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Wider road could backfire, experts say
By SUSAN THURSTON
© St. Petersburg Times, NEW TAMPA -- Plans to widen Bruce B. Downs Boulevard come none too soon for many motorists who get stuck in traffic every day in New Tampa. They figure more lanes mean more space to drive. Obviously, four aren't enough. Or are they? Some studies show that adding lanes doesn't necessarily ease congestion. In fact, they say it can worsen traffic problems in the long run by encouraging additional trips. A recent analysis by the Surface Transportation Policy Project in Washington, D.C., found that metro areas that added the most roads have had little success in breaking up bottlenecks. It's like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt. Analysts say that widening roads can improve traffic, but only temporarily. What's really needed are other ways to get around, like buses and trains. "If you're going to gear everything toward cars, what you're going to get is a lot of cars," said Barbara McCann, an analyst for the project, which advocates multiple modes of transportation. Hillsborough County last month earmarked about $37-million over the next several years to widen Bruce B. Downs. Although construction won't start until about 2007, the financial commitment pushes the project forward a few years. County transportation leaders admit that adding lanes will help, but not solve, the area's traffic woes. The county typically limits roads to four lanes, but made an exception because Bruce B. Downs is the only way in and out of New Tampa. "Yes, if you build it they will come," said Tom Thomson, the county's head of transportation. "We need to make the improvements, then draw the line in the sand." The state, with help from the county and the city of Tampa, started the planning work for the widening project in March. Once completed in 2003, the study will address the environmental impacts of the project and make recommendations on the number of lanes and the alignment. It also will explore the possibility of adding mass transit down the median. Ming Gao, the state project manager for the study, said the widening will definitely improve the situation, but it's too soon to tell to what extent. Current traffic counts show that Bruce B. Downs is a failed road. "You can't say across the board that building more lanes isn't going to help," he said. "It depends on the situation." Residents have complained for years about a lack of adequate roads in New Tampa. They argue the congestion erodes people's quality of life and slows response times for emergency vehicles. They also know it will only get worse. The city, which governs most of New Tampa, has identified nearly $71-million worth of needed transportation improvements, although less than half has been funded. Several projects are in the works, but they will take years to finish. Members of the New Tampa Transportation Task Force say a combination of improvements, including the opening of State Road 56 and the Cross Creek Boulevard connection to Morris Bridge Road, is the key to reduce congestion. "Just to widen Bruce B. Downs and stack up more traffic without having more outlets doesn't make sense," said chairman Don Nevins. Whether those outlets will include the proposed east-west connector through West Meadows remains to be seen. Although the majority of commuters in New Tampa want another route to Interstate 275, many people in West Meadows oppose a road through the middle of their community. Nevins said starting other improvements first would give planners time to add bus lanes and future mass transit needs along Bruce B. Downs. It also would give motorists alternative routes once the widening work starts. Construction on Bruce B. Downs is expected to last about two years and be done in phases. At any given time, some lanes will be closed, causing lengthy delays. Further studies by the Surface Transportation Policy Project have shown that motorists can lose more time in construction delays than they will save in years of driving on the improved road. As a result, communities should look hard before embarking on a project, analysts say. Some environmentalists argue that adding lanes actually does more to accommodate growth than eliminate traffic jams. Eventually, roads will fill up as demand increases. "People need to realize that if they don't want to sit in traffic all day then they have to move closer to their jobs," said Lesley Blackner, a Palm Beach attorney who represented the Sierra Club on Suncoast Parkway issues. Blackner sees little relief as long as people depend on their cars and gasoline is affordable. Even then, it might take a "revolution" to get people out of their cars. But some progress is being made. HARTline last week approved a 20-mile, $950-million light rail system connecting downtown Tampa and Ybor City with the University of South Florida and the West Shore business district. If funded, it would stop at Bearss Avenue near Bruce B. Downs. Some transportation leaders have suggested a line extend north to take some of the burden off Bruce B. Downs. It's unclear, however, how many commuters would use it. People such as Al Frick of Hunter's Green urged planners to focus on the basics, then address long-term alternatives. "To even think about public transportation, we need a road network to start with," he said. -- Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3463.
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