Plan to
Plan with the MPO & Hillsborough County
Press release issued by the Planning
Commission, January 13, 2004.
The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission and the
Metropolitan Planning Organization for Transportation (MPO) are taking
extraordinary steps to ensure that the public has ample opportunity to
provide input in the update of both the individual comprehensive plans
that guide growth and development, and the 2025 Long Range Transportation
Plan. The shared public input process has been dubbed Plan 2025 by both
agencies.
The agencies launched a website, www.PLAN2025.org, to enable the public
to access complete information about the process of updating the plans,
learn how they can provide input and view the results from a series of
public input meetings that will be held around the county. The agencies
have partnered with the Tampa Tribune to develop a four-page, full color
tabloid summarizing the plan update processes and providing public meeting
information. Another partnership with the Hillsborough County School
District will ensure that each of the more than 174,000 children in public
schools will receive a flyer to take home to inform parents of the public
meeting schedule and input opportunities.
"Each local government adopts a comprehensive plan that is dynamic
and must be updated periodically according to state law," explained
Robert B. Hunter, FAICP, Planning Commission executive director.
"These plans as well as the 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan,
affect the quality of life in a community and guide elected officials in
making financial decisions that enable them to provide needed services. It
is vitally important that the updates reflect changing community needs and
values as we move closer to the year 2025 when Hillsborough County's
population is expected to increase to more than 1.4 million people. That
is why we have forged partnerships with others who have vested interest in
ensuring that the plans reflect the issues of concern to the majority of
those with a stake in Hillsborough County's future."
Once community issues are identified, the Planning Commission will
submit Evaluation & Appraisal Reports to the individual local
governments for transmittal to the Florida Dept. of Community Affairs. A
series of public hearings will follow to adopt formal changes to the four
Comprehensive Plans.
The MPO will collect input on transportation issues to update the 2025
Long Range Transportation Plan, a package of transportation projects that
are considered needed and affordable, looking at funds available by 2025.
The MPO Board will adopt the update by the end of 2004.
Anyone with an interest in Hillsborough County's future is encouraged
to attend the public input meeting that is most convenient. The format
will be facilitated small group discussions to determine top issues and
their importance. All meetings will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
|
Join NNTA advisory board members and others in planning with
the MPO and Hillsborough County on
February
4th from 6-8PM
University Area Community Center
14013 N. 22 Street
Tampa, FL 33613
For
dates, times, and locations of pubic input meetings in other parts
of Hillsborough County, go to www.Plan2025.org.
|
For more information on the comprehensive plan updates, contact Chris
Waldman at (813) 273-3774, ext. 350. For more information on the 2025
Transportation Plan update, contact Beth Alden at (813) 273-3774, ext.
318.
Friends of Planning Volunteer Group:
The Planning Commission has created a Friends of Planning volunteer
group to serve as a sounding board as the update process moves forward;
assist in getting the word out to community groups and provide meeting
support services when needed. Anyone interested in joining should contact
Joe Bell, AICP, at 273-3774, ext. 347. Training will be provided.
More About the Planning Commission and the MPO:
The Hillsborough County City-County Planning
Commission is the official land planning agency responsible for
coordinated, long-range planning throughout Hillsborough County, including
the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace and the unincorporated
areas of Hillsborough County. The Planning Commission is comprised of ten
laypeople appointed by the local governments for four-year terms.
The Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning
Organization for Transportation is a transportation policy-making board
comprised of local government elected officials and transportation
authority representatives. The MPO is responsible for establishing a
continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process
for Hillsborough County, according to federal and state laws.
Transportation
Second Highest Cost for Tampa Bay Area Families
Expenses
exceed food & healthcare combined
Rising housing costs have pushed many families to the edge of Tampa
Bay's urban areas in search of affordable housing. But these families then
face higher transportation costs. A report released by the Surface
Transportation Policy Project (STPP) shows Tampa Area residents spending
more than 25 cents out of every dollar earned just to get around, an
expense second only to housing, and greater than food and healthcare
combined.
The report, entitled Transportation Costs and the American Dream: Why a
Lack of Transportation Choices Strains the Family Budget and Hinders
Homeownership, uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to rank 28
metropolitan areas according to the portion of household expenditures
devoted to transportation. The average Tampa Bay area resident spends
$9,292 annually on transportation costs - more than the national average
of $7,633!
The report says transportation costs are highest in sprawling areas
such as Tampa, Phoenix and Dallas because of sprawling development
patterns, the lack of transportation choices and the absence of convenient
neighborhoods within walking distance of shops and schools. The average
American family devoted an average of 19.3 cents of every dollar spent to
transportation in 2001.
The top ten metro areas where transportation takes the biggest bite out
of the household budget are: 1) Tampa, 2) Phoenix, 3) Dallas-Ft. Worth, 4)
San Diego, 5) Cleveland, 6) Houston, 7) Seattle, 8) Pittsburgh, 9)
Cincinnati, and 10) St. Louis. The full report is available online at
www.transact.org.
Excerpted from the January/February 2004 edition of the Tampa Bay
Commuter
Busch
Boulevard Beautification Project
Every day, thousands of people - commuters, tourists, and residents
alike - travel the Busch Boulevard corridor from Florida Avenue to 56th
Street. This roadway, however, has long been considered by many to lack
the aesthetic qualities indicative of its status as a gateway to popular
destinations and communities such as Busch Gardens, Temple Terrace, and
for some, the University of South Florida. That's why the Hillsborough
County MPO has identified Busch Boulevard for a beautification project
that would seek to "dress up" the corridor with improved
lighting and landscaping.
Although
a consultant has been hired to devise a beautification plan for Busch
Boulevard, the MPO also wants the public - especially those who live near
and travel along Busch Boulevard on a regular basis - to provide input on
what they would like to see regarding aesthetic improvements. One
interactive open house was held on January 14th in Temple Terrace and
another is planned for January 20th at Busch Gardens' Gwazi Pavilion from
4:00-7:00PM. Anyone interested in attending the open house at Busch
Gardens should contact Alan Steinbeck at 273-3774 x336 for an invitation
to enter the park. Once recommendations are developed, the MPO will get
feedback from the public at another series of meetings. The dates, times,
and locations of these meetings will be announced by the MPO at a future
date.
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
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