TPO approves 2025 roll-forward TIP amendments including transit and corridor projects

The Hillsborough County Transportation Planning Organization voted 14-0 to approve the 2025 roll-forward amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program, aligning FDOT—s work program and the TPO—s TIP and moving roughly 40 projects forward in schedule or funding status.

Elizabeth Watkins, TPO staff, told the board the package contained about 40 projects, of which roughly 11 are transit projects. "There's about 40 projects in this amendment package, and I just wanted to call to your attention that 11 of them, about 20% to 25% are transit," Watkins said. She explained that federal transit funds typically flow through HART and federal highway funds through FDOT.

Watkins highlighted several transit investments carried forward for administrative closeout, including discretionary and formula grants (referenced as FTA programs 5307 and 5339 in the presentation) and an emergency relief grant for HART's response to Hurricane Ian. She also noted a $23 million grant for HART's heavy maintenance facility: "Phase 1 is fully funded with this investment, and HART is currently in the design phase. Phase 2 will be demolition and rebuilding of the heavy maintenance facility and that is unfunded."

Roadway projects rolling forward include resurfacing segments on MLK Boulevard in Dover, Washington Street in East Tampa, and Hillsborough Avenue in Town "n" Country (from west of Lagoon Street to east of Benjamin). Watkins also described the Tampa Street and Florida Avenue corridor projects, planned to include three travel lanes, bicycle facilities and sidewalks, drainage improvements, and coordination among FDOT, City of Tampa and HART. Construction for those corridors is estimated to start next year.

Capacity and safety projects in the amendment include the I-4 eastbound auxiliary lane near downtown, three railroad crossing safety projects, and a $15 million Fowler Avenue pedestrian and intersection improvement package. Watkins said the Bush Boulevard corridor improvements, prioritized for safety, include raised medians, a new signal at Bush and Rome and mid-block crossings, with construction expected next year.

A roll call confirmed the vote: the motion to approve was called and recorded as carried 14 to 0. The board authorization will allow FDOT and implementing agencies to align programming and advance design, right-of-way and construction steps where funds and schedules permit.

Board members thanked FDOT and TPO staff for the work; no amendments to the package were recorded during the meeting.