University North
Transportation Initiative
A Public-Private Partnership
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.
December 2001
Vol. 5 No. 15
Florida Ranks
Higher Among States for Carpooling
Florida has moved up in rank to become the state with the 16th
highest carpool rate. Compared to other
states, Florida moved up from having the 21st highest carpool rate
in 1990 to the 16th highest in 2000.
Hawaii was ranked first with a carpool share of 17.72 percent and New
York was ranked last with a share of 8.19 percent.
Florida's move in rank was not due to an increase in the percentage of
carpoolers but instead to an overall increase in the total number of people
carpooling. The share of commuters who carpool actually fell slightly between
1990 and 2000, from 14.13 to 11.86 percent. This is comparable to the 2.14
percentage drop the United States saw in its share of commuters carpooling.
According to the 2000 census, roughly 828,000 of Florida's 12.4 million
workers 16 or older carpooled to work in a car, truck, or van. About 147,000 used public transportation
including taxis, while another 133,000 walked.
About 5.5 million workers drove alone.
If you would like to join the hundreds of thousands of people already
saving money in gas, tolls, and car maintenance costs by carpooling, call the
UNTI at 974-9799 or join the regional
rideshare database by registering with Bay Area Commuter Services at www.tampabayrideshare.org.
HARTline Progresses with Streetcar and
Evaluates Rail
At the UNTI's December Board Meeting, HARTline Executive Director Sharon Dent described the progress of the TECO Line Streetcar System and expectations for the future of rail in Hillsborough County.
Construction of the first part of the streetcar system, from 8th Avenue to the end of Ice Palace Drive, is expected to be complete by July, with service beginning in September 2002. The first leg of the system will serve Centro Ybor, the Port Authority, Channelside, the Florida Aquarium, the Ice Palace, and other downtown destinations.
Eventually, the streetcar system is expected to tie in with a light rail system, that will connect the USF area south of Bearss Avenue to downtown Tampa and Westshore. Light Rail Transit technology, consisting of electrically powered vehicles operating on tracks in its own right-of-way, will be used to connect stations located about 1/2 mile apart along the route.
Tips for Safer Holiday Trips
As people hit the roads to visit
friends and family during the holiday season, the increase in the number of
cars on the roadways can make driving more hazardous. Below are a few things to remember and watch
out for over the next few weeks:
Hillsborough County public schools are
out from December 24 to January 4. Be
watchful of children throughout all hours of the day, especially
when driving through neighborhoods and
play areas.
Expect traffic congestion around malls
and shopping centers to be heavier than at most times of the year. Also be aware of pedestrians that tend to
frequent these areas.
Holiday parties are a great way to enjoy the
season but always remember to designate a non-drinking driver. If throwing a
party, make non-alcoholic drinks available for those who are driving others.
Since driving requires your full attention
try to limit your time on cell phone conversations or let a passenger make any
necessary calls for you.
As always, make
sure you and your passengers Buckle Up!
Thanksgiving
Holiday
Fatalities Fall
Preliminary reports show that the number of deaths over the 2001 Thanksgiving holiday weekend fell to the lowest total in at least six years, even though the number of cars on the road increased.
Although the total number will likely increase from the 24 initially reported, law enforcement agencies still expect the number to be lower than last year. They believe the decrease may be to some extent attributable to the significant number of law enforcement officers on patrol between November 21 and November 25.
Law enforcement
officers plan on making a similar effort for the Christmas and New Years
holiday weekends in hopes of preventing as many fatalities as possible.
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 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.
The UNTI Advisory Board is continuously seeking involvement from
private-sector businesses in the University North. By becoming involved or joining our Board,
you business will be given the opportunity to represent its interests and to
share ideas with other businesses and agencies in the community.
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)
www.commuterservices.com/unti