Did you know that, today, about 88,000 people in Hillsborough County cannot drive because of age, disability, or because they can't afford to? That's about four times the population of the City of Temple Terrace.
The MPO is committed to a multi-modal system, with transportation solutions for everyone. To be effective and affordable, the transportation system must contain a balance of roads, public transit, and other solutions. No single piece will solve the entire puzzle.
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Public Transit. Neighborhoods and businesses continue to grow around major roads and highways. So widening these major roads has impact, and is becoming more expensive, as rising property values drive up the cost of the land. This is particularly true in central areas, where dense development makes public transit a reasonable choice. The cost of adding lanes for a few more cars on a highway at rush hour may be much higher than the cost of adding a bus that carries as many people, or (in the future) adding another railcar to a light rail track.
A critical question for our future is whether the bus network and possible future fixed-guideway rapid-transit systems will meet the needs of our growing population, and go when and where people want to go. The MPO works closely with HARTline and local governments' comprehensive plans to study long-term needs for public transit services. Future growth areas and needs for public transit routes are shown in the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).
Commute Options. Shifting even a small percent of rush hour trips to transit, carpool or vanpool could make a big difference. Why? When a freeway is 90% full, it can still operate -- it's the last few percent that cause gridlock. Telecommuting and flexible work-hour programs can also help reduce rush hour trips. For more information on commute options for you or your business, please contact Bay Area Commuter Services at 800/998-RIDE (7433).
MPO plans and studies of transit needs available under Publications & Maps include:
- Hillsborough County MPO Regional Jobs Access Plan
- Jobs Access Plan Technical Update
- Transit Quality of Service Evaluations
- Economic Impacts of West Central Florida's 2025 Regional Transit Needs
- MPO Transit Concept for 2050
- Regional Transit Action Plan, West Central Florida MPO Chairs
- Coordinating Committee
