We heard you!
The City of Tampa is making transportation improvements along Central Avenue from just south of Osborne Avenue to Hillsborough Avenue based on survey responses from Seminole Heights residents, business owners, and parents of students at Hillsborough High School.
Current plans make use Central Avenue’s ample width to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety, reduce motor vehicle speeds, and reduce collision frequency and severity while enhancing aesthetics.
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Proposed improvements include:
- A crosswalk at Wilder with bulb-out curb extensions, enhanced pavement markings and a pair of flashing beacons. This was the most-requested improvement among survey respondents. This element will improve pedestrian safety by shortening the road crossing distance for pedestrians and increasing visibility. It will also slow turning vehicles because of the reduced width of the turning lane.
- Dedicated bicycle lanes on both the northbound and the southbound lanes of Central Avenue. Bicycle lanes create separation between cyclists and automobiles and visually remind drivers of the cyclist’s shared use of the street. Bicycle lanes were a top priority among survey respondents.
- A dedicated pick-up and drop-off lane for Hillsborough High School along the west side of Central Avenue from Wilder south to Louisiana Avenue. Overwhelmingly, survey respondents told us this would improve driving conditions on Central Avenue. This lane will be clearly marked with signs and road striping. And the speed limit on Central between Osborne and Hillsborough avenues will be reduced to 25 miles per hour.
- Clearly marked on-street parking in front of residences. On-street parking narrows roadways, slows traffic and provides additional parking where parking is limited.
- Decorative, brick crosswalks with new stop bars at each east/west street in the corridor to connect sidewalks and call attention to the stopping point at each of these streets.
- Enhanced pavement markings, including edge lines, center lines and turn lane arrows, are included in the transportation improvements corridor to improve safety.
Additionally, the curb on the east side of Central Avenue between Hillsborough and Giddens will be moved east two feet into the City right-of-way beginning at Hillsborough Avenue and tapered back to its current position at Giddens Avenue. This will widen the intersection to allow for a bicycle lane while retaining reasonable lane width for the through-traffic and turn lanes.
Construction will occur in conjunction with the Southeast Seminole Heights Flooding Relief project to maximize cost efficiencies while minimizing disruption to the community.
