Big Bend Road PLAT Study

Recommendations to design Big Bend Road so that it compliments the ultimate expected buildout of the area around the corridor. This interactive flipbook is created with FlippingBook, a service for streaming PDFs online. No download, no waiting. Open and start reading right away!

Big Bend Road PLAT STUDY Preliminary Land Use Assessment and Transportation Process

Big Bend Road PLAT STUDY Preliminary Land Use Assessment and Transportation Study FINAL REPORT | OCTOBER 2019

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Big Bend Road

Accommoda�on Statement In accordance with the requirements of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), Hillsborough County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. Persons with disabilities who need an accommodation for this document should email the Hillsborough County ADA Officer or call (813) 276-8401; TTY: 7-1-1.

Big Bend Road PLAT STUDY Preliminary Land Use Assessment and Transportation Process

List of Figures......................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables. ......................................................................................................................................... iv Understanding Baseline Conditions 1. Introduction and Purpose. ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 PLAT Process Components .....................................................................................................1 1.2 Study Objectives......................................................................................................................2 2. Study Area........................................................................................................................................ 2 3. Previous Initiatives and Studies........................................................................................................ 4 4. Community/Corridor Characteristics. .............................................................................................. 5 4.1 Existing Socioeconomic and Demographic Conditions. .........................................................5 4.1.1 Population Growth and Trends.......................................................................................5 4.1.2 Wealth and Income . ......................................................................................................6 4.2 Existing Land Uses...................................................................................................................6 4.2.1 Residential .....................................................................................................................8 4.2.2 Schools...........................................................................................................................8 4.2.3 Recreational ...................................................................................................................8 4.2.4 Commercial....................................................................................................................8 4.2.5 Hospital..........................................................................................................................9 4.2.6 Industrial.........................................................................................................................9 4.2.7 Planned Development and Competitive Sites.............................................................10 4.3 Environmental .......................................................................................................................12 5. Transportation................................................................................................................................ 14 5.1 Existing Traffic Characteristics ................................................................................................18 5.2 Travel Times ..........................................................................................................................18 5.3 Bi-directional Traffic Volume Counts ......................................................................................22 5.4 Turning Movement Counts (TMCs)........................................................................................22 5.5 Access Management..............................................................................................................22 5.6 Transit.....................................................................................................................................23 5.7 Trails.......................................................................................................................................23 5.8 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities............................................................................................24 5.9 Major Parking Areas...............................................................................................................26 5.10 Travel Patterns. ......................................................................................................................26 5.11 Crash Analysis........................................................................................................................29 6. Long Range Plans. ......................................................................................................................... 33 6.1 Future Land Use and Planned Development.........................................................................33 6.2 Community Vision .................................................................................................................35

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Big Bend Road PLAT STUDY Preliminary Land Use Assessment and Transportation Process

Balancing Development Patterns 7. Development Patterns and Form. ................................................................................................ 36 7.1 Key Findings..........................................................................................................................36 7.2 Development Scenarios.........................................................................................................39 7.2.1 Compact Urban............................................................................................................39 7.2.2 Connected Suburban...................................................................................................40 7.2.3 Modern Suburban........................................................................................................42 Improving Infrastructure 8. Activity Centers............................................................................................................................ 43 8.1 US 41. ....................................................................................................................................46 8.1.1 Existing Development Context. ...................................................................................46 8.1.2 Potential Development Form.......................................................................................47 8.2 Waterset Boulevard – Covington Gardens Drive..................................................................51 8.2.1 Existing Development Context. ...................................................................................51 8.2.2 Potential Development Form.......................................................................................52 8.3 Simmons Loop – Lincoln Road. ............................................................................................54 8.3.1 Existing Development Context. ...................................................................................54 8.3.2 Potential Development Form.......................................................................................55 8.4 US 301. ..................................................................................................................................58 8.4.1 Existing Development Context. ...................................................................................58 8.4.2 Potential Development Form.......................................................................................59 9. Stakeholder Engagement................................................................................................................ 61 10. General Recommendations .............................................................................................62 10.1 Land Use and Policy...........................................................................................................62 10.2 Transportation.....................................................................................................................63

