After being proposed in 2010 and undergoing planning for more than half a decade, Tampa’s Green ARTery is beginning its first two segments: Segment D & E. The pedestrian-orientated vision was jump-started in the spring, and involves the construction of an uninterrupted pedestrian-orientated trail where cyclists and pedestrians can enjoy Tampa’s urban landscape under the comfort of traffic calming methods, art, and tree canopies. According to the City of Tampa, residents will see “nearly 4,000 feet of new and widened sidewalks, fresh paving, lower speed limits, solar-powered flashing crosswalk beacons, improved roadway markings, signage, and more.” The first two phases of the initiative will cost around $1.7 million, with half of the funding deriving from FDOT grants and the remainder from multimodal impact fees.
Segment E, with an estimated cost of $1,188,166, will link Lowry Park to River Tower Park. The segment will span approximately 1.3 miles and will include widening existing sidewalks, adding new sidewalks with grass buffers, and installing bicycle/pedestrian crossing signage at multiple intersections. According to meetings held during the planning process (which are subject to change), North Boulevard will feature shared lane markings, resurfaced pavement, and reduced speed limits of 25 MPH. Meanwhile, Kirby Street and River Shore Drive will be retrofitted with speed cushions, lower speed limits, a new 5 FT sidewalk with a buffer, and additional improvements. In the final section of segment E, along North Florida Avenue, existing sidewalks will be widened from 5 FT to 8 FT. More information is available at this link: https://www.tampa.gov/project/trans20032.
The last segment that began construction is segment D. Despite being at a lower cost of $532,787, the project will actually span more mileage at around 1.4 miles. Like segment E, the project will include “Share the Road” markings, new 5-foot sidewalks, and more. Sidewalks will be provided on the east side of Van Dyke Place and from Hamilton Heath Drive to Hollywood St. Across the entire section includes bicycle boulevard markings and speed cushions on streets such as Park Drive, East Park Circle, and E Patterson St. More information ca be found here: https://www.tampa.gov/project/trans20031.
Construction on both segments are estimated to be done by mid-August, while the entire ARTery will be entirely completed by 2030. Throughout the Green ARTery’s phasing, more than 20 neighborhood groups will be involved.
