TAMPA, Fla. — Changes are coming to a stretch of E. Columbus Drive between Nebraska and 14th Street that city leaders say will make the corridor safer while boosting economic development.
The E. Columbus Drive project will help create new bike lanes, bulb-outs for pedestrians, new on-street parking and shade trees.
This 0.4-mile segment of E. Columbus Drive from N. Nebraska Avenue to N. 14th Street is an arterial roadway with one travel lane in each direction and has an average daily traffic volume of 10,210 vehicles. The posted speed is 30 miles per hour.
The City of Tampa Mobility Departmentpresented its original concept at a public meeting in April 2019, which had the construction of 5-foot bike lanes on both sides of the road and removal of parking from the north side.
However, transportation leaders have made several changes to the first plan, including:
- Widening of sidewalks on both sides to approximately 8 feet along the corridor and approximately 15 feet at intersections
- Maintaining parking on both sides of the road
- Adding street trees to both sides of the roadway
- Narrowing lane widths to 11 feet (minimum for this classification)
- Providing share the road markings on the travel lanes.
The City of Tampa has also opted to remove the bike lanes from the initial project design. While that isn't something most traffic safety advocates want to see in the fight for safer streets, city leaders are sticking by the changes.
"We're actually making the budget a lot more, said Calvin Hardie with the City of Tampa Mobility Department. "We truly believe that this is a safer section. We think that it will lead to economic development within that neighborhood."
The city said the new design prioritizes pedestrian safety, enhances public bus stops along the corridor and provides cyclists with options while maintaining the capacity for cars and on-street parking, allowing for more economic growth.
In addition, there will be street trees installed along this corridor. They will be placed in specific tree wells that are designed to capture excess stormwater, remove pollutants and create irrigation.
Contact City of Tampa about this project
"It actually waters a tree, and then drips down, and then eventually exfiltrates through the soil instead of popping off, going into an inlet and then ending up in the Hillsborough River," Hardie said.
This comes as neighbors have been fighting for safety changes for years with the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County.
Just outside the boundaries of this project, a mail carrier was hit and killed near Columbus and 19th Street. Some even made their own signs to post along the roadway, warning drivers to slow down.
MORE: Ybor City neighbors pushing for safety changes on Columbus Drive following deadly crash
