Too Early Seen Unknown, and Known Too Late

There is one huge hole in the proposed plan to widen Bruce B. Downs Boulevard into either a 6 or 8 lane road. That problem is that this $50 million+ expansion of Bruce B. Downs is hinging on the passing of either a Light Rail system or at the very least another route for the Hartline bus services.

As the Hillsborough County Department of Public Works puts it, "Should the reconstruction of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, between Bearss Avenue and Palm Springs Boulevard, scheduled for 2011, widen the existing 4-lane road to 8 lanes as currently designed or widen to 6 lanes and preserve more space for future rapid transit?"

The cost of construction on the 6 lane road totals $52 million and the 8 lane road totals $55 million. Accounting for a $3 million difference.

However, the problem with merely widening the road is that if the road is widened to 6-lanes it will fail by 2012. This is particularly problematic when the estimated completion date would be between 2013 and 2014. The forecast is a little better for an 8-lane road which would not fail until 2025.

That being said that's still $55 million down the drain to last a little more than 10 years. That is why the Hillsborough County Department of Public Works is pushing for a Light Rail track to alleviate congestion and further accommodate the growing population of the North Tampa and Tampa Palms area.

The thought process of course being while you cannot keep widening Bruce B. Downs to suit the traffic you can keep adding cars to the Light Rail trains.

The Public Works department is pushing for a swift decision in order to avoid delays to the road project.

The planned Light Rail could be constructed as early as 2018 if:
-Planning, Environmental, and Engineering Studies support Rail on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in first phase of construction.
-Transportation Referendum on 1% sales tax is placed on the November ballot
and passes by popular vote.
-Federal matching grants are obtained as/if needed.

If the Light Rail fails to pass the options are limited to either a Hartline or simply wider road. An idea which most do not seem particularly fond of due to the still present congestion and in the case of simply widening the road, imminent failure.

Seen below is Plan One with the Light Rail running in between the two directions of traffic.











Below are links to helpful websites to learn more about the proposed road:
A slide-show presentation of the proposal.
The Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization.