III. Common Themes
A variety of efforts are underway in South County to address transportation needs, support economic development, and expand modal options. These efforts are summarized in Technical Memorandum 1: Review of Plans and Studies, which details relevant plans and studies of numerous agencies, including Hillsborough County, the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Port Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA), and Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART).
Hillsborough County began preparing community plans in 1998 for more specific planning relative to the growing needs of unincorporated communities in the County. Community plans in the study area include those for Ruskin, Riverview, Apollo Beach, Wimauma, Gibsonton, Sun City Center, and Balm. Each of the communities have distinct identities, visions, and transportation needs outlined in their plans.
Many of the community plans identified a desire for a more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly
environment, a town center, and improved transit service.
The similarities, conflicts, and common themes identified in the community plans and other relevant documents include:
1. Many of the community plans identified a desire for a more pedestrian- and bicycle- friendly environment, a town center, and improved transit service.
Potential Conflicts:
Some roadways included in town center visions are major regional through traffic routes not conducive to town center and Main Street treatments with high levels of pedestrian and bicycle activity. Examples are US 301 and Big Bend Road (Riverview) and US 41 (Ruskin). “ Complete streets ” designs that accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users were not evident among the roadway studies reviewed. Existing areas of activity, street network configurations, and planned densities are auto-oriented and generally not currently aligned with the type and location of town centers that are expressed in community plans and visions. Additional master planning and form-based codes are an opportunity to advance these visions.
2. Several community plans noted growth in truck traffic on major routes as an area of concern. Potential Conflicts:
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