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Feature
The Real Tragedy Of The TBX Project Is Central Avenue And West Tampa All Over Again
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Three years passed before construction was complete on Regina Wilson’s Seminole Heights dream home.
In 2007, she and her fam- ily finally moved into the two- story dwelling which features four bedrooms and three bath- rooms. Ms. Wilson said she plans to live in the home until she dies, but is fearful that may not happen.
Ms. Wilson’s home is lo- cated directly across from In- terstate 275, one of the sites of the estimated $6 billion Tampa Bay Express trans- portation project.
“I don’t want to move,” she said. “I love where I’m at. I love my home.”
On Thursday, Ms. Wil- son was one of hundreds of residents who live in neighbor- hoods affected by the plan – also known as TBX – who at- tended the meeting of the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization at the County Center.
The controversial TBX project got a major boost at the meeting, which lasted into the early hours of the next morning. By the end, board members had voted 12-4 to keep the plan among its list of transportation projects, known formally as the Trans- portation Improvement Pro- gram.
The list is updated annu- ally, meaning that the contro- versial TBX plan will again come before the board when it renews the program.
Last week’s vote provides money for the design of the TBX project.
The four ‘NO’ votes came
Among those at the hearing were: Lynette Tracee Judge, Or- lando Gudes, Mona Judge, and Walter L. Smith, II.
Dwayne Driskell attended the hearing.
Gwen Myers spoke to members of the MPO Board.
board that the project would be a repeat of the bulldozing that scrapped much of Central Avenue – the heart of Tampa’s African American community – 40 years ago.
“How is this ok?” said Mrs. Green, who is the pres- ident of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association. “How is this acceptable in our neighborhood?”
She urged board members to vote against TBX and show “that today we’re going to have equal economic development for all neighborhoods.”
Widening the highways doesn’t fit with modern sus- tainability practices, said Maya Trotz, an associate professor at University of
Regina Wilson was also in attendance.
from and MPO Board chair, County Comm. Les Miller, County Commissioner Kevin Beckner and Tampa City Council members Guido Maniscalco and Lisa Mon- telione. Mr. Miller is also the chairman of the Hillsbor- ough County Board of Com- missioners.
It’s a switch for Mr. Miller who at last year’s pub- lic hearing made the motion to approve TBX provided that the Florida Department of Transportation met certain conditions including working closely with the community on the project.
Heeding outcry from resi- dents and unsatisfied with FDOT’s lack of progress to meet those conditions, Comm. Miller’s stance on the matter changed. In a tele- phone interview, he said even TBX’s temporary economic boost doesn’t justify the per- manent displacement that some citizens could face.
“The point that this will bring construction jobs – no doubt about that,” he said. “But compared to people who will lose their homes? I have to go with the community.”
More than 100 people – both supporters and critics – commented on the massive project, which will add express toll lanes to Interstates 275, 4, and 75. The express lanes would be built next to existing lanes – a cause of concern for Ms. Wilson and others who live near the highway.
Supporters say TBX will bring jobs to the area and ease congestion on the highways, especially at peak travel times.
Those against the project pointed out host of problems with the plan, from lack of community engagement, the possible displacement of en- tire neighborhoods, and the plan’s inability to completely resolve the county’s growing transportation problems.
Additionally, there are en- vironmental justice issues that also have not been explored fully, said Beverly Ward.
The project’s environmen- tal effects – including water run-off, noise pollution, and air quality – have not been ad- dressed, said Ms. Ward.
TBX is “all spin, no return on investment,” she said.
Community activist Lena Young Green cautioned the
Jasmine Mattear carried a sign showing that her commu- nity was against the TBX proj- ect.
South Florida’s Civil and Envi- ronmental Engineering De- partment.
Ms. Trotz called TBX “an outdated solution” to the area’s traffic woes.
“Voting for this fiasco would be a betrayal to the city of Tampa,” she said.
Tampa resident Gwen Myers said while TBX may not be the answer, something needs to be done soon to alle- viate the area’s congestion.
“I think we need to look at the infrastructure and how we can move cars,” she said. “We don’t have that solution.” (Photographs by Freder- ick Harris)
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