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Improving Flow Of Traffic Not In The Budget

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By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

BRANDON - Getting traffic to flow better through Brandon may be a difficult task.

"It is like trying to put 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5-pound sack," said Michael Williams, an engineer for the Hillsborough County Department of Public Works.

Williams spoke at a meeting of the steering committee of the Brandon Community Plan, a long-term blueprint that will set guidelines for growth. The meeting focused specifically on transportation issues.

Williams and other speakers said there isn't enough money to improve traffic flow.

"We do the best we can with what we have to make it better," he said.

Some who attended the meeting Jan. 28 offered solutions that wouldn't cost a dime.

Kathy Eldridge, who lives off Pauls Drive, suggested converting the northbound right-turn lane on Kings Avenue at State Road 60 into a lane for through traffic and right turns. Then the existing through lane could be converted to a second left-turn lane onto S.R. 60, loosening up congestion that builds up now with only one left-turn lane.

Traffic often queues up south all the way to Oakfield Drive, and impatient drivers block the intersection at Robertson Street, particularly at rush hour.

"It wouldn't cost anything and would eliminate all that backing up," she said.

Toni Singleton , who lives off Providence Road, said the county needs to invest more in mass transit.

"We can't afford to keep buying land and building roads," she said. "Just adding roads is not a solution. We need to encourage people to use public transportation."

Steven Feigenbaum, a planning manager with HART, the local transit agency, agreed Brandon is not well served when it comes to mass transit.

"Our service in this part of the county is fairly weak," he said.

Feigenbaum said the agency plans to add buses and routes in the Brandon area, but the timing will depend on when money is available. HART had to cancel three planned rides-on-demand programs in the area this year because of budget cuts mandated by the Legislature.

Many committee members wondered how the county can keep approving new developments when roads are so clogged.

"It sounds like you are always behind the eight ball trying to catch up," Seymour Eldridge said. "We should have a building moratorium until roads catch up."

Ned Baier, the county's chief transportation planner, said major road improvements are nearly impossible in built-up areas such as Brandon.

"A lot of what you have in Brandon, you are going to have 20 years from now, 30 years from now," he said.

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

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