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Public meeting set for June as council members press staff on South Howard culvert routes and design
Summary
Council members and residents raised concerns about proposed culvert routes under Howard Avenue; staff said consultants will present their route analysis at a June 5 public meeting, that three Howard options are in scope, and that staff do not expect a viable option through certain interior neighborhood streets previously protected by council.
Tampa — Council members and residents pressed city mobility staff about proposed culvert routes tied to the South Howard stormwater project and asked for clear public disclosure after neighborhood residents reported conflicting information.
Council member Carlson said residents in New Suburb/Beautiful and Parkland Estates were alarmed by reports that a culvert route might run through interior neighborhood streets. He reminded council that a prior council resolution had discouraged routing through interior streets and asked staff to confirm there would be no route presented that used those interior roads.
Staff said the contract under way focuses on Howard Avenue and the three primary routes in the study; they added the consultant will present a route analysis — including routes requested by neighborhood groups and the South Selmon study areas — at a June 5 public meeting. Staff said one option that had been previously evaluated (via a JMT study) was not found feasible and that, based on existing geography, cost and time, staff do not expect a recommendation to route through the interior streets in Parkland Estates or New Suburb/Beautiful.
Council members also pressed staff about reported changes in culvert size and whether that would increase impacts in residential neighborhoods. Mobility staff replied that design work will determine required culvert sizes and that the scope of the contract has not changed; staff said they will rely on modeling and analysis to inform design and will not finalize recommendations until the consultant’s findings are shared publicly.
Councilmembers raised additional questions about related infrastructure work, including whether utility undergrounding would be part of Howard reconstructions (TECO indicated undergrounding is cost‑prohibitive in an earlier conversation, staff said they would follow up) and whether coordination with the South Selmon expressway vaults and drainage would create opportunities for shared solutions.
Ending: Staff committed to hold the consultant presentation and route analysis at a June 5 public meeting, to brief council members in advance if they request a private briefing, and to share supporting analysis and maps so residents can review alternatives before any final recommendations are made.
