[1:54] area and.
[1:54] >> joshua wostal: good morning,
[1:55] everyone.
[2:03] If we could quiet down.
[2:05] Good morning, everyone and
[2:06] welcome to this morning's
[2:10] SEPTEMBER the 9th tpo board
[2:10] meeting.
[2:11] I will call this meeting to
[2:12] order ad start with the pledge
[2:13] of allegiance.
[2:17] If you could please join me.
[2:34] [Pledge of allegiance]
[2:35] Thank you very much.
[2:39] We will begin with a roll call.
[2:41] >> ross is excused.
[2:42] Wostal.
[2:43] >> joshua wostal: here.
[2:44] >> miller.
[2:44] >> christine miller: here.
[2:46] >> myers.
[2:46] >> gwen myers: here.
[2:48] >> cohen.
[2:49] >> harry cohen: here.
[2:50] >> boles.
[2:51] >> chris boles: here.
[2:52] >> clendenin.
[2:58] >> here.
[2:58] >> hurtak.
[2:59] >> joshua wostal: yeah, she's
[3:00] here.
[3:02] She'll be back in a second.
[3:02] >> young.
[3:07] Mayor kilton is excused.
[3:08] `gray.
[3:09] Klug.
[3:09] >> here.
[3:11] >> stevens.
[3:13] >> here.
[3:15] >> slater.
[3:15] King.
[3:16] Joseph.
[3:17] >> here.
[3:19] >> you have a quorum, sir.
[3:20] >> joshua wostal: great.
[3:20] Thank you.
[3:21] We mean move onto approval of
[3:21] the minutes.
[3:23] -- we will move onto approval of
[3:24] the minutes, trusting everyone's
[3:25] had an opportunity to review
[3:25] them.
[3:26] If there are changes, MAY I have
[3:29] a motion for approval of
[3:29] meetings.
[3:30] I have a motion by member
[3:32] stevens and a second by
[3:33] commissioner myers.
[3:35] All of those in favor, say aye.
[3:38] Like sign.
[3:40] That motion is approved.
[3:42] We are moving onto public
[3:43] comment.
[3:44] We still have no signups.
[3:44] Is that correct?
[3:46] Seems to be correct.
[3:48] We will move onto committee
[3:50] reports, and advanced comments.
[3:54] From rick fernandez.
[3:54] And.
[3:55] >> good morning.
[3:55] Good morning, board.
[4:00] Can y'all hear me all right?
[4:00] >> joshua wostal: yes.
[4:01] >> okay.
[4:02] Thank you.
[4:03] For the record, rick fernandez,
[4:06] chair of your cac.
[4:08] Have a short report for you
[4:08] today.
[4:09] I'm sure you'll be happy to
[4:10] hear.
[4:13] We met on SEPTEMBER 2nd for
[4:16] our regular monthly meeting.
[4:18] Had no problem with quorum.
[4:21] There was one action item on our
[4:23] agenda which I believe mirrors
[4:25] an action item on your agenda
[4:28] this morning that is the 2026
[4:31] roll forward tip amendments.
[4:33] Committee members asked
[4:35] questions about the federal
[4:37] transit administration funding
[4:39] and the port tampa bay projects
[4:42] in particular, including about
[4:44] dredging plans.
[4:45] There was a discussion on human
[4:47] trafficking and the funding hart
[4:49] received previously.
[4:51] The cac recommended that the tpo
[4:54] board approve the roll forward
[4:57] amendments to the fy '27-31 tip.
[5:01] And before I close, I wanted to
[5:04] give a shout-out to staff in
[5:06] particular sarah caper who I
[5:10] hope is in the room today.
[5:13] We are a rather demanding group
[5:16] I suppose, certainly curious.
[5:19] And at the end of each meeting,
[5:22] we are encouraged, asked,
[5:24] prompted to offer topics that we
[5:26] would like presentations on at
[5:27] future meetings.
[5:30] And we're pretty good about
[5:31] that.
