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I-75-New Tampa link still possible: St Pete Times

The Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority is looking at a project long thwarted by financing problems.

By LETITIA STEIN and EMILY NIPPS
Published: January 10, 2006
Copyright: St Pete Times

TAMPA - The long-standing dream of connecting New Tampa to Interstate 275 has a new partner at the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority.

The government agency agreed on Monday to look into jump-starting the East-West Road that New Tampa has discussed for nearly two decades.

Another road-building agency, the Florida Turnpike Enterprise, has dropped the project because it couldn't make the financing work. Now the Expressway Authority is seeking new work as it wraps up its troubled project to add reversible elevated lanes to the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway.

Can it finally can make the East-West Road happen?

We'll know in two months, says Ralph Mervine, the agency's interim executive director.

"We would certainly like to make a run at it," said Mervine, launching detailed discussions with the city of Tampa. "The project certainly deserves another strong look."

Nothing will happen if the Expressway Authority can't trim the project's $140-million price tag. The estimated cost would have drop about 20 percent for it to become feasible, Mervine said.

Even then, commuters can expect to pay tolls on the road.

And government leaders have opened the door to partnering with a private company.

"I think that's the only way that it'll work," said Tampa City Council member Shawn Harrison, who represents New Tampa.

The East-West Road would relieve congestion along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard by linking Interstate 275 to New Tampa Boulevard. The connector road would stretch only about 3 miles, but it would skim at least 12 minutes off commutes for many New Tampa residents.

"It's critical to the success of New Tampa," Harrison said.

But no one has figured out how to pay for it. In past years, the Expressway Authority has helped with planning the East-West Road. Other government entities looked at taking the lead.

Most recently the state's toll road agency, Florida Turnpike Enterprise, considered charging tolls up to $1.25 on the proposed road - higher than its typical charges. But it still faced a funding shortfall.

"It's really not financially (feasible) for the turnpike to take on this project," said turnpike spokeswoman Joanne Hurley. "At this point, the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway is taking the lead on this one."

That's good and bad news for New Tampa commuters.

"Every time they change plans, it becomes a time setback," said Frank Margarella, a real estate broker who lives in the Hunter's Green subdivision. Still, he's optimistic that the Expressway Authority could turn dreams for the road into reality.

The East-West Road has a lot of support in New Tampa, although neighbors in the West Meadows subdivision have opposed the road, which would bisect their community.

The city of Tampa has bought land for the road.

"If we find a sponsor and a funding agency, that will make the project happen much faster," said Madhi Mansour, the city's acting public works director. "Definitely, the Expressway Authority stepping in is a major positive."

* * *

As it explores a new project, the Expressway Authority is digging deeper into a legal battle over what went wrong with its last one - an elevated expansion to the toll road from downtown Tampa to Brandon.

The latest dispute concerns a check for $1.2-million - written to the Expressway Authority - for charges related to testing the supports that hold up the elevated expressway. The tests were conducted after a supporting column sank, collapsing a section of roadway in April 2004.

URS Corp., the project's general engineering consultant, has possession of the check. URS disputes the Expressway Authority's refusal to pay about $608,000 for work studying the problem.

The Expressway Authority plans to sue if URS doesn't hand over the cash.

In October, the Expressway Authority sued URS for damages exceeding $120-million. The collapse, resulting in extensive repairs, caused a yearlong delay. The elevated lanes are scheduled to open late this summer.

--Letitia Stein can be reached at lstein@sptimes.com or 813 661-2443.