Page 8 - 4-3-15 Friday's Edition

East Tampa Bus Stop Project Completed
COUNCILMAN FRANK REDDICK
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
For years, motorists and pedestrians have complained about the HART bus stop on 22nd Street, just south of Hillsborough Avenue and east of the Walgreen’s Store.
Because of where the bus stop was located, when it stopped to pick up passen- gers, traffic would be backed up across Hillsborough Av- enue, causing motorists to at- tempt to go around the bus, thereby putting the lives of pedestrians at risk.
A study began to see if it would be possible to change the existing bus stop, and East Tampa Community Re- vitalization Partnership
HART BUS
Chair, Essie Sims, made it his personal project to see that the project got started.
Through the diligence of Sims, and the work of Councilman Frank Red- dick, the bus stop has been completed, and both mo- torists and pedestrians al- ready see and appreciate the difference.
“I always felt that situa- tion was an accident waiting to happen,” said Council- man Reddick.
“I couldn’t understand why it took so long for this to get done. I, along with some of my colleagues, went to the bus stop and we all saw just how dangerous it was.”
Councilman Reddick
said he’s happy to announce that what was once a great hazard, is now a safe south- bound lane of travel.
“Now, we’re going to see if we can get the same thing done on the opposite side of the street for the northbound traffic.
“The northbound traffic also gets backed up, prevent- ing motorists from reaching the turn lane to go west on Hillsborough Avenue and also blocking their entrance into the plaza on the east side of the road.”
Councilman Reddick
said because of all the busi- nesses operating in that area, it’s important to keep traffic flowing.
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PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015