[5:33] As a result, we've had dozens of
[5:35] items on a list that have
[5:37] been -- has been curated over a
[5:38] period of months, maybe even
[5:41] years at this point.
[5:43] And it became a bit overwhelming
[5:44] as far as how we might actually
[5:47] be able to get to them.
[5:49] Sarah has made an effort to
[5:52] triage those, and has presented
[5:55] them to us, has sought our
[5:57] input, has surveyed us in terms
[5:59] of topics that are actually
[6:02] still topical for us, and we are
[6:03] coming to a point I think where
[6:10] we have them under some type of
[6:10] organization.
[6:11] The idea being to present the
[6:15] most important topics in serial
[6:16] fashion over the course of the
[6:17] coming year.
[6:18] In any evnt, it was a project
[6:19] she took on herself.
[6:24] We didn't ask her to do this.
[6:25] And I'm sure it took a good bit
[6:26] of time and at least two
[6:27] presentations to our committee
[6:28] over the last two months, so I
[6:30] appreciate that very much and
[6:32] wanted sarah to have that
[6:35] recognition publicly.
[6:36] From me as chair and from the
[6:38] committee as a whole.
[6:39] That said, good morning to you
[6:41] all.
[6:42] respectfully submitted.
[6:43] >> joshua wostal: thank you,
[6:44] MR. Fernandez, and if the clerk
[6:46] could please reflect that member
[6:49] hurtak is present in the
[6:50] boardroom and ms.Mic knee
[6:52] MS. Mcgee you're
[6:53] welcome for your advanced
[6:54] comments.
[6:55] >> good morning, harmoni mcgee,
[6:56] tpo staff.
[6:57] Regarding today's action item,
[6:59] the technical advisory committee
[7:01] recommended that the tpo board
[7:04] approve the 2026 roll forward
[7:06] tip amendments.
[7:08] Prior to the recommendation,
[7:10] members discuss several
[7:11] clarifying points.
[7:12] A question was raised about the
[7:13] current composition of hart's
[7:15] fleet, specifically the
[7:16] percentage of vehicles operating
[7:21] on compressed natural gas versus
[7:23] diesel.
[7:24] Staff noted that approximately
[7:26] 75% of the fleet is currently
[7:28] compressed natural gas with a
[7:31] full transition aticipated by
[7:31] 2028.
[7:32] Member also asked how the
[7:35] proposed gibsonton drive and
[7:37] I-75 diverging diamond
[7:38] interchange design would account
[7:40] for the existing signal at fern
[7:42] hill drive located immediately
[7:47] east of the interchange.
[7:48] Public comments were received
[7:50] via email and social media.
[7:52] Maritza estorkeyesa the chair of
[7:54] the drew park community advisory
[7:55] committee emailed requests
[7:56] regarding the development of the
[8:00] rays stadium.
[8:03] His comments focus on attention
[8:07] of drew park tax dollars, safety
[8:09] of communities and residents,
[8:10] establishing a permanent
[8:11] community voice in the stadium's
[8:13] dreamt process, measuring
[8:14] impacts before commitments are
[8:15] made, and putting protections
[8:22] for drew park in writing.
[8:23] This committee has not taken
[8:25] formal support or opposition
[8:26] position in this project because
[8:27] the matter has not been
[8:29] presented to cac for a formal
[8:30] vote.
[8:30] Their full comments and
[8:32] recommendations are included in
[8:34] your packet.
[8:35] On x we received comments in
[8:37] support of building light rail.
[8:41] This concludes my report.
[8:41] >> joshua wostal: thank you so
[8:43] much, MS. Mcgee.
[8:44] We will move onto the consent
[8:45] agenda.
[8:46] If there is no questions on the
[8:49] consent, MAY I have a motion.
[8:52] >> harry cohen: so moved.
[8:52] >> joshua wostal: motion,
[8:55] commissioner cohen, second
[8:59] commissioner, board member gray.
[9:00] ,
[9:02] there those in favor say aye?
[9:02] Like sign.
[9:03] That motion is approved.
