FAQs
Q: What is the Northeast and West Corridors Alternatives Analysis?
A: The alternatives analysis is a planning study, currently being carried out by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART), to identify and evaluate alternatives for improving mobility in two travel corridors within the county. One of the two corridors covers the area between the University of South Florida area and downtown Tampa; the other covers the area between downtown and the Westshore area (see below). The study will lead to a HART Board decision on a Locally Preferred Alternative, comprised of a preferred mode (rail, bus) and general alignment, plus a financial plan for that project.
Q: What is the Northeast corridor?
A: The Northeast corridor extends from East Bearss Avenue to downtown Tampa and from west of Florida Avenue to east of 40th street.
Q: What is the West Corridor?
A: The West corridor extends from 40th Street to Memorial Highway and from Spruce Street to south of Kennedy Boulevard.
Q: How did this project come about?
A: After years of study and planning, HART adopted the Tampa Rail Project in 2002, a 20.2-mile rail line connecting the University of South Florida, Downtown Tampa, South Tampa and Westshore. HART was seeking federal funding for the project through the New Starts program, but the project was suspended when a local funding source could not be identified. HART is now restarting the process by updating and refreshing the prior work. Because of the age of the previous planning and engineering work, and because federal requirements have changed, HART is conducting an Alternatives Analysis to examine several transit alternatives.
Q: When will the study be completed?
A: The Alternatives Analysis is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2010.
Q: Why is this project needed in Hillsborough County?
A: As the region continues to grow, the need for viable transportation choices becomes increasingly apparent. Transit improvements will complement the existing highway and bus systems, improving mobility and protecting the environment. This project is needed to:
- Serve mobility needs of growing population and employment
- Offer more mobility choices and intermodal connections to address future demand
- Provide access to Activity Centers
- Support desirable and efficient land use patterns
- Provide mobility and access opportunities to economically disadvantaged and transit-dependent populations
- Maximize economic development potential
- Provide a catalyst for enhancing environmental quality
Q: What is the New Starts program and what is an Alternatives Analysis?
A: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts Program is a federal grant program that funds the design and construction of fixed guideway transit projects (rail lines, busways, people movers). To be eligible for funding, projects must meet FTA criteria on project justification and local funding commitment. Funds are awarded on a discretionary basis, with areas across the country competing for funding.
By law, an Alternatives Analysis (AA) must be performed before a project can be considered for entry into the New Starts program. Alternatives Analysis is a local study that considers different transit modes and alignments, leading to local decisions on the project to be proposed for funding.
Q: What is included in the Alternatives Analysis?
A: The Alternatives Analysis (AA) will identify and evaluate potential alignments (routes) and transit modes (rail, bus) based on such factors as cost, ridership, and environmental and community impacts. The study will also consider potential station locations, transit oriented development around stations, and station access including feeder bus, parking, and bike and pedestrian facilities. The alternatives will undergo several screenings and, at each screen, alternatives will drop out. The remaining alternatives will be carried forward for further analysis. Public involvement will be an important factor in defining the alternatives, selecting the evaluation criteria, and picking a preferred alternative. Financial analyses are also a key part of the study, making sure that HART can afford to build and operate whatever project is selected. The outcome of the AA will be the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) which will include both the alignment and the mode technology.
Q: I don't live or work in any of the areas being considered. Why should I support this project?
A: Transit investment in the Northeast and West corridors is seen as part of a larger program that will include increases in bus service and other transit investments throughout Hillsborough County. Taken together, these investments will pay off not only by increasing mobility, but also by promoting a cleaner environment, sparking economic development, providing new jobs and attracting new businesses – a program of investments that benefits everyone who lives here.
Q: How would it be paid for?
A: The New Starts program typically provides 50% of the capital cost of eligible projects, and sometimes more. If HART is successful in obtaining New Starts funds from FTA, another 25% is likely to come from the state of Florida. The rest would be funded by local sources. Hillsborough County, with input from HART, is considering placing a 1-cent sales tax for transit projects on the 2010 ballot. If this passes, this funding could be used to cover the capital costs not covered by federal and state funding. The tax could also help support project operations and maintenance.
Q: Wouldn't it be better to just improve bus service?
A. Light Rail Transit and Bus Rapid Transit are convenient, comfortable, modern modes of transit, giving people a quick, smooth ride that doesn't operate in regular street traffic. Through our Alternatives Analysis, we will be comparing these alternatives with an alternative that just improves bus service, both in terms of their benefits and their costs. So the answer to this question will come out of the Alternatives Analysis.
Q: How does this project fit in with other plans in the region?
A: This project is one phase of the overall long-range plans being developed by agencies such as the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority and the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization. HART will be working closely with these entities to integrate the results of its Alternatives Analysis into their large scale efforts.
Q: What type of transit technology will be studied?
A: We will study two types of fixed guideway transit, Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Both technologies are flexible - they can operate in exclusive rights-of-way, or if necessary, on roadways in mixed traffic. They include modern vehicles, passenger amenities, traffic signal prioritization, and high-quality passenger facilities. Both technologies offer the potential for economic development at stations. We will also look at lower cost enhancements to the existing bus system.
Q: What is Light Rail Transit?
A: Light Rail Transit (LRT) operates on steel rails and is normally powered by electricity from an overhead catenary wire. LRT can operate with a single rail car, or multiple rail cars can be connected together (called a "consist") to carry more passengers when required without requiring additional car operators. In addition to electric cars, LRT can also use a diesel multiple unit (DMU) which is a rail passenger rail car that is powered by a self-contained diesel engine. DMUs do not require the overhead catenary wires which reduces construction cost and time. Some DMUs that meet federal crashworthy standards can operate on railroad tracks along with other types of rail, such as freight.
Q: What is Bus Rapid Transit?
A: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems use rubber-tired buses, potentially operating in an exclusive guideway or on reserved bus lanes. Like Light Rail Transit, BRT systems can feature low floor buses and off-vehicle fare collection to speed boarding, traffic signal prioritization to increase travel speed, and high-quality passenger facilities. Modern buses can use a variety of fuels, such as natural gas, to help keep the air clean.
Q: Will the whole project be constructed at once?
A: We have not yet selected a project or defined an implementation schedule. These decisions will emerge as we progress through the current study. We are looking at the Northeast and West corridors together at this point in the study, but will also be analyzing them separately.
Q: Are there future plans to connect to Pinellas County (or Pasco, Polk, Manatee, etc.)?
A: As other Tampa Bay area counties make plans to expand transit services, HART will work with them to provide connectivity to those areas. In addition, agencies like TBARTA and the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization are already looking ahead to cross county connections in their overall plans, and HART is involved in that process.
