In cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the
MPO's in the region are participating in the Tampa Bay Regional Goods Movement
Study. The purpose of the study is to identify major freight transfer centers
and the roadway facilities that serve them. The information in the study will
help the MPO's identify major freight corridors and help in the planning of
needed improvements.
The goods movement study also lists a number of "hot spots" that were
identified by truck drivers as problem areas for moving freight. These "hot
spots" include intersections with inadequate turn radii to accommodate truck
turns, lack of turn signals where trucks have to turn left across several lanes
of high speed traffic, unsafe railroad crossings, and other conditions that
create problems for large trucks.
Information from the Goods Movement Study is used by the MPO to prioritize
roadway and other projects for the use of Federal and State transportation
funds. Projects that improve freight corridors or address "hot spots" are given
a higher priority score than those that do not. The composition of the MPO
Board and MPO Technical Advisory Committee reaffirms the importance of goods
movement thoughout Hillsborough County with the inclusion of voting members from
both the Port and Aviation Authorities who provide input on freight related
issues.
