Projects
Road Improvements
From New Tampa to South Tampa residents will see construction started on needed road projects. Two projects, Cross Creek Boulevard and Manhattan Avenue, will widen the roadways from two lanes to four lanes. The third project, the I-75 Bridge at West Meadows, will provide a bridge that will extend New Tampa Boulevard through West Meadows to Commerce Park Boulevard. All three projects, totaling $25 million, will help alleviate traffic congestion.
Cross Creek Boulevard
This project provides for the widening southward of Cross Creek Boulevard to a four-lane urban corridor with medians, bike paths and sidewalks. The boundaries of this project are Larkbunting Drive at Clay Gully to Arbor Greene Drive. The total cost of this widening project is expected to be $4.9 million. Construction is expected to begin in 2006.
Manhattan Avenue
The four-laning of Manhattan Avenue includes center turn lanes and medians, sidewalks, bike paths, landscaping, and two stormwater retention areas. The $8.2 million project extends over one and a quarter miles from Gandy Boulevard to Euclid Avenue and is expected to begin construction in January 2006.
I-75 Bridge at West Meadows
A four-lane bridge over I-75 will be constructed to extend New Tampa Boulevard through West Meadows to Commerce Park Boulevard. The extension will help with traffic congestion and will also connect the local schools and parks currently separated by I-75. The roadway will initially be a two-lane extension of New Tampa Boulevard. The bridge will be built with four lanes for anticipated future demand. The roadway will be built with a sidewalk on the south side and a bike trail on the north side. Construction cost is estimated at $11.9 million and it is expected to begin in January 2006 with completion in approximately two years.
40th Street
Work continues on the 40th Street Project - the administration's top transportation priority. The widening of 40th Street is an $80 million dollar project divided into five different segments - A through E. Segment E from Fowler Avenue to the Busch Boulevard tunnel entrance has been completed and Segment D from the tunnel entrance to Humphrey is currently under construction and is expected to be completed this August. The other segments, C through A, extend from Humphrey to Hanlon, Hanlon to Hanna and Hanna to Hillsborough and right-of-way acquisition continues everyday. The next segment to break ground will be segment B from Hanlon to Hanna. This section includes a bridge over the Hillsborough River and construction is scheduled to begin February 2006.
Parks and Recreation
Our parks and recreation system consists of 165 parks, 79 playgrounds, 194 racquet and multi-purpose courts, 107 ball fields, 19 community centers, 15 pools, five art studios, four cemeteries and 60 miles of multi-purpose trails. It is the second largest department with 688 full-time equivalent employees and a budget of $38 million.
This year we will dedicate dollars to a variety of general improvement, modernization, rehabilitation, and construction projects. Some of the major projects planned include:
New Tampa Community Park
Design of this 10,000-12,000 square foot gymnastic/dance and community center is underway. Construction will begin this year.
Woodland Terrace Playground Activity Center
This heavily used neighborhood center will be expanded from 3,000 to 6,000 square feet.
Hunt Community Center
Construction on the 12,000 square foot community center in Al Lopez Park began and it will be completed this year. The center will include a fitness room and a game room.
Cyrus Green Community Center
A new community center is being constructed at Cyrus Green Park in Belmont Heights. The new center will be nearly 11,000 square feet and will include a renovation of the swimming pool. The facility is scheduled to open during 2006.
Cypress Point Beach
Restrooms and other park amenities will be constructed. Cypress Point Beach is scheduled to be completed and open to the public in the summer of 2006.
Downtown as a Neighborhood
Downtown Tampa is everyone's neighborhood and we are working to transform it from a business and government center to an exciting 24/7 urban center - with both business and residential neighborhoods, sparked by many diverse cultural and artistic enterprises. Perhaps the most significant undertaking is the Riverwalk that will help open up Tampa's waterfront to the people. This project provides for a two and a half-mile pedestrian walkway running from Channelside up the Hillsborough River to Tampa Heights. Over $1.7 million will be funded this fiscal year to complete the segment of the Riverwalk under the Platt Street Bridge.
