Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 7-13-18

Feature
As FDOT Tries To Quash Rumors:
Residents Make Suggestions To FDOT Officials At East Tampa Meeting
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Andrea White’s family home has been located di- rectly off the 22nd Street exit directly from Interstate 4 exit for three generations.
She doesn’t wish to see that change. But rumors of the exit closing as part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s proposed changes to the interchanges at I-4 and I-275 prompted her to visit a public meeting on Tuesday hosted by the East Tampa Community Re- vitalization Partnership (ETCRP) – and make a sug- gestion of her own.
Instead of making any changes to the 22nd Street exit, why not improve sig- nage for the 21st Street exit?
“If they put more signs up (for drivers) already coming to I-4, that would help a lot,” she said.
White was one of dozens of East Tampa resi- dents present at the meet- ing, where FDOT officials sought to quash the rumor of the exit closings as part of the wide-ranging Tampa Bay Next.
Formerly known as Tampa Bay Express, Tampa Bay Next is comprised of several projects designed to improve mobility including upgrading interstates and adding lanes.
Construction is years away. Public hearings are scheduled through next spring and the supplemental environment impact study – currently underway – is scheduled to be completed
Residents attend the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership meeting on Tuesday at Ragan Park. (Photograph by Frederick Harris)
in 2019.
“That is not true,” said
Kirk Bogen, an Environ- mental Management Engi- neer with FDOT. “We have four options, but none of them have the closure of 22nd Street in that plan.”
One of the options in- cludes not changing any- thing, said Jeff Novotny, a contractor on the project.
Another option would allow drivers to exit the highway at 14th and 15th Streets and limit exit traffic onto Floribraska Avenue, Novotny said.
Part of the planning process includes considera- tion of social and economic effects, including commu- nity demographics, residen- tial and business displacement, and business access, he said.
But some residents say they are skeptical of the de- partment’s plans.
“Every option you put up there, people will be dis- placed,” said Jae Pass-
more, who lives in Tampa Heights. “I haven’t seen a plan that doesn’t include toll lanes.”
Bogen acknowledged Passmore’s concerns, stat- ing that it’s likely that some homes and businesses could be relocated.
“Anytime you do im- provement on roadways, there is potential displace- ment of people,” he said. “The first option is to avoid relocation, and then if we
are to (do that), to mitigate.” Regarding tolls, it hasn’t been decided yet if they def- initely will be added, he
said.
Residents also voiced
concerns about the depart- ment’s communication methods, saying they want a more earnest effort to in- clude them in discussions.
Ed McKinney, Plan- ning and Environmental Administrator for FDOT, said the department is lis-
tening to and engaging with residents at every step.
“All of these things that we’re changing is the result of comments from folks just like you,” he said.
McKinney encouraged residents to reach out to FDOT with their concerns and suggestions.
“You input is vital to this whole process,” he said. “We want to hear what you have to say. Tell us what those concerns are.”
FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A