[9:04] We'll move onto
[9:06] onto our first action
[9:08] item which is the roll forward
[9:09] tip amendments being presented
[9:16] by MR. Walsh.
[9:19] >> harry walsh, tpo staff.
[9:20] I'm here today to present the
[9:23] 2026 tip roll forward amendment.
[9:25] So an introduction or refresher
[9:26] for those of you who have been
[9:27] through this annual process with
[9:29] us before, the tip roll forward
[9:30] amendment is an annual
[9:31] administrative process that we
[9:36] do and this graphic hopefully
[9:37] elucidates why we do.
[9:39] So in MARCH of every year we
[9:41] start with a tend tfn work
[9:43] program both fdot and tpo and
[9:44] we're operating on the same list
[9:44] of projects.
[9:45] going forward through the year
[9:47] we have that same list, this
[9:50] board adopts the tip in early
[9:51] JUNE of every year.
[9:53] This year I believe it was
[9:54] JUNE 6th meeting this board
[9:55] adopted the tip.
[9:57] And then on JUNE 30th of every
[10:00] year, fdot adopts its work
[10:02] program and any projects that
[10:03] aren't authorized by JUNE 30th
[10:04] automatically roll forward in
[10:07] their process to the next fiscal
[10:10] year's work program.
[10:11] So unfortunately -- or not
[10:14] unfortunately, but separately we
[10:17] have the tpo federally is
[10:19] required to have its tip be
[10:19] static.
[10:21] It stays exactly how we adopted
[10:22] it unless this board votes to
[10:23] amend.
[10:25] So in order to link up the
[10:27] projects and have the both our
[10:29] tip and the fdot work program
[10:31] saying the same thing, we have
[10:32] to have this meeting in
[10:34] SEPTEMBER where we vote to amend
[10:36] the tip and include all of those
[10:37] roll forward projects.
[10:39] So that's starting
[10:40] OCTOBER 1st.
[10:41] We have -- we're operating on
[10:43] the same list of projects for
[10:45] the next fiscal year.
[10:47] So the key points for this
[10:49] process are, it is an annual
[10:50] administrative amendment
[10:50] schedule.
[10:52] It ensures consistency between
[10:54] the two, the work program and
[10:56] the tip, and there are no new
[10:58] funds that's a key point here.
[10:59] There are no new projects that
[11:00] are being introduced at this
[11:00] point.
[11:02] All of these projects vk
[11:02] previously -- have been
[11:05] previously scoped and awarded.
[11:07] This year there were 22 total
[11:08] projects that are rolling
[11:10] forward, 12 of them are transit
[11:11] projects, essentially hart
[11:12] projects.
[11:14] Three safety projects, two
[11:16] resurfacing, two seaport, one
[11:20] capacity, one its, and one
[11:20] planning.
[11:23] Then a summary of the funds
[11:25] breakdown, the largest category
[11:27] is transit with $157 million
[11:28] rolling forward.
[11:31] That's 62% of the total going
[11:35] forward, the seaport has
[11:36] $77 million which is 30% of the
[11:37] total funds rolling forward.
[11:38] $9.5 million for resurfacing
[11:40] project, that's 4%, and then the
[11:42] remaining 4% are the capacity,
[11:43] planning, and safety projects.
[11:46] So total of $254 million rolling
[11:48] forward.
[11:50] In this tip amendment.
[11:51] Now, I'll have a full list of
[11:52] all the projects at the end of
[11:53] this presentation, but I wanted
[11:57] to pull out a few of the larger,
[11:58] larger fund items or more
[11:59] notable items that I thought
[12:00] themotor
[12:02] theboard might be interested in.
[12:04] The first is heavy maintenance
[12:05] facilities update for hart so
[12:07] the top picture is the temporary
[12:10] unleaded full facility or tuff
[12:12] recently completed as part of
[12:13] phase 1 of the facility upgrades
[12:15] expen the the bottom is the
[12:16] rendering of the hart heavy
[12:16] maintenance facility.
[12:18] This fleet services building
[12:19] will add services for the buses
[12:23] so cng and diesel fueling, bus
[12:25] wash, fare box cash retrieval as
[12:26] well as facilities specific
[12:28] upgrades, security fence, site
[12:29] light, and stormwater
[12:30] improvements.
[12:31] Then additionally in the transit
[12:33] space, last year hart was
[12:35] awarded by an fta no low
[12:37] emissions grant to transition
[12:39] its fleet from diesel to natural
[12:39] gas.
[12:42] That's a $32 million project,
[12:43] and the most recent update we
[12:45] received from hart is that only
[12:46] 25% of their fleet remains
[12:48] diesel and then by 2028 they
[12:50] expect to have a full cng fleet,
[12:52] fully natural gas.
[12:53] And just a note and a nod to our
[12:55] agency partners, the largest
[12:56] grant of its kind, this is the
[12:58] largest grant of its kind in
[12:59] florida, one of the largest
[13:02] nationally that was awarded and
[13:03] it's hart's larmist federal
[13:05] award so just a nod to them.
[13:09] Moving on from transit to the
[13:15] seaport, and I defer to the port
[13:16] representative.
[13:17] There are two main projects
[13:18] here.
[13:19] The omniport for $22 million a
[13:21] new facility, so this is their
[13:23] current facility you see in this
[13:24] picture.
[13:27] It'll be across the water and be
[13:31] a deepwater berth to accept a
[13:32] diverse range of ships.
[13:33] And then the existing facility,
[13:37] which is this hooker's point
[13:38] infragrant, $55 million plus
[13:39] local match.
[13:41] It expands the existing
[13:44] container yard and another
[13:45] deepwater berth.
[13:47] It's part of port tampa bay's
[13:49] vision plan to add 50% total
[13:51] capacity by 2030 so that's what
[13:52] both of those
[13:53] these projects are
[13:55] trying to achieve.
[13:57] And then going to capacity,
[13:59] there is an I-75 at gibsonton
[14:01] drive a planned diverging
[14:02] diamond.
[14:03] On the left you can see the
[14:04] footprint of the project from
[14:06] fdot's web site, and then on the
[14:09] right is a tentative rendering
[14:09] that the project manager
[14:12] provided to our team, so that
[14:13] still can change and in that
[14:14] pick consider you see north is
[14:15] to the -- picture you can see
[14:17] north is to the right so we're
[14:18] from the east of where the
[14:19] diverging diamond will be.
[14:21] And you see $3.3 million, that's
[14:23] not a significant amount for
[14:23] `construction project.
[14:26] All that is for environmental
[14:27] permitting have to do with its
[14:28] proximity to the river to keep
[14:30] the project viable once, further
[14:35] funds are available for
[14:35] construction.
[14:36] And then here's a list of
[14:37] projects.
[14:38] This first one is all of the
[14:39] transit projects.
[14:40] As I mentioned transit is one of
[14:41] the largest category here, both
[14:42] in terms of funding and number
[14:44] of projects.
[14:46] Mostly the things that I
[14:48] mentioned already, so some
[14:51] capital for fixed route, the
[14:52] purchasing of the buses, the
[14:55] transition over to cng, a few
[14:56] smaller projects they have going
[14:57] forward administratively, bus
[14:59] shelter upgrades, and several
[15:01] things for building repair and
[15:02] the heavy maintenance facility
[15:05] that we already mentioned.
[15:07] And then all the other projects
[15:10] put together here are
[15:11] essentially all of the things I
[15:13] mentioned previously.
[15:14] There's also for the its
[15:15] project, hillsborough county has
[15:17] a smart traffic network.
[15:19] Study that they're going to be
[15:21] doing, and there's also a bridge
[15:22] planning study that does not
[15:24] involve construction but there's
[15:26] 11 bridges around hillsborough
[15:28] county that are being analyzed
[15:29] to see what state are they in
[15:30] and what repairs might need to
[15:32] be done going forward so it's a
[15:35] planning level study.
