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TPO approves TIP amendments to add $23M HART maintenance work and $3M county smart-traffic project
Summary
The Hillsborough TPO board voted unanimously to add two federally funded projects to the FY 2025–2029 Transportation Improvement Program: a $23 million RAISE-funded phase 1 for HART’s heavy maintenance site and a $3 million grant-funded Hillsborough County Smart Traffic Network covering about 40 miles of arterials.
The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization on March 12 voted to amend its FY 2025–2029 Transportation Improvement Program to add two federally funded projects: HART’s heavy maintenance site remediation and modernization, phase 1, and the Hillsborough County Smart Traffic Network.
TPO staff member Elizabeth Watkins told the board the HART project responds to an existing facility built more than 45 years ago and addresses flooding, outdated equipment and space constraints. She said the phase 1 work — stormwater remediation, a service lane and perimeter security fencing — will allow HART to access a $23,000,000 RAISE grant awarded earlier this year. Watkins said phase 2, which includes building demolition and construction of a new maintenance building, will require additional funding.
Watkins described the county smart-traffic project as a roughly 40-mile upgrade spanning Temple Terrace, Tampa and unincorporated Hillsborough County that will fund capital and hardware upgrades, including new traffic signal cabinets, advanced controllers, vehicle detection systems and onboard units for school-bus stop-arm notifications and potential transit-signal priority. She said a key element is a data-exchange to share lane and closure events with mobile navigation providers. The board packet described a $3,000,000 grant as the primary capital source for that work.
Board members asked technical and operational questions before the roll-call vote. School board member Gray asked whether liability language covers future hydrogen or CNG vehicle risks; HART staff said that was a legal question for their counsel. Council member Maniscalco and others pressed how school-bus priority would interact with emergency-vehicle preemption and cross-traffic delay. Rafael DeDios of the County Traffic Management Center said the project will provide “priority” — extending or starting greens slightly earlier or later based on thresholds — and that staff is already tracking multi-year travel-time data to measure both benefits and impacts to cross traffic.
The board approved the TIP amendments by roll call. The motion, made by Council member Maniscalco and seconded by School board member Gray, carried 14–0. Voting yes were: Mayor Ross; Commissioner Wolstel; Commissioner Cohen; Commissioner Boles; Council member Maniscalco; Council member Clendenin; Council member Hertek; Mayor Kelton; School board member Gray; Charles Klug; Gina Dew; Bob Fry; Gary Hartfield; and Planning Commissioner Joseph.
The amendments enable HART and the county to obligate their federal awards through the TPO’s TIP; HART staff and county traffic management staff were present to answer questions and will continue coordination on technical design and performance monitoring.