Hillsborough County • October 2019

List of Figures Figure 1. Study Area.............................................................................................................................. 3 Figure 2. Big Bend Road Study Area - Existing Land Use...................................................................... 6 Figure 3. Existing Land Uses Map.......................................................................................................... 7 Figure 4. Competitive Sites. ................................................................................................................ 11 Figure 5. Environmental Conditions. ................................................................................................... 13 Figure 6. Ultimate Interchange Concept. ............................................................................................ 15 Figure 7. Proposed Typical Section - Big Bend Road: Franklin Cast Bay ACC to West of I-75 Ramps.16 Figure 8. Proposed Typical Section - Big Bend Road: At I-75 (SR 93A) Overpass............................... 17 Figure 9. Big Bend Road Travel Time. ................................................................................................. 19 Figure 10. Queue Length..................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 11. Big Bend Road Multimodal. ............................................................................................... 25 Figure 12. Travel Patterns from Study Area During AM Peak Period................................................... 27 Figure 13. Travel Patterns to Study Area During PM Peak Period....................................................... 28 Figure 14. Number of Crashe - Big Bend Road................................................................................... 29 Figure 15. Severity Crash Summary..................................................................................................... 29 Figure 16. Harmful Event Summary..................................................................................................... 30 Figure 17. Crash Time Summary.......................................................................................................... 30 Figure 18. Number of Crashes by Intersection.................................................................................... 31 Figure 19. High Crash Intersection Locations...................................................................................... 32 Figure 20. Future Land Use.................................................................................................................. 34 Figure 21. Development/Redevelopment Potential............................................................................ 37 Figure 22. Population and Employment Potential ............................................................................. 38 Figure 23. Compact Urban................................................................................................................. 40 Figure 24. Connected Suburban ......................................................................................................... 41 Figure 25. Connected SuburbanDevelopment Pattern..................................................................... 41 Figure 26. Modern Suburban Residential and Commercial................................................................. 42 Figure 27. Activity Centers .................................................................................................................. 44 Figure 28. Activity Centers Types. ....................................................................................................... 45 Figure 29. Land Use Transition............................................................................................................. 47 Figure 30. Potential Westbound Improvements: US 41 at Big Bend Road. ........................................ 48 Figure 31. Big Bend Road Gateway Concept (Cross Section)............................................................. 49 Figure 32. US 41 Gateway Concept (Plan View) ...............................................................50 Figure 33. Compact Urban Center. ..................................................................................................... 53 Figure 34. Connected Suburban Center.............................................................................................. 55 Figure 35. Proposed Typical Section - Big Bend Road at Bullfrog Creek Bridge................................. 56 Figure 36. Redesign - Mashpee Commons, MA Before...................................................................... 59 Figure 37. Redesign - Mashpee Commons, MA After......................................................................... 60

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Hillsborough County • October 2019

List of Tables Table 1. Existing Roadway Characteristics........................................................................................... 18 Table 2. Travel Times ........................................................................................................................... 18 Table 3. AM Peak Period Queue Length. ............................................................................................ 20 Table 4. PM Peak Period Queue Length.............................................................................................. 20 Table 5. Future Land Use..................................................................................................................... 33 Table 6. Waterset DRI Maximum Entitlements..................................................................................... 52

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Big Bend Road PLAT STUDY Preliminary Land Use Assessment and Transportation Process

