Series Of 'Quick-Build Projects' Designed To Make Tampa Streets Safer

TAMPA, FL — Waiting months for the city to make safety improvements along high-injury corridors in the city of Tampa is a thing of the past.

Thanks to a $20 million grant, the city is embarking on a series of "quick-build projects" to quickly make complete safety projects that are flexible and can be easily adjusted if needed.

Among the projects are new bike lanes, crosswalks and safety upgrades.

Tampa's "quick-build projects" use materials like paint, signs and pavement markings to implement projects in a shorter time and at a lower cost compared to traditional methods. The design for these projects draws on new, nationally recognized standards for safe street design.

As part of the city’s Vision Zero efforts to reduce accidents on city roads, these quick build projects focus on providing safety enhancements for all users.

Benefits to the community include:

• Fills a critical bike gap
• Narrows lanes to slow speeds
• Creates additional parking spaces for residents
• Provide bulb-outs for safer pedestrian crossings by shortening crossing distances
• Adds speed tables to encourage slower speeds

Projects already completed include signage and pavement markings on Cass Street from North Boulevard to 300 feet west of Tyler Street and Main Street from MacDill Avenue to North Armenia Avenue.

Projects underway include 14th Street (Avenida República de Cuba) from Columbus Drive to Lake Avenue. This innovative project includes a redesign of Avenida Republica de Cuba (14th Street) from Columbus Drive to Lake Avenue in the V.M. Ybor Neighborhood, making the roadway safer for pedestrians and bicyclists in the growing commercial and residential area.

Other quick-build projects include:

• 19th Street from Durham Street to Adamo Drive.
• Cleveland Street from the railroad crossing west of Willow Avenue to Parker Street.
• Main Street from Armenia Avenue to North Boulevard.
• Morgan Street from Brorein Street to Fortune Street.