TAMPA, Fla. — Community advocates in Tampa’s University Area are closer to seeing new speed humps, crosswalks and street lighting surrounding Harvest Hope Park and several affordable housing units.
Many families who live in this neighborhood, located off of Fletcher Avenue, don’t have access to cars and must walk, bike or take public transportation to get around.
But after 52 crashes in the University Area community over a five year period, advocates with the University Area Community Development Corporation decided to take action.
They commissioned a pedestrian bicycle and safety study of the University Area surrounding Harvest Hope Park.
Now, they are looking to add raised crosswalks that serve as speed humps across N. 19th St., N. 20th St. and E. 138th Avenue.
"Having speed bumps in a community that has a high pedestrian rate, where people are out walking, biking all of the time, will literally save lives,” said Sarah Combs with the University Area Community Development Corporation.
This comes as community leaders have also identified at least three places where trees are blocking streetlights in the area. Now, the UACDC is pushing Hillsborough County to add lighting at all raised crosswalks and mid-block crossings in the neighborhood surrounding Harvest Hope Park.
The University Area Community Development Corporation has presented the findings of the study to Hillsborough County leaders. The UACDC said county leaders have validated that there are safety concerns in the neighborhood. Now, the UACDC is just waiting on a timeline for a fix.
