07.20.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🚧 Optimizing Tampa’s traffic safety

Tampa’s $2 billion, 30-year Mobility Plan break down

More bike lanes are on the way TBAY. | Photo via City of Tampa

This week, the City of Tampa set an ambitious goal of eliminating all driving, biking, and pedestrian-related injuries and fatalities within the next three decades.

Meet the first-ever Citywide Mobility Plan — Tampa MOVES — which has a $2 billion budget.

For some background, U.S. News & World Report ranked the Cigar City in the top 15 for most dangerous for drivers in 2023.

The plan

In a press conference, Council Member Alan Clendenin said, “We are going to repave roads. We are going to create sidewalks. We are going to create safer cross-sections for people to cross our streets. And that, to me, is one of the most important things for the folks that actually live in the City of Tampa.”

Some of the other main priorities include:

Adding new bicycle lanes
Improving existing sidewalks

According to the 104-page document, adding bike lanes around town will help connect community members to different parts of the City.

It’s easy math. Making Tampa more walkable + bikeable would also reduce the number of cars on the road and the average driving commute time — from 25 minutes to 15, according to WFLA.

Screen Shot 2023-07-19 at 12.32.54 PM.png — The City and local volunteers paint street murals in high-traffic areas to help drivers pay attention to the roads.
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Photo via City of Tampa

While some of these projects aren’t penned in to start this year (or the next 29), the City is still actively trying to fix its problems using Quick Builds.

The program uses materials like paint, signs, and pavement markings to quickly and cheaply execute safety projects on a short-term scope.

Pedal to the metal

There’s no time to get ahead of the biking curve like the present. Help solve Tampa’s traffic congestion problem — and support local business owners — by stopping by one of these local bike shops:

City Bike Tampa, 208 E. Cass St.
South Tampa Bicycle Co., 3431 S. West Shore Blvd.
Oliver’s Cycle Sports, 18055 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.

And if you’re looking for other biking gear, we put together a guide to local + helpful swag here.

Watch Mayor Jane Castor’s entire news conference from Tuesday morning for more details on Tampa MOVES.

Events

Thursday, July 20

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” | Thursday, July 20 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | The James Museum, 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | $0-$23 | Join docent Helen Huntley for coffee, discussion, and a reading of the USA Today’s Book of the Summer.
Taylor Swift Trivia Night | Thursday, July 20 | 7-9 p.m. | Top Shelf Sports Lounge, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel | Free | If you think you’re well-versed in Taylor Swift’s various eras, pull up a chair and put your knowledge to the test.

Friday, July 21

Jurassic Quest | Friday, July 21-Sunday, July 23 | Times vary | Florida State Fair, 4800 US Hwy. 301 N., Tampa | $19-$36 | Bring the whole family to play with life-size animatronic, puppeteered dinos, and excavate fossils.
Rays vs. Orioles | Friday, July 21-Sunday, July 23 | Times vary | Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg | $43-$183 | Watch our hometown heroes as they don their throwback Devil Rays uniforms — come early for a free Wander Franco bat.

Saturday, July 22

Tampa Bay Reptile Expo Show Me Reptile Show | Saturday, July 22-Sunday, July 23 | 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Largo Event Center, 6340 126th Ave. N., Largo | $5-$8 | Experience the wonders of the rainforest with a thrilling showcase of creatures from snakes to lemurs.

Sunday, July 23

The Sneaker Travelers | Sunday, July 23 | 12-6 p.m. | Entertainment Hall, 4800 US Hwy. 301 N., Tampa | $20-$40 | Sneakerheads will love browsing thousands of vintage and rare sneakers and collectibles — plus, check out the car show.
Yellowcard | Sunday, July 23 | 7 p.m. | Yuengling Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa | $25.75-$469 | Celebrate 20 years of the band’s certified double platinum album “Ocean Avenue,” with special guest Mayday Parade.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

This week, Pinellas County unveiled its proposed $3.8 billion budget to the Board of County Commissioners. The fiscal wish list included boosting local mental + behavioral health efforts, which will receive $12 million in funding. It also includes a one-time payment of $18 million to alleviate traffic congestion on major roads. (Tampa Bay Times)

Ranked

WalletHub ranked Tampa No. 3 on its “Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers” list. The study compared 300 US cities with 22 different factors, including affordability, quality of life, and market attractiveness. The Big Gauva also took the top spot for quality of life. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Sports

Two new statues will be revealed right before the Saturday, Sept. 23 Rays vs. Jays home game. They pay homage to historic plays by Evan Longoria + Akinori Iwamura. Pro tip: Arrive at the Trop early to get your own replica statue figurines. (WTSP)

Transit

Speaking of the Trop — you can now park there on non-gamedays. Through a partnership with the city, the Rays have opened up 7,000 spots that are directly linked to ParkMobile. Check out the lot map. (I Love the Burg)

Award

Tampa’s Water Street was selected as one of the Urban Land Institute’s top 10 developments in the US. The mixed-use Utopian neighborhood will now compete on a global scale for a ULI Global Awards for Excellence award. (That’s So Tampa)

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Brad

From the editor

As a former sneakerhead myself, I’ve been looking to grab a new pair of Nike’s to mess around in.

Pro tip: Soleciety in Downtown Tampa has an insane collection of kicks, but be prepared to shell out major dough for a rare pair.

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