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FDOT Launches 511 Traveler Information Service

At a September 2, 2004 press conference, Florida Department of Transportation District Seven Secretary Ken Hartmann announced the launch of a 511 Traveler Information Service for Tampa Bay area travelers.   

By dialing 511 or visiting www.511tampabay.org, travelers in Hernando, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties can access free, 24-hour, information on traffic conditions, public transportation (including transit, airports, and seaports), and special events. 

To use the 511 phone service, simply use voice commands to direct the automated system as to which roadways, routes, or public transportation systems you would like information on.  To operate the system safely, the FDOT advises all callers to seek information on possible traffic delays BEFORE traveling. 

The 511 website has additional features including a map of the region containing information on current incidents.  A sampling of information obtained from this map on September 7, 2004 included:  

The Traveler Information System can be accessed by dialing 511 on your phone or visiting the 511 website at www.511tampabay.com.   

According to FDOT, 511 Tampa Bay will be the third Traveler Information Service in the state of Florida .  South Florida and Orlando already had 511 systems in place.  During the press conference, Secretary Hartmann indicated that other cities in Florida are likely to implement 511 systems in the future so that a person traveling anywhere in the state of Florida would be able to dial 511 and get relevant information about incidences and events that might affect their travel plans.   

The 511 Tampa Bay Traveler Information Service is operated by Mobility Technologies’ Traffic Pulse division on behalf of FDOT.  Traffic Pulse gathers traffic and road condition information from a variety of sources including road sensors, police scanners, FDOT Road Rangers, the Florida Highway Patrol, cameras, and Web monitoring.  Information regarding public transportation incidents and delays is reported by the various public transportation agencies in the Tampa Bay area. 

FDOT Plans for Future Intermodal Center(s) in Tampa Bay Region

Project mission:  To improve the quality of intermodal passenger connections in Tampa Bay so that regional mobility and accessibility by means other than personal motor vehicles are significantly reduced. 

 In layman’s terms:  The state wants to make it easier to get around Pasco and Hillsborough County by building stations for many types of transit, (buses, bikes, rail, etc.) while reducing the number of people who drive around town alone. 

The remaining site selections for five intermodal center locations in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties were revealed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and its project consultants at a Community Meeting on August 24th.  Site selection took into account site characteristics, mobility and accessibility, environmental stewardship, plan conformity and flexibility.  The five major activity areas selected to house future intermodal centers include the Gateway Area, Downtown Tampa, Westshore, Downtown St. Petersburg, and the USF Area.  The identified sites in each of these areas will be ranked by November 2004.  Upon confirmation of the final sites, design of the Centers will begin, with design completion projected to occur in summer 2005. 

In the USF area, two sites have been determined to be viable options, based on their location within the activity center and along the planned light rail route, as well as other aforementioned criteria.  The first site is on the southeast corner of 30th Street and Fowler Avenue across from USF.  The second site is the unoccupied former Circuit City/Service Merchandise plaza on Fowler Avenue .   

 What this means for the commuter:  An intermodal center or two (or three, or four, or five) will give commuters and others more travel options and invite development of more types of transit.  More travel options may lead to reduced traffic congestion on area roadways as well as improved air quality.  

To Learn More:

PDF documents relating to this project have been placed on the New North Transportation Alliance Website at the following address: http://www.newnorthalliance.org/intermodal_center.htm

2004 Commuter Choices Week, October 4-9

USF Transportation Fair, October 5

  It’s time again for the annual Commuter Choices Week, with events scheduled in various locations throughout  Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties .  Teams of transportation providers in Tampa welcome you to attend some of the many events during Commuter Choices Week, October 4 – 9, to explore commute options available through commuter assistance programs in the Tampa area.  

Check out the 8^th annual USF Transportation Fair

October 5, 11:00am-2:00pm

in the MLK Plaza outside the Marshall Center

 Learn about all your commute options–carpooling, bicycle commuting, fare-free transit–, discover what current and future transportation projects may impact your commute, and win great prizes!

If you can’t attend the USF event, visit one of the other Commuter Choices events being held throughout the Tampa Bay area:

          Downtown Tampa - Lykes Square

          Located on the Franklin Street Mall between Kennedy & Mason

           Festival at Central & 3^rd St. , St. Petersburg

           Located in the parking lot next to the Bank of America Tower

          Station Square Park Festival, Clearwater

         Station Square Park on Cleveland St .

          Westshore Mall – food court

          Beauties of the Beach Bash, Clearwater Beach – Pier 60

EMPLOYERS:  Commuter benefits programs – where employers work with NNTA staff to provide information on commute options to employees, and/or offer incentives to employees to use a commute option – are considered valuable to much of the workforce.  Commuter Choices Week is the perfect time to learn more about commuter benefits programs, or establish a program at your worksite. 

You too can take advantage of Commuter Choices Week, by scheduling a “Commuter Assistance Day” with New North Transportation Alliance staff.   We are available to come to your worksite and provide information to employees on their commute options and encourage them to try a commute option – instead of driving alone – at least once during Commuter Choices Week.   Call 813-974-9799 to schedule a Commuter Assistance Day or a meeting to learn more about commuter benefits programs today!

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.

Vanpool from Riverview to USF Area looking for more riders.
The newest vanpool to the New North area has room for two more riders. The vanpool travels from Riverview to the Moffitt Cancer Center and VA Hospital. Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you are interested in joining this vanpool, call Bay Area Commuter Services at 1-800-998-RIDE.