[15:36] So with that I'm happy to go
[15:38] back and show you any of the
[15:39] slides we went through quickly,
[15:40] but the ask for you is to
[15:41] approve by roll call vote the
[15:42] roll forward amendments to the
[15:43] fiscal
[15:45] fiscal year '27-thirty
[15:46] 31 tip.
[15:47] With that I will take any
[15:51] questions.
[15:53] >> joshua wostal: I'm seeing no
[15:55] questions, so if that's correct,
[15:57] I will have the clerk call the
[15:59] vote.
[16:00] >> wostal.
[16:04] >> joshua wostal: oh, yes.
[16:05] Motion by commissioner
[16:09] clendenin, second by cohen and
[16:12] myers and somebody else.
[16:13] Okay, thank you, and clerk if
[16:17] you could call the vote.
[16:17] >>> wostal.
[16:18] >> joshua wostal: yes.
[16:19] >> miller.
[16:20] >> christine miller: yes.
[16:21] >> myers.
[16:22] >> gwen myers: yes.
[16:23] >> cohen.
[16:23] >> harry cohen: yes.
[16:24] >> boles.
[16:25] >> chris boles: yes.
[16:26] >> clendenin.
[16:26] >> yes.
[16:29] >> hurtak.
[16:31] >> yes.
[16:32] >> young.
[16:33] Gray.
[16:34] >> yes.
[16:34] >> klug.
[16:35] Stevens.
[16:36] >> yes.
[16:37] >> slater.
[16:38] >> yes.
[16:39] >> king.
[16:40] >> yes.
[16:45] >> joseph.
[16:46] >> yes.
[16:47] >> motion carried 15-0.
[16:48] >> joshua wostal: thank you,
[16:49] MR. Walsh, very much.
[16:50] >> thank you.
[16:50] >> joshua wostal: we will move
[16:54] onto action item b, which is the
[16:56] election of a livable roadways
[16:57] committee chair for the
[16:59] remainder of 2026, the current
[17:02] chair has stepped down.
[17:04] Cameron clark is going to
[17:05] introduce that item and the
[17:09] requirements to fill it.
[17:10] Yes?
[17:11] Yes, MS. Hurtak.
[17:12] >> thank you so much.
[17:14] And I have really enjoyed being
[17:15] the chair of the livable
[17:17] roadways committee, but due to
[17:18] health issues, I've decided to
[17:21] step down, and also, because I
[17:23] will be transitioning out
[17:25] obviously at the end of next
[17:27] year orat the mial of next year,
[17:29] so -- or at the middle of next
[17:30] year, so I wanted to give
[17:31] somebody the chance to hop in
[17:33] and develop a group or you know
[17:34] a whole strategy there.
[17:35] It's been a really wonderful
[17:36] thing.
[17:38] I will be there next wednesday
[17:40] just to say good-bye.
[17:42] But it's been a lot of fun, and
[17:43] I, I highly recommend it.
[17:46] It's a wonderful board.
[17:46] >> joshua wostal: wonderful, and
[17:48] we wish you well in your
[17:48] recovery.
[17:49] Go ahead.
[17:50] >> board members, so this is one
[17:52] of the committees where we
[17:53] typically see seek a volunteer
[17:54] to see if anyone wants to fill
[17:58] the position.
[18:00] Understanding full well we're
[18:01] talking about filling it out for
[18:02] the next couple of months.
[18:04] We do new officer elections and
[18:05] new committee appointments at
[18:06] the end of the year anyway, an
[18:07] in speaking with DR. Wong, it's
[18:09] understood that the committee
[18:11] has regularly has a quorum to be
[18:12] able to function in case a new
[18:14] member is not able to attend.
[18:15] But typically with something
[18:19] like this, we don't do the
[18:20] committeey by nomination and
[18:22] vote typically as we do with
[18:23] chair and vice chair.
[18:24] We ask to see if anybody first
[18:26] wishes to fill this roll for
[18:27] role for the
[18:29] next couple of months and that's
[18:31] how I would start, to see if
[18:32] anybody would volunteer for
[18:33] that.
