|
|
|
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. October 2001 Vol. 5 No. 13 Hands Free: Not Distraction Free According
to a study conducted recently by University of Utah researchers, cell phone
conversations, on both hand-held and hands-free phones, caused significantly
greater deficits in driving ability than merely listening to a radio or a
book-on-tape. In fact, study
participants who were engaged in a cell phone conversation missed twice as
many traffic signals and took longer to react to signals as those who were
not talking on the cell phone. This
would indicate that if legislation intends to restrict cell phone use by car
drivers, it will have to restrict both hand-held and hands-free use. According
to a related attitudinal survey of people regarding highway and auto safety, the
majority of American cell phone users indicate they would support laws
limiting cell phone use while driving, except in emergency situations. An even larger percentage of adult cell
phone users think law enforcement should indicate on crash reports whether a
cell phone had been used by any drivers involved in an incident. Public
support of such legislation indicates
that while 64% of adults report having a cell phone, and just under half of
those adults report using their phones while driving, most are able to
recognize that cell phone conversations create distractions that impair
otherwise safe and conscientious driving skills. 22nd
Street to See Improvements By widening both the
northbound and southbound left-turn lanes of 22nd Street at
Fletcher Avenue, the county hopes to alleviate traffic congestion along 22nd
Street, near the University Mall, while improving safety at the
intersection. The project will begin in
mid-October and should be completed by the end of February. 22nd
Street will remain open during the construction. New
Tampa Boulevard Expansion Update Ø At a recent community meeting in New
Tampa, residents were told by city officials that the proposed extension over
I-75, connecting New Tampa Boulevard to Commerce Boulevard in North New Tampa
may not be completed until 2006. Many
residents are pushing planners to expedite the project due to concerns over
inadequate roads and increasing congestion in the area. Ø At another community meeting, New Tampa
residents provided their ideas on safety and aesthetic features for both
the I-75 overpass and roadway
portions of the New Tampa Boulevard extension. Commute
Alternatives Provide Options In Wake of Tragedy Since the tragedy in New York City a
few weeks ago, the need to improve traffic flow in the city has prompted
officials to prohibit single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) from entering
Manhattan. This has encouraged
commuters to take greater advantage of commute alternatives such as
carpooling, bicycling, and walking.
Commuters are also urged to use subways, buses, and ferries. In Washington D.C., many commuters were
able to take advantage of the areas Guaranteed Ride Home Program and
telecommuting centers in the days and weeks following the attack on the
Pentagon. During these crises, commute
alternatives were used and continue to be used to improve traffic flow, make
roads more accessible for emergency crews, and deal with restricted access to
certain areas. Commute
Alternatives Provide Options Locally in Presence of Construction In Tampa, many roads are
currently under construction and many more will be under construction in the
future. Commute options such as
carpooling can be used to alleviate some of the increased congestion that
occurs during most construction.
Bicycling, walking, and telecommuting may also provide alternatives to
sitting in traffic for many others.
To be ride-matched with other commuters who live and work near you,
please contact the UNTI. UNTI COMMUNITY NEWS:
Commuter
Choices Week Event to be Rescheduled The Commuter Choices Week event that was to take place on September 13th at the USF Tampa Campus was cancelled due to the national tragedies of September 11th. The University North Transportation Initiative is still committed to promoting HARTline's Bikes-on-Buses program, as well as other commute alternatives throughout the University North area, and will host another event in the near future. The date of the rescheduled event will be included in an upcoming newsletter. You may also visit our website at www.commuterservices.com/unti for the most current information on this event and for transportation updates. We appreciate your understanding and apologize
for any inconvenience that you may have experienced. 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) |
