TPO approves two intersection TIP amendments for Plant City and Ruskin

The Tampa Bay Transportation Planning Organization on Feb. 12 approved amendments to its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to add intersection improvements at State Road 39 at Trapnell Road in Plant City and at State Road 674 at East of 20th Seventh Street Southeast in Ruskin. The board approved the amendments by roll-call vote, 14-0.

The Plant City project will rebuild the intersection with rigid (concrete) pavement, and include lighting and signal upgrades. Elizabeth Watkins, TPO staff, told the board that Florida Department of Transportation expects construction to begin in fall 2025. "This is traditionally this technology is used because there's less frequent rehabilitation as well as a longer service life and less disruption to the traveling public," Watkins said. She also told the board DOT is adding about $2,000,000 to get the Plant City project through construction, attributing much of the increase to unit‑cost escalation and the additional lighting and signal work.

The Ruskin project will install a new traffic signal, crosswalk improvements and lighting near a newly opened Moffitt satellite cancer care campus. Watkins said the Ruskin project is being funded by a federal earmark originally sponsored by Representative Buchanan and that DOT will begin design in 2025 and move to construction in 2026. "Helping constituents get into and out of the new satellite campus of a world class cancer care facility in Hillsborough County is a very appropriate use of federal monies, and is a clear nexus," Watkins said.

TPO staff and advisory committees: Harmony McGee, TPO staff, reported that the Technical Advisory Committee recommended approval of both TIP amendments; the TPO citizen advisory committee (CAC) reviewed the items previously and recommended approval of the Plant City intersection but had asked to defer the Ruskin item earlier because members said they lacked certain funding details. Watkins told the board that CAC members had requested the language of the federal earmark; she said that language has since been shared with the CAC.

Board action and next steps: Commissioner Myers moved to approve the TIP amendments; Council Member Clendenin seconded. The board approved the amendments by roll call, 14-0. With board approval, FDOT can proceed with design and schedule the projects for construction per the timelines presented.

Public comment at the meeting included general remarks on regional transportation priorities but no written comments were reported during the 30‑day public comment period for these TIP amendments.