The purpose of the Transportation Information Service newsletter
is to inform, update, and educate members of the New North
Transportation Alliance and the public on local mobility issues,
projects and developments.
In the second year of the Tampa Bay Clean Air Partnership (CAP),
several New North Area employers were again recognized as Clean Air
Partners, for their ongoing efforts to reduce air pollution by offering
employees information on and incentives to use commute options. New
North employers receiving recognition included University Mall, University
of South Florida, Florida Department of Transportation, James A. Haley
Veterans' Hospital, Busch Gardens, and USAA.
USF's Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) also received
recognition for attaining the Environmental Protection Agency's "Best
Workplaces for CommutersSM" designation for a second year.
To become a CAP Partner, an employer has to meet at least the
minimum criteria:
Complete a CAP
agreement form
Designate a point
of contact
Centralize
commuter benefit information (intranet, bulletin board, etc.)
Promote commute
options on an ongoing basis
New employee
orientations*
Benefits Fairs*
Transportation
Fairs*
Facilitate ozone
alert notification (when it becomes available)
Submit an annual
report (short reporting form provided)*
By meeting these criteria, an employer would be
eligible for recognition at the Bronze Level. If an employer does
all of the above and achieves a 5 percent level of workforce
use of commute options, a Silver Award will be given. An
employer with a 15 percent level of workforce participation
will receive the Gold Award. Businesses that voluntarily
utilize one or more qualified clean-fuels or advanced technologies
in clean-fuel fleet conversions/fleet purchases will receive the
Green Fleet Award.
* NNTA can help employers in the New North area
by attending benefits and transportation fairs, by providing
information to be distributed to employees, and by assisting with
data collection needed for the annual report.
Richard Rome, Tampa Postmaster
accepts the Green Fleet Award on behalf of the United States
Postal Service in Tampa. The Postal Service strives to be
"green" in many ways, one of which involves using
alternative fuels in much of their vehicle fleet.
GOLD LEVEL
University Mall
SmartCertify Direct
Bay Area Commuter Services
Westshore Alliance
SILVER LEVEL Florida Department of Transportation, District
Seven
University of South Florida
Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority
Mortgage Investors Corporation
Tampa Bay Lightning/St. Pete Times Forum
Tampa Downtown Partnership
BRONZE LEVEL Busch Gardens
James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital
USAA
City of Tampa
AEGON
Tampa General Hospital
Wellcare HMO, Inc.
AAA Auto Club South
Bank of America - Idlewild Campus
Evatone, Inc.
NuAir Manufacturing Company
United States Postal Service, Tampa
Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel
GREEN FLEET LEVEL United
States Postal Service, Tampa
BEST WORKPLACES FOR COMMUTERS^SM
Center for Urban Transportation Research
Hillsborough County
MacDill Air Force Base
During the month of October, New North Alliance staff attended Benefits
Fairs held by the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and the University
of South Florida (USF). At USF, staff spoke with employees about
transportation benefits provided by the University, including
fare-free transportation on both Bull Runner and HARTline buses -
available to University employees who show a valid USF ID card when
boarding. Employees were also provided information on bicycle commuting,
and were given the opportunity to join the regional rideshare database
(helping them find others to carpool or vanpool with) and to register in
the Guaranteed Ride Home program - providing rides home to commuters who
utilize a commute option at least twice a week, in case of an emergency
that prevents them from getting home via their commute option.
At MOSI, NNTA staff and a BACS representative teamed up to introduce
employees to various commute options, including carpooling, vanpooling,
transit, and bicycle commuting. A number of employees opted to join the
regional rideshare database in hopes of finding someone to carpool with.
Others registered in the Guaranteed Ride Home program.
A New North Transportation Alliance representative is available to
attend Benefits Fairs at all area employer locations. Please contact
Heather Sobush at 974-9799 for more information.
The Hillsborough MPO recently completed a Downtown Tampa Access Study
that identifies issues relating to transportation in Downtown Tampa.
The study report includes an Action Plan, which recommends developing a
comprehensive Downtown Master Plan to address the issues raised.
In conducting the study, the MPO brought together eighteen groups
having known interests, plans, or projects in Downtown in order "to
create a comprehensive list of transportation changes on the
horizon." These groups include not only transportation organizations,
but also organizations related to the arts, the community, and economic
development.
According to the study, issues raised in interviews with the various
stakeholder groups tend to fit within several common themes, which should
be addressed in a Downtown Master Plan. These themes include:
Better
pedestrian access, mobility, and safety.
Transit
accessibility and circulation within downtown.
Access
to future destinations such as the Cultural Arts District.
Creation
of a "human scale" pedestrian environment.
Other, more specific, Master Plan "Focus Areas" identified
in the study include:
East-west and
north-south connectivity within downtown for pedestrian, bicycle,
transit, and vehicular modes.
Relationship of
residential developments in the Channel District, Tampa Heights, and
the Cultural Arts District and mobility to downtown destinations.
Economic
viability and the need for access to be balanced with livability
improvements.
Relationship
between parking facilities and final destinations within downtown.
A complete listing of stakeholder issues and suggested Master Plan
Focus Areas, as well a pdf version of the study in its entirety can be
found on the Hillsborough MPO website: www.hillsboroughmpo.org/plans.
Want to save money & make
better use of your time by carpooling or vanpooling-
but don't know anyone to share the commute with? We may be able to help! Join the regional rideshare
database by following the link on the Commuter page of our website, www.newnorthalliance.org,
or by calling 813-974-9799 to speak with a New North Transportation
Alliance representative.
Tampa Bay Interstates Website: New Photos
& Project Information The FDOT's Tampa Bay Interstates website, www.mytbi.com,
has new photos and project information for current and future projects
throughout the region, including the Downtown Tampa Interchange Project,
the Links Project (SR60/I-275/Veterans' Expressway), the
I-75 Widening Project, and many others
United
States Postal Service, Tampa
