signing up on the UNTI email service, commuters will receive up-to-date emails
regarding lane or road closures on highways due to emergencies. Commuters can also reduce their daily
stress during roadway congestion by committing to use a commute alternative
such as bicycling, carpooling, or taking transit at least a few days a
week. By registering with Bay Area
Commuter Services, commuters can join a vanpool or carpool and become eligible
for the Guaranteed Ride Home Program. For more information on these
alternatives, visit the BACS website at www.tampabayrideshare.org or call
the UNTI at 974-9799. News
Briefs… Ø HARTline
is considering a possible rate reduction, from $1.15 to $.55 for Route 83,
which serves as the University Area circulator. The HARTline Board is set to vote on this at its August 6th
meeting. Public comments are welcome
and can be voiced at the beginning of this meeting. Ø Traffic Crash Records from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicate that the number of traffic fatalities in Hillsborough County between January and July 2001 was about forty-one percent lower than during the same period of 2000. Remember to always buckle up and drive safely. Did You Know? In
1999, people in Tampa Had
30,700,000 hours of delay. Spent
an extra 35 hours in traffic per person. Wasted
44 gallons of gasoline per person. Air Quality continues to be a
problem: Nearly
100 cities, including Tampa, exceed the national standard. 57
million people live in the nine cities that are considered "severely"
polluted. Nearly half of all cancers attributed to outdoor sources of air pollution. UNTI COMMUNITY NEWS New Voting
District Boundaries County Commissioners recently approved
revised voting district boundaries for its four districts to reflect 2000
census figures. District 2 now encompasses Carollwood, Citrus Park,
Keystone, Knight/Antioch, Lutz, New Tampa, Northdale, Odessa, Seffner, Temple
Terrace, Thonotosassa, and Westchase.
It lost the unincorporated area around USF and the Forest Hills
neighborhood. These areas were moved
to District 3, which also includes Central Tampa, Carver City, East Lake, Palm
River, and Progress Village. UNTI News Take a moment to check out our updated
website at www.commuterservices.com/unti. On it you will find out how to participate
in the upcoming Commuter Choices Week, as well as information on commute
options, board members and the organizations they represent, employers who have
participated extensively in our initiative, and links to various commuter
websites, including HARTline, Bay Area Commuter Services, Tampa Bay
Interstates, and the Tampa Bay Commuter. What is the
UNTI? The University
North Transportation Initiate (UNTI) is a public-private partnership that provides
a forum to address the transportation needs of the University North Area. The University
North is the name given to a major destination area in Hillsborough
County. It contains a high
concentration of employment and commercial activity where traffic congestion
occurs. University North is the area
generally bounded by Busch Boulevard to the south, I-75 to the east, 22nd
Street to the west and Bruce B. Downs to the north. The UNTI's main
goals are to: Reduce traffic
congestion, Improve air quality, and Promote
alternative commute modes, such as carpooling, vanpooling, transit, bicycling,
or walking.
University
North Transportation Initiative A Public-Private Partnership Located at the
Center for Urban Transportation
Research (CUTR) University of
South Florida 4202 E. Fowler
Ave., CUT 100 Tampa, FL 33620-5375 (813) 974-9799;
974-5168 (fax) |