Understanding Baseline Conditions 1. Introduction and Purpose The purpose of the study is to better understand the baseline factors (existing conditions), balance development pattern and form, and improve infrastructure along the Big Bend Road corridor as consistent with Hillsborough County’s Framework for Preliminary Land-use Assessment and Transportation. Hillsborough County’s Framework for the Preliminary Land Use Assessment and Transportation Process (PLAT Process) is an initiative to examine land use characteristics and economic, social, demographic and market trends along corridors that are planned for transportation improvements. It provides a bridge between the long-range planning phase and the mid-range engineering phase of a transportation project and allows an opportunity to examine the corridor in depth to identify opportunities for shaping/ improving development, land use and infrastructure, prior to the Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) phase of a transportation project. This framework aims to examine a corridor or region in a proactive way to achieve optimal land use and community outcomes in accordance with transportation projects that may be taking place. 1.1 PLAT Process Components The PLAT process has three components: 1. Understanding the baseline factors or existing conditions, of land use, transportation, demographics, travel modes, and origin-destination patterns 2. Creating optimal land use by leveraging planned/proposed transportation improvements 3. Integrating land use changes concurrent with transportation improvements This section of the report will detail the existing conditions along Big Bend Road (the corridor) and within a 1-mile area adjacent to the roadway (study area). The results from this report, along with a public involvement process that will engage and seek input from stakeholders regarding their vision for the area, will help formulate ideas for development and infrastructure in the study area.

Hillsborough County • October 2019

1.2 Study Objectives Within the framework of the PLAT process, the specific objectives for the Big Bend Road study are: › › Identify context of the Big Bend Road corridor and its immediate vicinity › › Build upon the community’s vision as included in previous planning efforts, analyses, and decisions such as the Comprehensive Plan and Community Plans › › Engage the community and stakeholders through a variety of public participation methods in the development of the optimum transportation investment for the corridor › › Ensure consistency with PD&E and other improvements for the I-75 interchange and surrounding area › › Inform land use policy decisions surrounding the corridor to add value to the community › › Improve pedestrian and bicycle accessibility/safety and connectivity within the study limits 2. Study Area The study area encompasses approximately a 3-mile segment of Big Bend Road from US 41 to US 301, the properties and land parcels bordering the corridor, as well as a 1-mile buffer around the corridor to include a sufficient area for studying community interaction, land use, and access management. The study area falls within the communities of Gibsonton (north of Big Bend Road and west of I-75), Riverview (north and south of Big Bend Road, on the east side of I-75), and Apollo Beach (south of Big Bend Road, west of I-75). Figure 1 depicts the study area, including the key points of interest.

Hillsborough County • October 2019

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Eisenhower Middle School

Eisenhower Middle School Corr Elementary School

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3. Previous Initiatives and Studies Other previous plans, studies, and initiatives were reviewed to better understand the current conditions within the study area include: › › Southshore Areawide Systems Plan (2005) › › South Shore Transit Circulator Study (2014) › › Strip Commercial and Mixed-Use Development in Hillsborough County (2014) › › Tampa Hillsborough Greenways and Trails Master Plan Update (2016) › › South Coast Greenway Connector Trail Alignment Study (2018) › › Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Improvement Program › › Imagine 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) › › Comprehensive Plan for Unincorporated Hillsborough County › › Map – Transit Right-of-way Preservation Corridors Map – Hillsborough County Corridor Preservation Plan The entire Big Bend Road study area falls within the Southshore Areawide Systems Plan area. This plan provides an overarching vision for the south Hillsborough County region with wide ranging objectives for Transportation, Environmental, Cultural, Historic, and Economic Development, as well as a concept plan map that identifies specific attributes. There are also individual Community Plans for several communities within the Southshore area, providing insight into their perspectives and priorities. The Big Bend Road Study area falls within three of those communities: Apollo Beach, Riverview, and Gibsonton, as well as the general Southshore Area. Big Bend Road transects these community planning areas and serves as a border between these communities. Apollo Beach Community Plan (2005): This plan covers the study area south of Big Bend Road and west of I-75, and provides vision and specific strategies for the US 41 and Big Bend Road corridors, development, and transportation infrastructure. Riverview Community Plan (2005): The Riverview Community Plan includes the portion of the study area north and south of Big Bend Road east of I-75, excluding the portion west of Bullfrog Creek. In addition to a concept map that delineates unique districts, the plan contains goals and strategies for the community which includes the US 301 corridor and the US 301 and Big Bend Road intersection, and Summerfield area. Gibsonton Community Plan (2007): A small portion of the Gibsonton Community Plan planning area overlaps with the Big Bend Road Study area, in the region north of Big Bend Road on the east and west side of I-75, approximately bounded by Bullfrog Creek on the east, including the area along I-75, and the East Bay High School and Eisenhower Middle School. Although the Gibsonton Community Plan does not discuss the study area specifically, its planning area does encompass a portion of the Big Bend Road study area, including the I-75 interchange area and a portion of Old Big Bend Road. Although previous efforts studied different geographical boundaries and focus on different types of subject matter, there are common themes which run throughout these plans and reports: › › Improve safety for all modes by analyzing crash data and making improvements to specifically address causes for high crash locations › › Minimize traffic congestion by developing multi-modal alternatives and using technology to maximize the current roadway

