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Bayshore Boulevard

Full speed ahead for Bayshore sidewalks

Although residents express safety concerns, construction is scheduled to begin soon for new boulevard walkways.

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published July 8, 2005

City officials are moving ahead with plans to build sidewalks along southbound Bayshore Boulevard between Howard Avenue and Bay to Bay Boulevard, despite opposition from some homeowners.

The Bayshore Task Force met with a handful of residents June 29 to discuss their concerns that the sidewalks could be dangerous for motorists who live along Bayshore. Construction is expected to start as early as next week.

"The city seems to have a sidewalk fetish about this," Bayshore resident George Hamilton said. "I'd be very surprised if any serious joggers would want to use the west side. Why would they?"

The existing sidewalk on the water side of Bayshore allows joggers, bicyclists and walkers to move freely without having to stop for traffic. Adding sidewalks on the other side would increase interaction between pedestrians and vehicles pulling in and out of driveways and streets, Hamilton said.

Marilyn Mancuso Weekley said adding sidewalks in front of her home would force her to yield to pedestrians, taking her longer to turn into her driveway from busy Bayshore. Already, she worries about cars hitting her from behind as she slows down and turns.

City Council member Rose Ferlita, who attended the meeting, urged the task force to further explore the residents' concerns.

"Go out there and weigh what they're talking about," she said. "We never know when enough is enough, but it sounds to me like we are not quite there."

The city plans to hold off on building sidewalks in front of the Bayshore Diplomat, where residents don't want them, and the Weekley residence until officials can discuss the issue more with them. Mayor Pam Iorio appointed the task force, a group of neighborhood and city leaders, in 2004 after jogger Melissa McKenzie was killed crossing Bayshore during a morning run. Iorio charged the group to come up with ways to improve safety along the heavily traveled scenic street.

In December, Iorio budgeted $200,000 for the task force's recommendations, which included adding sidewalks, crosswalks and signs. The city plans to set aside another $180,000 next fiscal year.

In May, the city installed digital signs along Bayshore that flash drivers' speed as a reminder to obey the 40 mph limit.

Thomas Jevcak doubted whether sidewalks would make Bayshore safer.

"I personally don't care if you put sidewalks in there or you don't," he said. "People are not going to use them."

He said people who frequent Bayshore for recreation won't bother to use the sidewalk to access a crosswalk. The task force also recommended adding brick-paved crosswalks at the intersections of Bay to Bay, Howard and Platt.

Steve Daignault, administrator of Tampa's public works and utilities, said city rules require that all new construction projects include sidewalks. Two new condominium towers are planned where the sidewalks are proposed, the task force said.

Jeanne Holton Carufel, past president of the Historic Hyde Park Neighborhood Association and a task force member, disputed some of the sidewalk critics' claims.

"The ones that say the sidewalks won't be used, I don't believe it for a heartbeat," she said.

She called the six to eight critics who attended the meeting "nimbys" - not-in-my-back-yard complainers.

"The fact of the matter is, Tampa is a dynamic city and things are going to change," she said. "That's what part of being in a city means."

Kevin Graham can be reached at 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com

[Last modified July 7, 2005, 08:07:07]