Mean travel time to work was 25.8
minutes.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census 2000
American
Lung Association Releases State of the Air: 2002 Report
Beginning in 2000, the American Lung Association began releasing
an annual State of the Air Report to provide citizens with summaries
of air quality in their communities. Cities and counties are
assigned "A" through "F" grades based on how
their air quality compares with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Air Quality Index for ground-level ozone pollution. The Air
Quality Index, based on national standards, recognizes an air
quality standard for ozone of 80 parts per billion averaged over an
eight-hour period.
Hillsborough County Assessment: 1998-2000
Sensitive groups include children, the elderly, people with lung
disease including asthma, outdoor workers, and healthy adults who
exercise outdoors. While these groups are more vulnerable to the
effects of ozone, all groups may be at risk on particularly high
ozone days or through prolonged exposure. A highly irritant gas,
ozone can damage the lungs and airway, causing them to become
inflamed, reddened, and swollen. Coughing, burning sensations, and
shortness of breath may result.
Much of the region's nitrogen oxide, a precursor to ozone (smog),
is thought to come from power plant and vehicle emissions. By
reducing vehicle travel over the long term through the use of
alternative modes, commuters can help improve air quality for the
future.
Source: American Lung Association "State of the Air:
2002" report at www.stateofair.org.
Streetcar
To Open in October
The grand opening of the first phase of the TECO Line Streetcar
System is scheduled for October. Track construction of the
streetcar's 2.3-mile route should be finished by the end of July and
will be followed by two months of testing before the official
opening.
Electric, air-conditioned replicas of the old Birney Safety Cars
that ran on Tampa streets until 1946 will transport riders from
downtown Tampa to Ybor City in 22 minutes. The 12 stops along the
route will serve destinations such as the Ice Palace, the Tampa
Convention Center, Channelside, USF Downtown Center, and Centro Ybor.
Streetcars will run seven days a week with extended hours on the
weekend.
For more information on the streetcar, including its history, a
route map, construction updates, sponsorship and development, and
community partners, visit the new TECO Line Streetcar website at www.tecolinestreetcar.org. In the future, operating hours and fare
prices will also be available on the website.
Photo Source: www.tecolinestreetcar.org
UNTI
Community Announcements
Vanpool Riders Wanted
Decrease commute costs, improve use of travel time:
A vanpool traveling from Sarasota/Bradenton to
the USF Area, including the VA Hospital and Telecom Parkway is
seeking riders. Work hours are from 7:00am - 4:30 pm. Call
813-282-8200 for more information.
UNTI Seeking Comments
on Commute Experiences
UNTI is interested in hearing about your commute!
Simply send an email to sobush@cutr.usf.edu
or fill out the commute
comments form at www.commuterservices.com/unti
to tell us about your
daily commute and any ways you have found to make the trip more
bearable.
Planning & Construction
Update: East West Road - New Tampa
At a recent public workshop regarding the four
options for an east-west road in New Tampa, citizens were given the
opportunity to respond to survey questions and make comments
relating to the various options, including a no-build alternative.
Comments and survey results, as well as handouts and graphic
displays from the workshop can be viewed at www.eastwestroad.com.
Public Workshop Announcement:
A public workshop to discuss the various options
for the widening of Bruce B. Downs will be held on June 18th from
4:30pm to 7:30pm in the Wharton High School cafeteria.
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