Transportation Information Service
  September 2002  ~  Vol. 6 No. 9

The purpose of the TIS Update is to inform, update, and educate members of the University North Transportation Initiative and the public on local mobility issues, projects and developments.
bulletHARTline & USF Partner to Provide Fare-Free Transit to USF Community 
bulletGreater Tampa Chamber of Makes Transportation Recommendations
bulletConstruction Connection (Busch/I-275, East-West Road, Bruce B. Downs Blvd.)
bullet

UNTI Community Announcements

HARTline &USF Partner to Provide Fare-Free Transit to USF Community

Under the USF Fare-Free Program, all currently registered USF students, along with current USF staff and faculty with valid USF identification, can use their USF ID card to ride most HARTline buses for free.

Fare-free bus rides are available on all HARTline bus routes except express service. HART routes 5, 6, 18, 57LX, and 83 directly serve the USF campus, with connections at the University Area Transit Center to additional routes.  Route maps are available by the information desk in the Marshall Center and at the Commuter Center in the University Mall.  

To participate in this trial program, riders need only show their USFCard to the bus operator. A special bus pass is not required. The rides have been pre-paid by USF Parking and Transportation Services. 

“USF is proud to have a strong community partnership with HARTline,” said USF President Judy Genshaft. “This is a wonderful service for our faculty and staff, and will also help reduce parking demands on campus and alleviate traffic congestion in the University area.”

Greater Tampa Chamber Makes Transportation Recommendations

In recognition of the importance of the local transportation infrastructure, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce recently initiated a transportation education campaign. As a result, the Chamber has developed policy recommendations for Tampa/Hillsborough County infrastructure needs.

 The Chamber’s Policy Recommendations include the following:

  1. Provision of new funding sources including a referendum for a sales tax increase, incremental implementation of the local option gas tax, and an increase in impact fees.
  2. Prioritization of transportation infrastructure spending.
  3. Creation of an Oversight Board to advise on new funding implementation and expenditures.
  4. Regional policy coordination. 

 

The Public Opinion Poll found the following transportation options highly favored by Hillsborough County voters:  

 - Encouraging carpools (79%)

 - Encouraging local companies to allow telecommuting (79%)

 - Providing more sidewalks, bikeways, & trails (74%)

 - Building a countywide system that includes more transit & roads (63%

 - Improving scheduling & routes of existing buses (53%)

Call 974-9799 for a complete list of findings.

 

CONSTRUCTION CONNECTION:


I-2Motorists should be cautious when approaching the northbound I-275 exit ramp to Busch Boulevard as traffic has been switched to the new exit ramp.

East-West Roadway – New Tampa
www.eastwestroad.com.  This document outlines the alternatives considered for an east-west road in New Tampa, including three corridors and the no-build alternative.   The document describes the potential impacts of each alternative on the following resources:  social and economic, archaeological and historic, natural and physical.  It also contains agency and public comments.  The report concludes with the project consultant’s recommendations.   

C.R. 581 (Bruce B. Downs Boulevard) –Bearss Ave. to County Line Road
 The Florida Department of Transportation is still accepting public comments on the proposed alternatives

Bruce B. Downs Widening Document in PDF. 

To request a hard copy of the handout, please call 974-9799 or email sobush@cutr.usf.edu.  

* Form states a deadline of June 28th, but according to the FDOT, the deadline for comments has been extended indefinitely

 

 


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. 

 

 

Save the Date!  Commuter Choices Week: October 7-12
The 6th annual Commuter Choices Week will include numerous events to promote commute options to employers and commuters throughout the Tampa Bay area.  Events will be held in the Westshore area, Downtown St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa, the Gateway area, and the University North.

UNTI’s event will be held on Tuesday, October 8th from 11am to 2pm in the MLK Plaza on USF’s Tampa campus.  It will focus on the use of bikes and transit as viable means of transportation to, from, and around the University North.

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