It was a busy month at Midtown Tampa, the 1.8 million square foot development underway at I-275 and Dale Mabry Highway.  T wo national real estate companies, Casto Southeast and Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate, have signed on to co-develop and market the retail and entertainment space, the Men's Wearhouse was demolished to make way for Midtown One, a deal with REI Co-op was confirmed and construction of Novel Midtown apartments is going vertical.    MORE

ICYMI:  Tampa International Airport recently demolished the red side car rental garage as work on Phase 2 of their Master Plan continues.   The demolition  makes room for new express curbsides, designed for passengers with no checked bags, as well as upcoming facility improvements, including a new guideway to the future Airside D.  After months of careful planning and preparation, it took just  14 short seconds to implode the garage.   VIDEO

Transportation Referendum Project list includes projects for Westshore

The Hillsborough transportation sales tax referendum approved by 57-percent of voters in 2018 is still being challenged in court, but local officials are ready to plan for the first year of projects to be funded. 

The City of Tampa released their 2020 project list at the September 5 Tampa City Council meeting.  Most notable for Westshore was the inclusion of a multi-use trail connecting Spruce Street to Lincoln Gardens Park and Grady Street near MetWest.  This trail was conceived in our Westshore Transportation Action Plan.  The list also includes funding for street resurfacing and mobility projects in Westshore.  At the same meeting, Council approved funding for a study to remove the stormwater ditch on Spruce Street, and add new sidewalks.

Hillsborough County released a list in June that included funding for the West Shore Boulevard Complete Streets project and a connection from the Upper Tampa Bay Trail to the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail.

HART's project list includes increased frequency for four transit routes that serve the District.  Route 30 (Downtown to Airport) and Route 32 (MLK to Airport) will have 15 minute weekday service.  Services between East Tampa (Route 15) and North Tampa (Route 45) into WestShore Plaza will now run every 30 minutes.

Bicycle Friendly Business Program Rolls Along

The Westshore Alliance and Pedal Power Promoters met with Tampa International Airport and Cigar City Brewing employees in August to discuss transportation projects and bicycle safety as part of the Bicycle Friendly Business program.  If your business is interested in being a certified Bicycle Friendly Business, like Cigar City Brewing, email Director of Transportation and Planning Michael Maurino for more information.