TAMPA, Fla. — The latest It’s TIME Tampa Bay survey reveals commuters are looking for rapid transit service to get to and from work as well as expanded streetcar access.
Survey results will help the three Metropolitan Planning Organizations create the very first tri-county Long-Range Transportation Plan for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties. The It’s TIME Tampa Bay survey was the most successful MetroQuest survey in the United States ever, according to the survey website.
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More than 9,500 people weighed in on transportation and growth in the Tampa Bay region, leaving about 250,000 data points for consideration in the creation of its first tri-county Transportation Plan.
Respondents said they were looking for routes connecting Downtown Tampa to the University of South Florida as well as Tampa International Airport.
They also were looking to expand the TECO Streetcar that currently runs through parts of Downtown, Channelside and Ybor City to connect it to more neighborhoods.
In addition, there was a popular push to put elevated express lanes, similar to the ones currently on the Selmon Expressway, on highways. Hillsborough County said if that gets approved to the long-range transportation plan, express lanes could go on roads like Dale Mabry, Memorial Highway and the Gandy Bridge.
