Transportation planners in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties have launched a survey for residents to choose which sort of traffic-alleviating options they want most.
The online survey presents residents with three wildly different scenarios — from autonomous vehicles and interstate toll lanes, to a mass transit focused plan that has dedicated lanes for buses and an extensive rail system. The feedback will be incorporated into the 2045 master plan for transit in the Tampa Bay region. It's expected to be released in fall 2019.
Beth Alden, executive director of the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization, said the survey will ensure residents have a say in regional development.
"There will be a hybrid scenario that include the pieces that people were most enthusiastic about," she said. "We'll pull those together and that will be the basis for our tri-county long range transportation plan."
In the survey, future transit scenarios are scored on their effectiveness at alleviating traffic jams and shortening commutes, as well as their cost to tax payers. Officials also assesed the plans for how they might affect green spaces throughout the region.
The survey will remain open until the end of September. In the coming month, Alden said planners will also give presentations in order to increase the survey's reach.
"In addition to promoting the web site, we'll be going out to community groups and presenting the three scenarios where you will actually vote with your phone as you view the presentation," she said.
The online survey is available at ItsTimeTampaBay.org. Groups and businesses can also schedule a presentation by contacting their county planning organization here.
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