Hillsborough County • October 2019

› › Provide transportation choices for users improving sidewalk connections and filling gaps, adding bicycle facilities and offering more public transit options › › Making connections for trails to provide better access and fill in gaps to create contiguous paths for recreational and non-recreational users › › Enhancing or maintaining a “sense of place” for communities as the growth in southern Hillsborough County continues by adding gateway signage, landscaping, recreational and public spaces, as well as type and form of buildings future development › › Support and encourage economic development by analyzing lands and sites available for economic development An important part of the PLAT process is balancing these wide-reaching goals and objectives for the overall improvement at the corridor level within these geographic zones. 4. Community/Corridor Characteristics Big Bend Road between US 41 and US 301 is a 4-lane divided roadway in southern Hillsborough County. There are commercial, residential, industrial, educational, and institutional (schools, medical/hospital) uses along the corridor, but also large areas of undeveloped parcels. The roadway is intersected by the following main crossings: › › US 41 at the western limit of the study area › › a CSX rail line with an at-grade crossing › › Waterset Boulevard (entrance to the Waterset residential community)/Kings Lake Drive › › Covington Gardens Drive › › I-75 › › Simmons Loop › › Lincoln Road › › US 301 at the eastern limit of the study area › › Sidepath trail along US 301 › › SouthCoast Greenway 4.1 Existing Socioeconomic and Demographic Conditions 4.1.1 Population Growth and Trends Southern Hillsborough County has been experiencing high growth in population and an increase in development, with accompanying increase in traffic congestion over recent years. According to the Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) at the University of Florida, the April 2017 estimated population for HillsboroughCountywas 1,379,302. The2017estimate representedan increaseof 150,076, or 12.2% over the 2010 census count of 1,229,226. BEBR’s 2040 projection for Hillsborough County population is 1,901,400, which is nearly the population of the state of Nebraska. For unincorporated Hillsborough County the population estimate for April 2017 was 941,536, an increase of 107,281 or 12.9% over the 2010 census count of 834,255 (Florida Estimates of Population, 2017, University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research). The study area has an estimated population of 16,553 people which is 1.25% of the total population in Hillsborough County. The population density of the study area is 2,117 people per square mile, or 3.3 people per acre, and is higher than the overall density in the county of 1,297 per square mile, or 2.02 people per acre.

Hillsborough County • October 2019

According to the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission the census tracts in the southern part of the county are among the fastest growing areas of unincorporated Hillsborough County. While Hillsborough County overall grew approximately 12% from 2010 to 2017, census tracts in the Big Bend Road study area grew between 22% to 334%. 4.1.2 Wealth and Income Within the study area, the per capita income level is $24,900, which is about $3,800 less than the average per capita income in Hillsborough County. Census tract data indicates an average of 8.9% of households in the study area are estimated to be below the poverty level (2016 American Community Survey, US Census). According to the Imagine 2040 Plan (Hillsborough MPO) 34% of the population in Hillsborough County has the potential to be transportation disadvantaged. The plan defines the transportation disadvantaged population as those with disabilities and/or who fall into low income categories and includes people 65 years of age and older. The Transportation Disadvantaged Program seeks to enhance mobility of residents for life sustaining trips, such as medical appointments, employment, and educational opportunities. 4.2 Existing Land Uses There are multiple points of interest along the corridor and within the study area with various uses: residential, schools, recreational, commercial, medical, industrial, and environmental lands. There are three Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) in the study area: Waterset, South Bend, and Summerfield Crossings. The Big Bend Road Study area lies within the Urban Service Area Boundary and Figure 2 details the existing land use within the study area. Figure 3 depicts the land uses. Although under existing conditions there is a sizeable proportion of agricultural land, the planned future use of much of the existing agricultural land will be mixed use or industrial. This is discussed further in the Future Land Use Section.

