Dateline Florida

By Times wires
Published October 11, 2007

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Crosstown expressway wins DESIGN award for new elevated lanes

Part of it collapsed while under construction. The official who dreamed it up was fired. It went $100-million over budget and opened a year late. But none of that has stopped the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway's elevated lanes project from winning award after award for its design. On Wednesday in Vienna, it won the 2007 President's Award from the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, which recognized it for being a "creative and innovative" toll road project. The Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, which has seen its share of bad press, took the opportunity to note that its idea is being copied in Fort Lauderdale and Birmingham, Ala., and that 25 percent more drivers than expected are taking the road.

USF entrepreneur program in top 10

Another week, another top 10 ranking for the University of South Florida. Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine has ranked USF's Center for Entrepreneurship No. 9 on its list of top 25 such graduate programs in the country. USF, No. 4 among public universities, was the only Florida institution to make the list. It will be featured in the November issue of Entrepreneur. The Center was established in 2002 to help move university research in health sciences, engineering and business into the marketplace. The Center offers a 12-credit graduate certificate in entrepreneurship and a master's degree in entrepreneurship. This year it began expanding into undergraduate education. USF officials, celebrating Wednesday, couldn't resist linking the recent success of their No. 5-ranked football team with this one. "It feels so good to be in the top 10!" said president Judy Genshaft. "Already No. 5, and now we're No. 9."