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New Tampa Blvd., I-275 Connector Project Spiked Again

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By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2008

NEW TAMPA - The east-west toll road project is dead, again.

The state's toll road authority, Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, says it won't do the $183 million project to link New Tampa Boulevard and Interstate 275 because a four-month study shows it would be too costly.

The rejection was a double snub for the 3-mile project, which has been kicked around since the mid-1980s. The Turnpike Enterprise also rejected it in 2005.

This past summer, the city killed a deal with a company from Canada after concerns about exorbitant toll rates. The project was thought to be dead after that, but Mayor Pam Iorio asked Florida's Turnpike Enterprise to take a final look.

Planning manager Randy Fox said the project's high price and relative low return would make it unworkable. Because of sensitive wetlands, half the road would have to be elevated, which has led to the project's high price.

The authority explored four potential toll rates in its study – 75 cents, $1, $1.25 and a flexible rate of 75 cents to $1.25 that would vary depending on time of day. The flexible rate would generate the biggest return, but even after 30 years the authority wouldn't make a dime. In fact, it would lose an estimated $87.7 million.

"Money is getting tighter and tighter and tighter," said Councilman Joseph Caetano, whose district includes New Tampa. "It's a shame."

Area residents were disappointed as well but not surprised.

"I think with this project I've learned to live with disappointments and delay," said Frank Margarella, past president of New Tampa Community Council's board of directors.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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