Recent record gas prices and the threat of fuel
shortages in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina have commuters looking for
ways to conserve and reduce the cost of commuting to and from work. Here are
some of the transportation options that NNTA recommends. Not every option
works for everyone. Remember, not every option has to be used everyday. Even
once per week could reduce your gas bill by 10 to 20%! Figure out how much
you can save by going to
http://www.commuterpage.com/Userweb/CostCommuting/CostCommuting.htm
Mark Your
Calendars
for
Commuter Choices Week
2005
September 26-30 marks the
9th Annual Commuter Choices Week celebration in the Tampa Bay area,
with events scheduled in various locations throughout Hillsborough and
Pinellas Counties. Commuter Choices Week is held annually throughout
Florida to encourage commuters to pursue different commute options, such as
walking, bicycling, public transit, carpooling, vanpooling, teleworking or
worksite flextime, to see how they can make a positive impact on their
health and the environment. Changing transportation habits for even a short
period of time can $ save money $, reduce air pollution, eliminate
traffic congestion, decrease stress, and build a better community.
Schedule of
Events:
Party at Poe
Plaza – Downtown Tampa
Friday, September 23, 11:30 a.m.
– 1:30 p.m.
Poe Plaza between Tampa City
Center and Hyatt Regency
Festival at
Central & 3rd Street
Monday, September 26, 11:30 a.m.
– 1:30 p.m.
Downtown St. Petersburg
Parking lot adjacent to Bank of
America Tower
Way to Go
Westshore Festival
Tuesday, September 27, 11:00 a.m.
– 2:00 p.m.
Westshore Business District
The Towers at Westshore parking
lot (1408-10 Westshore Blvd N)
Clearwater
Commuter Celebration
Wednesday, September 28, 11:30
a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Downtown Clearwater
City Hall parking lot (Osceola
Ave & Pierce St)
University Area
Transit Center Meet-and-Greet
Thursday, September 29, 7:00 –
9:00 a.m.
Northeast Hillsborough County
Fletcher and Livingston Avenues
PSTA at the
Plaza
Friday, September 30, 11:30 a.m.
– 1:00 p.m.
St. Petersburg
Plaza 300 parking lot (300 31st
St N)
Join the fun
and pledge to try an alternative commute option at least once during the
week –
it may be the
change to a better future!
HARTline Plans Second New Downtown Express Route
After years with no bus service, New Tampa will soon have two express
routes to downtown.
HARTline’s public surveys revealed two groups of potential riders living
in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel – those who work downtown and those who work
near the University of South Florida. After considering the requests of both
groups, HARTline decided that two routes would be better than one.
Both of the new routes, 51X and 52X, will begin and end at Sam’s Club on
Route 56 in Pasco County and will run two times in the morning and two in
the afternoon. Route 51X will make two stops on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and
travel directly to downtown Tampa via I-75 and I-4 on morning trips.
In order to minimize the impact of evening traffic congestion, the return
route will travel north on I-275 to
Bearss Avenue, and then north on Bruce
B. Downs back to Rt. 56.
New Route 52X will stop twice on Bruce B. Downs also, then at the
University Area Transfer Center before dropping off downtown via I-275. This
route will also serve existing HARTline customers who live near USF and work
downtown. The return trip will follow the same routing pattern.
Bus service in New Tampa is slated to begin in January, 2006.
Transportation Bill Includes Millions for New North Area
Included in the six-year, $286.4 billion reauthorization bill signed by
President Bush on August 10th is money earmarked for the widening of Cross
Creek Boulevard, improving the safety and aesthetics of Busch Boulevard, and
assisting HARTline with equipment purchases and transit line improvements.
More than $1.4 million has been allocated to widen parts of Cross Creek
Boulevard from two lanes to four in a joint Tampa and Hillsborough County
project. Hillsborough County already has $1.8 million set aside for the
Cross Creek widening and construction is scheduled to begin this winter.
About $2 million will go toward improvements to Busch Boulevard, from
56th Street to I-275, which will include paved crosswalks, upgraded
landscaping, medians, light posts and benches. The entire project is
expected to cost $4 million.
HARTline will receive $8.5 million to purchase buses, build new bus
shelters and improve the Florida and Hillsborough Avenue routes by
increasing the frequency of buses. The transit agency also plans to create
additional office space at its Ybor City building so that it can eventually
move out of its building downtown.
Write in to the New
ThoughtPool!
We want to know what you’re thinking! Please send us any
ideas, questions or comments about:
- Transit in the community
- Popular transit news
- Articles printed in this newsletter
- Commute options
- Any relevant topic not listed here!
We will respond to as many thoughts as possible. Your
thought might be a scoop in our next issue! Please write to:
ThoughtPool@hotmail.com
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.
