Traffic and transit among top concerns in 'What Tampa Bay Needs' survey

To commemorate the leap year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay asked readers and local leaders to chime in on what Tampa Bay needs to be a better place in four years. We've been sharing results of the "What Tampa Bay Needs" survey in the Feb. 29 issue of CL, and there wasn't enough room to share all the concerns about traffic and transit.

People are sick of having existential crises every time to go to work. They are keenly aware of the costs associated with getting in their cars, and have their heads on a swivel whenever they're riding their bikes or walking around town.

Here are more of the concerns readers brought to our attention.

“If we want Tampa to be a real city, and not just a collection of suburbs, we need mass transit that will support density, which will also help our affordable housing problem.”—Tom Scherberger

Transportation, transportation, transportation!! Express buses, light rail, trolley. The ferry is a great idea, but how do people get there more effectively other than as a quick ride for fun. Connect important places (USF, Armature Works, International Mall, Ybor, etc) to residential areas (Carrollwood, Town N' Country, Seminole Heights, etc.) and other important places. It will reduce traffic, make it easier for those from further out to park, and make it easier to use those important economic engines of the area. And, high speed rail to Orlando, Sarasota, Jacksonville, and Miami. Again, connecting some of these places to Tampa's economic engines.—Randi Zimmerman, General Manager WMNF Tampa 88.5-FM

Less traffic; more pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods; more public art (like all the murals in St. Pete, where I now live). Some kind of plan to deal with the looming home insurance crisis (Citizens is overburdened, can't buy enough re-insurance; this is a statewide and national issue.) Zoning laws that encourage building and density, then public transportation to service denser neighborhoods. I moved from Tampa to St. Pete in spring of '22. Every time I drive back across the bridge, the aggressive driving stresses me out. Sounds silly but it's very noticeable.—George Quraishi

Tampa Bay needs to be a safer place for bicyclists and pedestrians. There are way too many injuries and fatalities on the roadways involving people walking or riding a bike. My husband was injured by a motorist while on his electric bicycle. It was a miracle he was not seriously injured or killed.—Amanda Easton

Affordable, efficient mass transit to connect residents and visitors to small businesses and cultural spaces that need consistent foot traffic. Density is filling in our neighborhoods but we need to connect the neighborhoods too. We need investment in countywide transit that connects regionally and fast transit options for connecting the urban core.—Michele Smith

Public transportation, power utility transition to solar, storm damage mitigation measures.

There is far too much traffic in the area. We are growing into a larger city and big cities cannot function without extensive public transportation. Reliance on cars is also terrible for the environment and we are already feeling the effects of being on the front lines of climate change.

For that reason we also need a rapid transition to solar power that doesn't rely on individual homeowners investing in solar panels. Solar energy should be adopted by our utility and accessible to anyone, no matter if they live in an apartment building or a house, regardless of their income level. Our contract with Duke Energy is up soon and this should be a requirement for renewal to be approved.

Storm resilience measures, such as better infrastructure to manage floodwater and protection/restoration of natural storm buffers like mangroves, are also critical to protect us from worsening storms.

To make these changes a reality we must pressure our local government to make these issues a priority.—Madison Hayes

Transportation to city centers and a city center with walkable entertainment, shopping and food options. Continue to build out our downtown and connect all the different downtown areas such as Ybor, channelside, water street and Straz area. The riverwalk is a good start but there is nothing ON the walk. I want to explore these areas, but driving downtown and parking is painful. If I could get downtown on transit, I would go more often, but THEN I need something to see and do (arts, entertainment, shopping and food) for more than a 15 minute stroll on Saturday. The areas mentioned are a good start, but after a short walk you have seen everything with little to keep me downtown.—Ryan Paris

Rail, We need light rail, metro solutions, the quality of public transportation and infrastructure in Tampa is pathetic, yet our costs continue to go up. The Selmon Expressway can be straddled with east west trains and stations, the existing I-275 corridor can also handle trains and stations. There is so much underutilized rail infrastructure that could be adapted. The car culture of Tampa Bay needs to change. The parking cost in places like downtown and Channelside are excessive, the roads are in horrible shape throughout the city.—Jake Williams

More connected/comprehensive transportation that goes beyond Ybor and the downtown core. Boats, busses, Teslas, and street cars are fun and all, but what good are they actually if they all cover the same general land area? Let's just focus on 1 or 2 means of transportation and extend it way beyond just the downtown core. It can be bus rapid transit for all I care. Anything. Please. —Patrick Verst

A light rail that runs from the airport and international mall to downtown and then up to USF for starters. Our traffic is unbearable, and many of our drivers are even worse. We should only elect politicians who promise to make modern public transit a reality. Other cities of similar size have light rails so it cannot be that difficult.—Kyle McIntosh

Water taxi from ballast point to channelside and up riverwalk. Decrease traffic, parking and DUIs.—Jennifer Cacioppo

A transportation system like light rail or something similar to Miami’s metro rail and metro mover. A connection between USF, downtown and the airport would be the ideal first phases and then branch out from there to other Tampa neighborhoods and St. Pete. The Tampa Bay region has grown way past the point of needing a transportation system and the growth is showing no signs of slowing down. A system would help propel Tampa's growth into the future. It’s time to put together a team to make this a reality. Tampa will fall behind other cities similar in size if something isn’t done within the next 10 years.—Dominick Pullara

High speed rail. Traffic is getting worse and worse. Living in Clearwater and getting to st Pete and Tampa used to be much easier. Now it’s congested and takes a lot longer.—Jill Carey

Metro or public transport for close neighborhoods into downtown. As downtown grows and parking becomes difficult and more expensive, and safety of driving downtown for work, pleasure, or other becomes more dangerous, public transport would be really great for locals and tourists alike. We can bump it up on the priority list for city council?—Kim Linton

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