Planning for major investments of public dollars in transportation requires detailed study of the areas where the investments will occur, to indicate how transportation projects can best complement the community.
Frequently, detailed studies are conducted by the agency that will build and maintain the project, such as the county's public works department. In some cases, the MPO takes the lead on a study - for example, if the corridor or area has metropolitan significance. The MPO's studies are undertaken as partnerships between the MPO and the agencies that will implement the projects.
Corridor and sub-area studies consider the needs a community will have in the future as well as those it has today. Studies often deal with issues of safety, comfort and convenience for all of the users of the roadway, including drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit riders, and freight carriers. The needs of people to travel through an area are balanced with the needs of those living, working, or playing along the route. Land use and zoning decisions, roadway aesthetics, and the impact of community design on transportation choices and driver behavior may be considered as well.
The following projects are completed or are currently underway:
- Downtown Tampa Transportation Vision
- Downtown Tampa Access Study
- SouthShore Corridor Plan
- 40th Street Corridor Community Revitalization Plan
Corridor studies are also conducted by the MPO as part of the metropolitan Congestion Management System.
