Together, we can achieve what no individual, organization or country could accomplish alone. Tampa Bay must address long-standing transportation infrastructure needs, including improved regional connectivity. This is why Tampa Bay needs a new tri-county urban planning organization that will serve Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties.
I am the chairman of the Tampa Bay Partnership. The Tampa Bay Partnership is a coalition of area business and nonprofit leaders working together to improve the personal and economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents. And I’ve spoken with many local leaders who emphasize the importance of acting together as one region on transportation.
Joe Lopano, CEO of Tampa International Airport and 2024 Chair of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, told me: A growing region. Regional collaboration has been key to the country’s success in attracting new air routes and establishing itself as a global destination. We must apply the same strategy to fund the solutions we desperately need for the people who live, work, and play here. ”
At the Tampa Bay Partnership, we compare ourselves to similar communities across the country. This year, Tampa Bay had the highest net migration of all comparable communities. The region’s stellar reputation continues to attract new residents and businesses, with more than 3.5 million people projected to move to the tri-county area by 2035.
There’s more. More than one in five of Tampa Bay’s workers commute across county lines each day.
Limited public transport options and poor regional connectivity exacerbate congestion and long commute times. Changes in travel patterns and increased traffic on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway have resulted in a 20% increase in traffic, exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 projections, according to the Tampa-Hillsboro Expressway Authority. . The Selmon West extension over Gandy Boulevard has already met its 2030 traffic projections. We must take action to advance and improve existing infrastructure for workers, employers and residents.
Port Tampa Bay employs employees from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, and its leaders understand that a robust transportation system contributes to job satisfaction and improves quality of life. . Paul Anderson, president and CEO of Port Tampa Bay, told me: As Midwest Florida’s single largest economic driver, we see value in strengthening infrastructure for our current residents and as a means to relocate talented staff and businesses to Tampa Bay. . ”
Success in rethinking our approach to transportation planning would create the largest urban planning organization by population in the state, with approximately 3 million residents.
Given our massive size, local funding requests are more likely to be successful simply because they impact more Floridians. The more residents we have, the more likely we are to raise significant funds for transportation projects.
Additionally, federal regulations and state laws support communities forming regional urban planning organizations, a practice that is widespread across the United States.
Greg Slater, CEO and Executive Director of the Tampa-Hillsboro Expressway Authority, has experienced the benefits first-hand. During his career, he worked with many MPOs. These include the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Commission, which is comprised of two states, the District of Columbia, eight counties, 14 municipalities, and an urbanized area. The Baltimore Regional Transportation Commission had jurisdiction over six counties and the city of Baltimore.
he said to me: “Regardless of the size of a regional MPO, the focus has truly been on representing the needs of each jurisdiction and balanced regional success. Tampa Bay is growing rapidly, and to be successful We need all transportation options that benefit our residents and businesses, and that’s why we must work together on these opportunities as a united region.”
State lawmakers have consistently shared mixed messages in the Tampa Bay region, with each county asserting different interests and piecemeal funding requests. Regional urban planning organizations can present collaborative priority lists for federal and state funding. Regional scope promotes projects that benefit everyone in the region.
Earlier this year, the directors of Plan Hillsboro, Forward Pinellas, and the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Authority approved a draft memorandum of understanding for the tri-county MPO. The local county committee held two tri-county committee meetings. Now more than ever, there is a willingness to care about the community and work together for the benefit of all residents.
If we work together, we win. With community support, he was able to secure $1 billion in funding from the Governor and Congress for the West Shore Interchange, which will support residents and commuters from across Tampa Bay. Tri-County Urban Planning organizations open the door to similar success.
The time is right, the conditions are right, and the benefits are clear. For these reasons, we as community leaders strongly support the creation of local urban planning organizations.
Bemetra Simmons is tampa bay partnershipa coalition of area business and nonprofit leaders working together to improve the personal and economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents.