The Brandon News
Their Wheels Go 'Round And 'Round On The Bus
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Published: June 11, 2008
BRANDON - Those hammering out a long-term plan for Brandon's development wanted to get a better look at the area. And they got it - stuck in rush-hour traffic.
More than two dozen members of the Brandon Community Plan's steering committee took a bus tour of Brandon on June 3 to discover the community's diversity, its strengths and weaknesses.
It didn't take long for traffic congestion to trip them up. Only minutes into the ride, the bus got stuck on Oakfield Drive when the driver tried to get through the intersection at Parsons Avenue.
"This is one of the worst intersections in Brandon," said Gary Beemer, a committee member who lives in Valrico. "This area is always a bottleneck, any time of the day."
Jason Dunham of Bloomingdale said the tour was a viable tool.
"It is good to go out and see the points of interests in Brandon," he said. "We were able to see a whole lot of what's wrong with Brandon - congestion."
Dunham, an architect and town planner, said the community's biggest problem was readily apparent.
"Congestion is caused by the lack of connectivity in the road network," he said.
It was a view shared by Peter Aluotto, director of the county's planning department. He said Brandon's dysfunctional road network was created by years of allowing massive subdivisions to be built with only one access point. He said that dumped too many cars on inadequate roads.
"If there is only one access road, that road gets congested," he said.
Aluotto said fixing the problem will be a challenge.
"Trying to retrofit is impossible," he said. "People say, 'Don't bring that traffic into my neighborhood.'"
Many committee members complained about their traveling accommodations.
The window screens on the bus designed to shield riders from the sun also obstructed views. The noise of the diesel engine and the rumble of the air conditioning made it difficult to hear tour commentary. The clamor forced riders to converse with others within earshot. The multitude of conversations added to the din.
"I wish we could have spent more time talking about what we were seeing," Dunham said.
Despite the problems, William Lamboy, the county planner overseeing the community plan, said the tour was a success.
"People were talking and exchanging ideas, and that is what you try to get out of these things," he said.
Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.
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