Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 11-15-19

Local
Mayor Jane Castor Says The 34th Street Roundabouts ‘Will Happen’
According to newly elected Mayor Jane Castor, “it’s a safety issue.
“Given the fact that this roadway is in dire need of safety improvements, it has been part of the East Tampa CRA Master Plan for many years, and that we had two public meetings where the con- sensus was supportive of the project, we are compelled to continue forward to complete the project,” Mayor Castor explained.
Since the project received funding from the federal gov- ernment and FDOT, if it is stopped abruptly, future proj- ects in the city will be ham- pered, she added.
Also, the City of Tampa will be liable to pay back any monies received.
The Mayor said: “The 34th St. Corridor Improvement Project construction cost will be approximately $3,730,000 and will include resurfacing of the roadway, ADA improve-
ments and pedestrian ramps at the intersections, bicycle facil- ities, new sidewalks, enhanced school zone at Potter Elemen- tary, LED street lighting, pave- ment striping for a continuous 30 mph hour speed limit, new signage, and additional green space with landscaped medi- ans and roundabouts.
The artwork in the round- abouts will follow the com- pleted construction. The construction is estimated to be 340 calendar days.”
The artwork will be funded by the East Tampa CRA, headed by Ed Johnson.
MAYOR JANE CASTOR
Millions $$ To Be Spent On 3 Roundabouts On 34th Street
In one of the city’s most blighted areas, the City of Tampa and Florida Depart- ment Of Transportation (FDOT) are scheduled to spend more than $6 million dollars in funding to con- struct 3 roundabouts on 34th Street.
This plan was submitted and put into motion in 2013 under the Bob Buckhorn Administration by City Transportation and Stormwater Director, Jean Duncan, P. E., to change a 2-mile segment of 34th Street from Columbus Drive to Hillsborough Avenue.
This change will include 3 roundabouts.
With surveying completed this past Spring, the major road change has been tar- geted by the city to be com- pleted in the Fall of 2020.
The Roundabouts will be at:
• 21st Avenue and 34th Street;
• Lake Avenue and 34th Street;
• Osborne Avenue and 34th Street.
The traffic lights in the core community will also go away.
The plan will also make the street more narrow when the 4 through lanes will be re- duced to 2 lanes from Colum- bus Dr. to 21st Ave., and Lake Ave. to Dr. MLK Blvd.
The last public hearing about the project was held in 2014, with mixed reactions.
The Black community is no stranger to roundabouts. Under the Pam Iorio ad- ministration, 3 roundabouts were completed on the main north/south corridor of 40th Street.
The plans to include an- other roundabout on 22nd Street at 23rd Avenue, was constructed when Mayor Bob Buckhorn took office.
That roundabout has led to numerous hazards when both HART and fire and res- cue trucks were going in the same direction at the same time.
According to Senator Darryl Rouson, FDOT rep- resentative Bob Esposito responded to his inquiry and
shared that the City of Tampa applied for safety funding to implement this project.
According to Esposito, the proposed improvements included the roundabouts.
According to FDOT’s Safety Office the City of Tampa hired engineering firm Tindale Oliver to do a safety study and the consult- ant recommended the round- abouts. The City then submitted their application to FDOT for the project.
When asked about the roundabouts in East Tampa, Ms. Duncan said 13 round- abouts are currently being worked on in the City of Tampa – including North and South Tampa. There are 25 throughout the City.
“We started looking at the area with the highest pedes- trian fatalities and injuries in the City and what safety op- tions could be put in place. You can’t run through a roundabout like people run through traffic signals.
“We understand the ap- prehension in the commu- nity, but we hope we can positively work through any roundabout concerns,” Ms. Duncan said.
Funds from the East Tampa CRA will be used for aesthetic appeal.
Mayor Castor said the City of Tampa Arts Manager, Robin Nigh, is working with the East Tampa CRA Manager, Ed Johnson, to secure a recognized African American artist to develop some artwork for the 34th St. roundabouts. The artwork will follow the construction.
Yvette Lewis, President, Hillsborough County Branch NAACP, said the Branch ve- hemently opposes the round- abouts.
“Although they’re saying it’s too late to scrap the proj-
ect, it’s never too late.
“This project doesn’t look
right, so why is it being forced down our throats? There are so many other issues that need to be addressed. We still have people who need homes, need their homes re- paired, or are just homeless. Why are we wasting money on roundabouts?
Ms. Lewis said, “the City keeps saying, ‘the people agreed to this,’ but who are the people? This is a new day and the City of Tampa needs to listen to the people who are there now.
“We’re constantly saying, ‘no’ every chance we get, but they’re not listening. Some- one is profiting from this and it’s definitely not the people,” she emphasized.
The FDOT office also pro- vided copies of the city’s ap- plication and request to implement the project through the LAP.
City Staff To Report To City Council On November 21st
City Councilman Or- lando Gudes has met with the City Staff. He has asked that staff give a complete re- port to the City Council on the 34th Street Roundabouts from the inception of the project, to where it stands today.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, No- vember 21, 2019, during the 9 a. m. City Council meeting. He encourages the community to attend.
He added that no funding from the East Tampa CRA will be used for the construc- tion of the project. “The role of the CRA is beautification – flowers shrubbery – not on the project.”
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