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Park-N-Ride Lot Approved For Sports Complex

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By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2007

LITHIA - Hillsborough County commissioners recently authorized creating a bus Park-n-Ride lot at the FishHawk Sports Complex.

The county is building the complex west of Randall Middle School and Newsome High School on the north side of FishHawk Boulevard.

Commissioners approved a 10-year agreement with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority to build a shelter and share the parking lot at the complex, giving bus commuters access to 99 parking spaces.

'Interest in our bus routes has grown in the area, and this can really help continue to grow it,' said Jill Cappadoro, a HART spokeswoman. 'This really improves our presence in the FishHawk and Riverview community.'

Sharing also made sense for officials with the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department building the complex.

'It is a way for us to work with other agencies and to provide multifaceted services to the community,' said John Brill, parks spokesman.

HART will reimburse the county the $219,600 it is expected to cost to create the Park-n-Ride lot.

The lot will be at the front of the complex, next to FishHawk Boulevard, and farthest from the center's eight baseball and two football/soccer fields.

'We shouldn't interfere with each other because the timing of our operations usually don't overlap,' Brill said.

Work on the $8 million complex began in April and is expected to be completed by May. The lot is expected to open at the same time.

Cappadoro said the lot will replace the one at the FishHawk Fellowship Church used by riders of the 24X express route running from FishHawk and Riverview to MacDill Air Force Base and the 27X route that runs through Brandon before ending in downtown Tampa.

'We are very thankful that the church stepped up and allowed us to use their facility,' Cappadoro said. 'But this gives us a permanent location.'

The agreement is for 10 years with two automatic renewals of five years and the county's option for another five years.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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