Figure 2: Big Bend Road Study Area – Existing Land Use

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Figure 3. Existing Land Uses Map

Hillsborough County • October 2019

4.2.1 Residential South of Big Bend Road on the western side of the study area lie the residential areas of Waterset and Covington Park. The Covington Park Community Development District was established in 1999. Waterset opened in 2012, after the development of the 2005 Apollo Beach Community Plan. The residential development of Waterset is part of a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) on the southern side of the western portion of the corridor, which is anticipated to extend to the south towards 19th Avenue in the future. Hillsborough County expects the Waterset development to complete buildout plans in 2027 with a total of approximately 6,400 dwelling units (single family and multi-family), approximately 478,000 square feet of commercial space, and 198,000 square feet of office space. New multi-family housing in the form of an apartment complex is under construction on the south side of Big Bend Road and on the west side of Simmons Loop adjacent to St. Joseph’s Hospital – South. 4.2.2 Schools The study area includes five Hillsborough County public schools: Eisenhower Middle School, East Bay High School, Corr Elementary School, Doby Elementary, and Summerfield Crossings Elementary School. Additionally, a new high school is proposed to open in fall of 2020 on the north side of Balm Road about half a mile east of US 301 and 1.5 miles south of Big Bend Road, or approximately half a mile from the study area. The location of this new high school is outside the study area; however, students currently attending East Bay High School may be rezoned to the new high school and this could change traffic patterns in the area. The Waterset Charter School, a public charter school with an enrollment of approximately 800 students is located on the southeast side of US 41 and is just outside the boundary of the study area. New school start and end times implemented at the beginning of the 2018 school year could also influence traffic patterns. The schools dismiss one hour early on Mondays. Hillsborough County Schools schedule: › › Corr, Summerfield Crossings, and Doby Elementary: 7:40 – 1:55 4.2.3 Recreational To the east of I-75 on the north side of Big Bend Road there are recreational picnic areas and sports fields. Additionally, the Spurlino Family YMCA is located east of I-75 on Old Big Bend Road and is expected to be completed in 2018. This facility anticipates annual membership of approximately 2,900. It will draw families and individuals seeking to use the facility for fitness, aquatics, and community events and activities. It is expected to have more than 32,000 square feet of indoor space as well as an outdoor aquatic facility. 4.2.4 Commercial › › East Bay High School: 8:30 – 3:25 › › Eisenhower Middle: 9:25 – 4:20 Between Lincoln Road and US 301 is a commercial area with a variety of stores including: big-box retail, services, offices, and restaurants. These land uses occur on both sides of the roadway, and there are good internal connections provided between the properties to help traffic circulation. A strip style commercial building with parking in front is located west of I-75 at the northeast corner of

