ICYMI: No Howard Frankland Bridge Toll Lanes, FDOT Secretary Confirms

CLEARWATER, FL — Tampa Bay area motorists concerned about a proposal to create toll lanes on the Howard Frankland Bridge can breathe a sigh of relief. The Florida Department of Transportation confirmed Monday that the notion is dead in the water.

“We will not convert the auxiliary lanes to express lanes,” Jim Boxold, FDOT Secretary, wrote in a Monday letter to State Sen. Jack Latvala. “From the perspective of the people we serve in the Tampa region, the auxiliary lanes on this facility are currently travel lanes. Therefore, we will proceed with the Howard Frankland Bridge reconstruction project retaining four untolled (general purpose) lanes in each direction.”

Boxold was responding to a letter from Latvala, a Clearwater Republican, who also serves as the chair of the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation. Latvala, the delegation and plenty of Tampa Bay area residents were against the proposal to create one toll lane in each direction across the bridge. Most thought the action would create more gridlock on the bridge, rather than reduce it.

“I would like to thank the Department of Transportation for listening to the sentiment of the people of Tampa Bay who opposed having a toll lane on the Howard Frankland Bridge,” Latvala said in a Monday statement. “Now we must move forward and focus on solutions to make Tampa Bay transportation easier for our residents.”

Boxold echoed those sentiments in his letter.

Congestion on the bridge remains a concern, he noted. Toll lanes are still not out of the question, he said, but would be added instead of appropriating existing lanes.

“We will continue to explore options to add express lanes to this facility, including the use of the design build procurement as a potential solution,” Boxold wrote. “In the end, our decision will be based on whether the addition of express lanes and the congestion management they achieve is feasible and cost effective.”

What do you think would work to lessen congestion on the Howard Frankland Bridge? Tell us by commenting below!

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