TPO adopts Beers Avenue multimodal safety study after presenters cite pedestrian crash cluster
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Summary
The board approved the Beers Avenue multimodal safety study, which found high pedestrian stress and several pedestrian and bicycle crashes (2021–2025) and recommends lighting, shared‑use paths, mid‑block pedestrian hybrid beacons, lane reconfiguration, and intersection improvements.
The Hillsborough County TPO board on April 8 voted to adopt the Beers Avenue multimodal safety study presented by Lisa Silva (TPO Vision Zero coordinator) and Devon Bars (Gresham Smith). The study, which analyzed five years of crash data from 2021 through 2025, identified a cluster of pedestrian crashes—one fatal and two incapacitating—on midblock crossings between Florida Avenue and I‑275 and recommended a mix of corridor‑wide and intersection‑specific countermeasures.
Presenters told the board the corridor received a pedestrian/bicycle level of stress rating of 4 (the highest stress), noted a high share of crashes occurring in dark conditions, and documented multiple incidents where vehicles failed to yield to bicycles and pedestrians. Recommended corridor‑wide measures include shared‑use paths on both sides where right‑of‑way allows (typical widths ranging from 7.5 to 12 feet depending on segment), corridor lighting to address crashes in dark conditions, narrowing travel lanes to 11 feet for speed management where appropriate, and removal/replacement of obsolete strain poles. Intersection‑specific recommendations include near‑perpendicular right‑turn lanes at Florida and Nebraska avenues, leading pedestrian intervals via updated ITS signal controllers, reflective backplates, and improved signage.
To reduce dangerous midblock crossings, the study recommends two pedestrian hybrid beacon midblock crossings: one near past crash locations between Florida Avenue and I‑275 and one in front of the Scribe Center where frequent midblock crossings were observed. The study also suggested filling sidewalk gaps through the CSX right‑of‑way and coordinating with FDOT on signal consolidation at closely spaced intersections near I‑275.
Board members asked about prioritization and timelines. Presenters said construction timing depends on securing funding for design and construction, and that some FDOT concepts (such as signal consolidation at I‑275) are not currently funded. One board member raised concerns about school area safety near Buchanan Middle School and asked whether sidewalks and prioritized crossings for school routes would be advanced first; presenters said prioritization depends on funding and design schedules.
The board moved to adopt the study; after a motion and second the plan was approved with no recorded nays. TPO staff will coordinate design‑phase stakeholder outreach and will include Hart (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit) as a stakeholder during design to assess bus operations in relation to lane width changes.
Next steps: TPO staff and FDOT will pursue funding and design coordination with affected jurisdictions; the study will be used to inform project programming on future TIP and priority list cycles.
