Virtual Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 6:30 pm
Questions and Answers
Question
I have a rental unit across the street from your offices at the Westshore Club. My current tenant, whose lease expires in 3 weeks, has notified me she does not wish to renew due to the noise from the construction. I have an ethical obligation to notify any prospective tenant about the noise at night. Does the Selmon Expwy Project have a compensation fund for damages caused to landlords who lose tenants, or lose prospective tenants due to the night-time construction noise?
Answer
No, there is no fund per state law. Those type of impacts are not reimbursed however, most heavy construction in that area will be completed by mid-summer.
Question
Will Culbreath Key Condos get their own traffic light? Having to leave our community and make a u-turn so far back, especially during rush hour is impossible and dangerous.
Answer
A traffic signal cannot be constructed to meet the required warrants to be justified at that time. Until then we are providing an improved u-turn location to help motorists more safley navigate the u-turn movement.
Question
My drive home from St. Pete to Tampa is only 13 miles, but taking nearly an hour now. From what I can tell, the real bottle neck is with traffic trying to go Northbound at Westshore. Is there anything that can be done to improve this situation?
Answer
Once the project is completed the upper level will relieve the traffic on Gandy blvd and will enable better signal timing for the turn lane.
Question
Really? How about getting the left turn signal light extended for 30 seconds or a minute with each interval?
Answer
Thank you for your question and yes, additional time will be added to the turn signal upon completion of the project.
Question
Do you expect to finish ahead of schedule?
Answer
Thanks for your question! The current project completion date is Fall 2020 and we are on schedule.
Question
This needs to be done now for the evening traffic. I don’t have any real delay in my morning East bound commute into St. Pete. However, the after work commute back into Tampa comes to a complete stop on the bridge.
Answer
The signal timing has been set to optimize traffic in all directions. Extending it for one direction causes more delays in other directions. While we understand this is frustrating we feel the project will improve the situation upon completion.
Question
Is this u-turn area going to be located more East? The current U-turn is so far west that we have to travel a far distance from our community to make a uturn and then sit it traffic for a long period of time. If it was more east (like it used to be), we wouldn’t have to sit in as much bridge traffic
Answer
Yes, the new U-turn will be approximately 600 feet from the Culbreath Keys entrance. This places it closer to your residence, however, still requiring adequate distance to access the left lane.
Question
Will we be able to get a hold of the material presented?
Answer
Hi, yes, we will post the entire presentation on the website, www.selmonextension.com. Please check the website- should be up shortly.
Question
Someone needs to re-evaluate the traffic situation for the East bound traffic at the Westshore intersection. Both the left turn and right turn lanes have been eliminated. Only the right turn lane was eliminated for the East bound traffic at this intersection.
Answer
Upon completion of the requested intersection improvements by the city of Tampa which include additional lanes on Westshore, new curbs and gutter, sidewalks, utility relocations, and new traffic signals) the right turn lane will be restored.
Question
Is this project in construction? I thought this presentation was for the upcoming Extension
Answer
Yes, we broke ground over a year ago along Gandy Boulevard and plan to be complete in the Fall of 2020.
Question
Ok so this is another project, not the one that is in PDE currently.
Answer
This presentation is giving information on the current construction project. Check out the website www.selmonextension.com to get an idea of the project we are discussing.
Question
Why has my screen frozen when the film clip started playing and why can’t I unfreeze it?
Answer
Hi! Have you tried hitting refresh? Try that, if it still doesn’t work, then check our website www.selmonextension.com. We will post this presentation there within the next few days.
Question
Why has my screen frozen when the film clip started playing and why can’t I unfreeze it?
Answer
Hi! Have you tried hitting refresh? Try that, if it still doesn’t work, then check our website www.selmonextension.com. We will post this presentation there within the next few days.
Question
When will the night time work be completed between the West end and the Westshore / Gandy intersection?
Answer
The major construction efforts in that area will be completed mid-summer.
Question
Will Al Palonis Park reopen following completion of the Overhead?
Answer
Yes, Al Palonis Park will be improved and reopened upon completion of the Selmon Extension Project.
Question
Am I correct in stating that it costs $.94 to travel between the West end and Dale Mabry?
Answer
For sunpass users correct however for non sunpass (toll by plate users) is currently .25 cents higher.
Question
What month do you consider “Mid-summer”?
Answer
July – August.
Question
Will an entity have the authority to reduce the $.94 toll if too few vehicles use the extension?
Answer
The toll bonds were sold based upon the revenue generated from the $.94 toll rate. And until the bonds are paid off, there will not be a reduction.
Question
Currently, does noise making construction occur opposite of the Westshore club each night?
Answer
Yes and will continue through mid-summer.
Question
Between now and July / August, what will be the time frame for the most night time noise and what will that construction process be? Pouring concrete? Placing superstructure? or other?
Answer
Construction operations will be taken place day and night. Nighttime lane closures will occur between 9pm – 6am. Yes, this will include a variety of construction operations including but not limited to placing concrete and superstructure work.