Hillsborough County • October 2019

the Big Bend Road and Kings Lake Drive intersection containing several retail, service, and restaurant businesses. On the west side of Kings Lake Drive and Old Big Bend Road, there is a complex with a daycare center, medical and service offices, as well as a gas station and convenience stores. The intersection at US 41 has two gas stations with convenience stores and a landscape nursery. Future land use of light industrial and higher density mixed use, as well as Competitive Sites in the vicinity of this intersection may offer the opportunity for additional commercial growth here. A proposed mixed-use retail, hotel, office, and restaurant complex known as Southshore Commons has been proposed for the 612 -acre South Bend DRI property on the southwest corner of the I-75 and Big Bend Road interchange, including up to approximately 1.6 million square feet of retail, almost 900,000 square feet of office space, 750 hotel rooms, and approximately 1,800 dwelling units. 4.2.5 Hospital East of Simmons Loop on the south side of the corridor is St. Joseph’s Hospital – South, a 114-bed hospital. St. Joseph’s – South is undergoing expansion and renovation in two-phases; Phase 1 includes a new five-story building with an expansion to the emergency department with a completion date of April 2019, and Phase 2 which includes an addition of medical/surgical floors a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatric care rooms, and other spaces expected to be completed in December 2020. A Veterans Administration (VA) Outpatient Clinic off US 301 north of Big Bend Road is expected to open in 2019. 4.2.6 Industrial There are several industrial facilities within the study area and around the study area boundaries that have an influence on traffic in the corridor: › › The TECO Big Bend Power Station is located on 1,500 acres at the western end of Big Bend Road. › › The Cemex Big Bend plant is located at 6002 Big Bend Road, on the north side of Big Bend Road, on the western side of the study area. This location is a ready-mix concrete facility. › › National Gypsum has a gypsum board plant within the study area. The facility uses solid waste byproduct gypsum from the TECO power plant to produce wallboard. › › BETER Mix Concrete Plant is located on 401 Big Bend Road, near the corner of Big Bend Road and US 41. This plant is a ready-mix concrete batching center. Port Redwing is located north of the study area, on the western end of a peninsula on Pembroke Road. In September 2017, the Tampa Port Authority approved a bid to build a road on the peninsula. The road and infrastructure are expected to be completed in three years and may draw additional industrial and manufacturing uses to the area. There are four competitive sites on the Port Redwing peninsula which are outside the study area. These competitive sites may also serve to draw industrial and manufacturing uses to the area. The Port Redwing/Big Bend Business District has been identified in the LRTP as a Key Economic Space; categorized as an activity center that has a high concentration of jobs and/or commercial development, typically at least 5,000 jobs as of 2010.

Hillsborough County • October 2019

4.2.7 Planned Development and Competitive Sites Planned Development (PD) districts are areas within the unincorporated county which can be rezoned for unified, large-scale, mixed uses. A Competitive Site (CS) is a location that the County has identified as having specific real estate attributes attractive to sizable industrial or office development. These attributes include size, zoning, land use, development entitlements, development complexity, and supporting infrastructure. The program is an initiative that not only identifies these potential sites but also crafts policies that encourage industry, investment and development of these locations. Figure 4 depicts these competitive sites. › › 36 Approximately 39 acres on north side of Big Bend Road north of St. Joseph’s Hospital South › › 99 Boca Bahia Business Park, approximately 69 acres, located at southwest corner of US 41 and Big Bend Road › › 90 South Bend– approximately 618 acres, including residential areas of Waterset (approximately 32% of area), Covington Park (50% of area), and proposed South Shore Commons mall site (18% of area) › › 142 Approximately 15 acres between US 41 and the CSX rail line in southwest portion of study area › › 127 Approximately 33 acres on the northeast corner of US 41 and Big Bend Road intersection › › 151 Approximately 19 acres west of US 41, on the southwest end of the study area › › 147 Approximately 19 acres east of US 41, on the northwest side of study area › › 135 Approximately 12 acres near Powell Road and CSX rail line › › 302 Approximately 66 acres south of Big Bend Road between US 41 and CSX rail line

Hillsborough County • October 2019

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Apollo Beach Elementary School Apollo Beach Elementary School

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Hillsborough County • October 2019

