Heights Mobility Study Survey

Exercise 1: DRAFT Purpose and Need Statement

What is a Purpose and Need Statement?

The Purpose and Need Statement is used to identify why a proposed action is being pursued and why it is necessary. It also drives the process for consideration of performance measures and sets the boundaries of what can and cannot be considered viable alternatives. When developing a Purpose and Need Statement it is important that the statement is not constructed in a way that limits potential alternatives or predetermines a particular action or alternative. To the extent possible the Purpose portion of the statement should be a clear and concise statement of purpose that is supported by the Needs, which contain a detailed explanation of the specific problems, deficiencies or opportunities that exist or are expected to exist in the future that justify the proposed action.

The following contains a draft Purpose and Need Statement that was developed for the Heights Mobility Study, please review the statement and in the Notes section provide any comments on items that you like, feel are missing, or if there are parts of the statement that you think should be changed or eliminated.

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Purpose:

Provide a safe and efficient transportation facility throughout t e Florida Avenue and Tampa Street/Highland Avenue corridor (the Corridor) that complements the character of the surrounding communities, balances local and regional travel needs, and provides mobility options for all modes and users.

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Needs:

1) Safety – As is common with older roadways, elements of the Corridor do not meet modern minimum design standards or employ current best practices for enhancing the safety of non‐motorized road users. Because traffic volumes (except during the morning and afternoon rush‐hours) are relatively low, speed management is an issue.

Improve overall safety with a focus on enhancing safety for non‐motorized road users and reducing the most severe automobile crash types along the corridor.

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2) Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility – Currently, some parts of the Corridor lack adequate sidewalk and bicycle facilities and those bicycle facilities present may not be adequate for less experienced/confident cyclists. The limited number of signalized intersections and marked crosswalks in the Corridor limit pedestrian mobility.

Improve sidewalks, bicycle facilities, and the ability of non‐motorized users to safely cross major roadways in order to enhance connections between neighborhoods and businesses and provide mobility options along the Corridor.

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3) Transit Access and Quality of Service – HART Route 1 travels along the Corridor providing north‐south mobility and access to intersecting east‐west routes. Several routes also overlay one another along the southern portion of the corridor to access and depart from the Marion Transit Center/Downtown. However, most bus stops lack amenities and buses move slowly during rush‐hour because they are impacted by congestion on the Corridor.

Improve access to transit stops, stop quality, and transit service along the corridor to enhance the quality of service for existing transit users and the attractiveness of transit as a mobility option within the Corridor. Transit service improvements may include but are not limited to increased transit service (frequency/span‐of‐service) and improvements to transit travel time and reliability.

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4. Community‐wide Mobility Needs – The Corridor serves as a “Main Street” for the Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights neighborhoods, but also connects these neighborhoods and several neighborhoods to the north of the Hillsborough River with Downtown Tampa.

Mobility solutions for the Corridor should consider the diverse trip‐making that occurs along the Corridor today and should seek to accommodate existing and future travel, considering the use of parallel roadway facilities and alternative travel modes.

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5. Economic Growth and Livability – Florida Avenue and the southern portion of Tampa Street have a commercial character with a diverse mix of businesses including “business‐highway” uses (car dealerships and repair shops); neighborhood‐serving and specialty retail; restaurants, pubs, and cafes; and other professional services and light‐industrial uses. In some cases these businesses are constrained by issues such as lack of parking and traffic circulation/access issues. In other cases, business activities encroach on the public right‐of‐way and contribute to safety and mobility issues along the Corridor.

Mobility solutions for the Corridor should consider the needs of businesses along the corridor including parking, access/circulation, and public realm/streetscape improvements that can help to enhance the Corridor for existing businesses and help foster infill and redevelopment consistent with the community’s vision and the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

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If there are other needs you want to tell us about, please list below and explain:

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