Safer Streets for Downtown
In addition to the Riverwalk, we are concentrating on making downtown safer for pedestrians and residents. As the number of residents in our downtown grows, we must give our streets more of a pedestrian and neighborhood feel. We are embarking on a five-year plan to convert our east/west downtown streets to two-way, starting with Madison and ending with Tyler. This fiscal year we will dedicate $800,000 to convert Madison Street into a two-way street with pedestrian walkways, landscaping and beautification, new signage and resurfacing.
Revitalizing East Tampa
The revitalization of East Tampa, a seven-square mile area designated as a community redevelopment area (CRA), is a major focus for this administration. The work of the East Tampa development division, in conjunction with the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership, is already making a difference. The division administers a special tax increment finance (TIF) district funded by revenues generated from annual increases in property values within the CRA. This year alone has resulted in a 22 percent increase in property values, generating about $2.5 million to be re-invested in East Tampa.
Public Safety
We are investing over $3 million this year toward the design and construction of the District III Police Headquarters in East Tampa on 32nd Avenue and 22nd Street.
Artist rendering of Lake Avenue enhancement project.
Investing in the Basics
We will invest over $1.6 million to improve Lake Avenue from 22nd Street to 29th Street including the enhancement of the intersections at 22nd Street and 29th Street to include sidewalks, landscaping and decorative pavers in the form of stamped asphalt. In addition to dollars dedicated by the transportation division, the East Tampa division will dedicate dollars to the basics including neighborhood roadway improvements such as streetlights, sidewalks and signage.
Parks & Recreation Improvements
The parks and recreation department has three major improvement projects in East Tampa, completing the renovations of the historic Cuscaden Swimming Pool, construction of the Cyrus Green Community Center and the construction of a playground activity center at Highland Pines Park.
Beautification of East Tampa
This year a dedicated full-time East Tampa litter control and environmental clean-up program will be established, in partnership with the clean city division.
A Five-Year Stormwater Plan
Tampa's stormwater department is embarking on a five-year, $60 million plan to help address some of our community's long-standing flood problems. This is the first time in Tampa's history that the city has developed such a comprehensive plan. We are focusing on long neglected stormwater problems and maintenance that will lead to improved flood protection and water quality.
This fiscal year we will address several flood concerns including Paxton Avenue and Sixth Street and we will begin the design work on Dale Mabry Highway, from Neptune Street to Henderson Boulevard, in order to alleviate the flooding.
2006 Stormwater Capital Projects
West Tampa Elementary School Stormwater Improvements:
Final phase of a three-year project.
Paxton Avenue & Sixth Street:
Construction will provide flood relief.
Grant Park Pond:
Construction of several planned retention ponds.
Dale Mabry Highway, Neptune St. to Henderson Blvd.:
Design this year. Construction expected 2007.
Neptune Street, Grady Avenue to Manhattan Avenue:
Construction will take place this fiscal year.
Drew Park Stormwater Improvements:
Land acquisition and design initiated this year, construction to begin in fiscal year 2007.
Duck Pond Drainage System Improvements:
Design and construction expected 2007.
Ybor Outfall Flood Control:
Construction will begin this year to solve repetitive flooding in the Ybor City commercial district and in the vicinity of the TECOline Streetcar Barn.
MacDill Avenue, Flooding Relief:
Construction to alleviate chronic ponding at the intersection of Marcum Street and MacDill Avenue.
Highland Avenue north of Flora Street, Flooding Relief:
Construction of a system in the alleyway between Highland Avenue and Duncan Street north of Flora Street.
Holland Street, Flooding Relief:
Construction provides for the extension to an existing system in order to drain the low point on Holland Street between 14th Street and Astor Avenue.
Roland Street at Hubert Avenue, Flooding Relief:
Provides for lateral construction to drain two low areas on Roland Street in the vicinity of Hubert Avenue.
North Street and Packwood Avenue, Flooding Relief:
Construction of this project solves street and yard flooding.
