Suncoast Parkway popular during its first week of use

Usage is higher than expected, but officials say traffic could slip after drivers start paying tolls.

By JAMIE MALERNEE

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 10, 2001

The formal tally isn't in yet, but state officials are calling the opening week of the Suncoast Parkway an undeniable success.

No unforeseen hang-ups materialized during the first week, and more drivers decided to test the new roadway than officials anticipated, said parkway spokeswoman Joanne Hurley.

"The numbers aren't in yet, but I know we saw far more vehicles on the roadway than expected," she said. "I think a lot of people were eagerly awaiting the opening and wanted to see how it would affect their commute. Others were just curious."

Tolls will be suspended until Feb. 18, when a "phase in" will begin. Although many of the toll booths appear unfinished, Hurley said several are functionally complete, and the rest will be ready in a few weeks. Eventually, when all booths are up and charging, it will cost drivers $2 to travel the 32-mile stretch of the road from State Road 50 to Veterans Expressway in northern Hillsborough, and $3 from the northern terminus on U.S. 98 once the final 10 miles of the parkway open this summer.

In addition to finishing the booths, workers are putting a final layer of asphalt on a rough patch where the parkway and the Veterans Expressway meet. Cold weather just prior to the opening delayed this process, which must be done one lane at a time and should not hamper traffic, she said.

Still to come on the roadway are emergency call-boxes, which should be in place by the end of spring.

So far, the parkway has proved to be a relatively safe place to drive, despite its unfamiliarity. No crashes have been reported, authorities said, although two cars with electrical problems did catch fire in Hillsborough County.

Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol also have been regularly patrolling the area for speeders, as has the occasional deputy from the Hernando and Pasco County sheriff's offices. A patrol trooper wrote his first ticket only five minutes after the official opening Sunday and hoped it sent a message, Hurley said.

"They want people to know this is not the Autobahn," she said of the road, which generally has a posted speed limit of 65 mph.

As the newness of the Parkway wears off, Hurley said she expects the number of drivers on it to fall. She said some will discover it does not cut any time off their cross-county drives; others will not like the tolls.

"Any time you give something away for free, more people want it," she said. "We'll probably see a drop of 20 to 30 percent."

Of course, those who want to travel free can always use the parkway's bike trail, which now runs 21 miles and will be extended another 18 miles when complete. Hernando County officials said the trail, the first of its kind, has proved popular.

Citrus County resident Dick Marr, an avid bicyclist, has already tested the open stretch of pavement. He said the only downside to the trail is the lack of facilities, which aren't expected to be put in place any time this year.

"I enjoyed it. But there aren't any benches or bathrooms," he said. "Anyone who rides it better have their own food and water."

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