4.3 Environmental A desktop analysis using available online GIS data was utilized in the assessment of the existing environmental conditions of the study area. Figure 5 depicts the environmental conditions of the study area. The Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) Rare Animals and Rare Plants field guides, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) South Florida Ecological Services website, USFWS wood stork nesting colony database, USFWS National Wetland Inventory (NWI), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) May 2017 Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species List, FWC bald eagle nest locator database, FWC Florida Shorebird Database (FSD), Cornell University eBird database, Hillsborough County Current and Future Land Use, and FDOT Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCFCS) were reviewed for protected species, and their habitat, that have been documented or have a potential to occur within or adjacent to the project limits. On June 7th, 2018, a field review was conducted to verify existing land uses and land cover within the project footprint, and to conduct a presence-absence survey for any listed species within the project study limits. Nearby wetlands consist primarily of riverine and lacustrine systems, and there are minimal amounts of freshwater marshes located on the northern and western portion of the project. There are two public lands: Vance V. Vogel Park and Golden Aster Scrub Preserve ELAPP located within and adjacent to the northern portion of the study area, which provide outdoor recreational opportunities and wildlife viewing. According to the most recent FEMA data published in 2018, the study area contains 384 acres of floodplains. Two state-listed species were observed indirectly interacting with the site during the time of the survey. A male southeastern American kestrel ( Falco sparverius paulus ) was observed perched on a powerline and hunting in the ecotone of nearby pine flatwoods. An adult Florida sandhill crane ( Antigone canadensis pratensis ) was observed foraging with a hatch-year juvenile in a grassy patch along the roadside. There is one active bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) nest (HL064) and one inactive nest located within one mile of the study area. The project is within the USFWS consultation area for the Florida scrub-jay and the Florida grasshopper sparrow ( Ammodramus savannarum floridanus ). Golden Aster Scrub Preserve ELAPP contains suitable habitat and the verified presence of state and federally-listed species such as the Florida scrub-jay ( Aphelocoma coerulescens ) and Florida golden aster ( Chrysopsis floridana ). Habitat for the Florida grasshopper sparrow also exists within the project study limits; however, there have been no recent verified occurrences of this subspecies near Hillsborough County. The project falls entirely within the core foraging area for one wood stork ( Mycteria americana ) colony. It is not anticipated that any listed species will be negatively impacted because of the project.

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Figure 5. Environmental Conditions

Hillsborough County • October 2019

5. Transportation A prominent transportation feature in the corridor is the I-75 interchange. Presently a PD&E study is underway to modify the interchange and the on/off ramps. The improvements also include modifications of turn lanes at Covington Gardens and the schools’ access road, remains contiguous. The connection between Old Big Bend Road and Bullfrog Creek Road is proposed to be modified to a roundabout. Figure 6 depicts the proposed ultimate interchange improvements. The proposed modifications also include a 10-foot sidewalk along the south side of Big Bend Road, a 6-foot sidewalk to the north of Big Bend Road, and on-road bicycle lanes in both directions of the roadway. Figures 7 and 8 depict the typical sections for Big Bend Road. The PD&E cross sections serve as existing conditions for this part of the Big Bend Road study area. Another major transportation feature along the corridor is Old Big Bend Road. This roadway stretches from Waterset Boulevard to Lincoln Road. Old Big Bend Road serves as a frontage road on the north side of the corridor and provides access to some of the residential and commercial uses, schools, and Hillsborough County’s Operations and Maintenance center to the west of I-75. It provides an alternate link under I-75 and a connection to Bullfrog Creek Road. Additionally, access to properties on the east side of I-75 such as the YMCA, are supplied by Old Big Bend Road. Old Big Bend Road is a 2-lane undivided road. It has a rural typical section, with open drainage, and no bike lanes, no sidewalks, no lighting and no shoulders except under the I-75 overpass. It includes turning lanes approaching the schools. There are several planned improvements to the transportation infrastructure in the study area: 1. Simmons Loop Road: a. Hillsborough County plans to extend north of Big Bend Road with a jug-handle loop back to Old Big Bend Road b. The Imagine 2040 Transportation Plan Cost Feasible Projects for New Capacity, based on development needs, identifies an extension of Simmons Loop Road as a developer funded project and a 2-lane undivided roadway which would connect to the proposed extension of Apollo Beach Boulevard. This improvement is part of zoning conditions for this development. 2. Big Bend Road is planned to be widened to 6 lanes 3. Old Big Bend Road may be realigned 4. Although outside of the study area, the Apollo Beach Boulevard extension from US 41 to US 301 is also identified in the Imagine 2040 Plan as a development based needs project. It is important to note as it would contribute to connectivity to the Big Bend corridor

