Tampa City Council to consider part of $500 million infrastructure plan

Tampa City Council members will consider a portion of a $500 million infrastructure improvement plan during the board’s evening meeting this Thursday for inclusion into Tampa’s Imagine 2040 comprehensive plan.

The plan is based on the city of Tampa’s Capital Improvement Program adopted earlier this year.

Of the included projects, several would shore up transportation problems in the city of Tampa including reducing transportation deficiencies, reducing congestion and accommodating future population growth.

The plan includes $1.4 million for Westshore area roadway extensions. Construction on those projects began last month and are expected to be complete by the end of next year.

Another $1.7 million will pay for intersection improvements throughout the city, which would be complete by 2020. Sidewalk improvements and replacements account for $4.3 million in spending on projects aimed at completion by late 2022.

Intelligent transportation systems account for $500,000 of the overall plan. Those projects include things like timed traffic lights, which reduce traffic congestion by creating better traffic flow.

The entire project list, worth $262 million, includes fiscal years 2019-2023.

That plan establishes land use and infrastructure development priorities to ensure the city feels safe, offers economic opportunity, is attractive, values its natural areas and areas of heritage, supports a choice of lifestyles, integrates a mix of uses, provides mobility options and fosters a sense of place and community.

Priorities under Imagine 2040 include increasing pedestrian and bicycle lanes, updating roadways with new traffic technology, implementing transit oriented development and updating city infrastructure and facilities to include mixed-use plans.

The overall plan includes resource allocation for government facilities, fire rescue projects, parks and recreation, solid waste, stormwater, technology and innovation, wastewater and water projects.

The total $498 million project list includes:

— 4 government facilities improvements totaling $11.6 million

— 2 fire rescue projects totaling $730,000

— 6 parks and recreation projects totaling $4.52 million

— 3 solid waste projects totaling nearly $11 million

— 5 stormwater projects totaling $100.7 million

— 2 technology and innovation projects totaling $9.1 million

— 24 transportation projects totaling $51 million

— 34 wastewater project totaling 132 million

— 30 water projects totaling 174 million

— 5 other projects totaling 3.5 million

Projects under the updated plan are established to replace needed facilities or provide facilities needed for future growth and to eliminate public hazards and plan for future growth.

If adopted on first reading Thursday, City Council will schedule final approval at a future regular City Council meeting.