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Figure 6. Ultimate Interchange Concept

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Figure 7. Proposed Typical Section – Big Bend Road: Franklin Cast Bay ACC to West of I-75 Ramps

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Figure 8. Proposed Typical Section – Big Bend Road: At I-75 (SR 93A) Overpass

Hillsborough County • October 2019

5.1 Existing Traffic Characteristics Existing traffic characteristics for the study area were estimated based on traffic count data and information from FDOT Traffic Online (2017). Annual average daily traffic (AADT) were collected in the field. Table 1 summarizes the existing AADT characteristics for the study corridor.

Table 1. Existing Roadway Characteristics

Existing Adjusted AADT 1

AM Peak

PM Peak

CORRIDOR FROM

BOTH

US 41

Waterset Boulevard Covington Garden Drive

16,700

15,300

32,000 1,230 1,410 1,420 1,130

Waterset Boulevard Covington Garden Drive

15,000

15,800

30,800 1,400 1,100 1,290 1,150

I-75 Southbound 18,100

17,800

35,900 1,410 1,160 1,200 1,480

Off-Ramp I-75 Southbound I-75 Northbound 30,900

15,300

46,200 1,960 1,010 2,340

950

Off-Ramp On-Ramp I-75 Northbound Simmons Loop

25,800

19,500

45,300 1,540 2,230 2,410 1,270

On-Ramp Simmons Loop Lincoln Road

Lincoln Road

24,800 25,800

21,200 22,200

46,000 1,500 1,970 2,230 1,380 48,000 1,330 2,050 2,090 1,440

US 301

Source: 1 AADT based on field collected data, HNTB 2018 2 K, D, & T factors based on FDOT’s Florida Traffic Online, 2017 5.2 Travel Times

Travel times were collected along the corridor during the AM and PM peak periods fromWest of Waterset Boulevard to East of Lincoln Road (Table 2). Ten passes made eastbound and westbound on Big Bend Road were collected and averaged. In the AM peak period most of traffic is moving toward the I-75 northbound and southbound on-ramps. On average it took about 10 minutes to drive from Waterset Boulevard to Lincoln Road in the eastbound direction and about 8 minutes in the westbound direction (Figure 9). There are lengthy queues at intersections prior to the I-75 on-ramps due to traffic not able to clear the intersections in one traffic signal cycle, especially in the westbound direction (Table 3). During the PM peak period most of traffic is exiting I-75 in the northbound and southbound directions and entering Big Bend Road via the off-ramps. There is a lengthy queue on the I-75 southbound off-ramp that extends onto the mainline of southbound I-75 as far as 8,800 feet (Table 4). Figure 10 depicts the queue length.

Table 2. Travel Times Roadway

Average Field Time (mins) - AM

Average Field Time (mins) - PM

Big Bend Road from Waterset Boulevard to Lincoln Road (EB) Big Bend Road from Lincoln Road to Waterset Boulevard (WB)

9:58 7:58

5:44 6:39

Hillsborough County • October 2019

Figure 9. Big Bend Road Travel Time

From Lincoln Road to Waterset Boulevard (WB)

¨§¦ 75

Average Field Time (mins) AM (PM) 7:58 (6:39)

£ ¤ 41

Corr Elementary School

Eisenhower Middle School

Average Speed (mph) AM (PM) 14 (17)

East Bay High School

4 4

¹º»¼

KL 672

BIG BEND RD

St Joseph's Hospital

£ ¤ 301

FromWaterset Boulevard to Lincoln Road (EB)

Covington Park

Average Field Time (mins) AM (PM) 9:58 (5:44)

¨§¦ 75

Average Speed (mph) AM (PM) 11 (19)

Legend

Doby Elementary

Big Bend Road PLAT Study Area

K Hospitals 4 Schools

0.125

0.25

Miles

Hillsborough County • October 2019

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