[18:34] >> joshua wostal: yeah, so
[18:35] obviously the schedule is
[18:37] already set, and we're all very
[18:39] well aware that most of the
[18:40] members on this board are
[18:42] already volunteering their time
[18:46] and sacrificing more would be
[18:46] even more difficult and the rest
[18:48] of us always have well
[18:52] established schedules, so if no
[18:55] one is able to volunteer, what
[18:57] is, what is kind of the
[18:59] recourse, MR. Clark?
[19:02] >> typically if there is no
[19:03] volunteer for a committee role,
[19:06] the chair appoints someone.
[19:07] >> joshua wostal: okay.
[19:08] And the chair might need to take
[19:12] time before he makes such a big
[19:15] decision, so I don't see anybody
[19:17] jumping on it right now.
[19:21] If, do they have a vice chair?
[19:23] >> yes, chair.
[19:24] The livable roadways committee
[19:25] is chaired by member of the
[19:28] planning commission who attends
[19:28] regularly.
[19:30] He has filled in on rare
[19:31] occasion when the chair was
[19:33] unavailable to attend.
[19:35] I think he's perfectly well
[19:37] capable of managing that
[19:40] committee over the remainder of
[19:40] 2026.
[19:42] =also say earlier in the -- I
[19:43] will also say earlier in the
[19:45] week we sent an emailto everyone
[19:49] to ask them which teak which --
[19:51] them to check their calendars
[19:52] for the dates.
[19:53] For a remindther SEPTEMBER
[19:55] meeting will be held next
[19:56] wednesday the 16th.
[19:58] In OCTOBER it'll be the 21st.
[19:59] NOVEMBER, 18th.
[20:01] DECEMBER 16th.
[20:03] So it's the thursday wednesday
[20:05] of each month beginning at
[20:05] 9:00 A.M.
[20:06] >> joshua wostal: so that would,
[20:10] every, every regular bocc member
[20:11] is automatically opted out of
[20:13] being able to meet that because
[20:16] of our wednesday 9:00 A.M. Board
[20:19] meetings every other wednesday
[20:20] ourselves.
[20:20] So.
[20:21] >> harry cohen: would it be
[20:22] appropriate to make a motion to
[20:26] appoint the vice chair to be the
[20:28] acting chair for the remainder
[20:31] of the year 2026?
[20:32] >> commissioner, I don't think
[20:33] that that would be allowable
[20:35] under the bylaws, which specify
[20:37] it has to be a member of the tpo
[20:39] board, so unfortunately, he
[20:40] couldn't be appointed to serve
[20:41] as the chair.
[20:43] What I would maybe suggest for
[20:44] this board is recognizing that
[20:46] your schedules are already
[20:47] filled through the remainder of
[20:50] the year, if someone wants to
[20:51] essentially fall on the sword
[20:53] and we would all recognize that
[20:55] there is not really a
[20:56] requirement for them to attend,
[20:58] that they would be doing the tpo
[20:59] board a favor.
[21:01] >> joshua wostal: I can do that
[21:04] or as, if you like humor, mayor
[21:07] ross is not here to defend
[21:10] himself.
[21:10] So.
[21:10] [Laughter]
[21:12] So yeah.
[21:16] >> I nominate mayor ross.
[21:16] [Laughter]
[21:17] >> harry cohen: I'll second.
[21:18] He'll think twice before he
[21:19] misses a meeting.
[21:20] >> joshua wostal: I'm actually
[21:22] very entertained by that
[21:24] nomination, so if there is no
[21:26] conflicts with that, I'll enjoy
[21:28] his comments at the next board
[21:29] meeting.
[21:29] I'm seeing none.
[21:31] Do we have to have a motion to
[21:33] approve that?
[21:34] >> this has been a motion so I
[21:35] would just say all in favor of
[21:37] the motion, say aye.
[21:38] >> joshua wostal: all in favor
[21:39] of the motion, say aye.
[21:40] Any nays?
[21:42] That motion is approved to
[21:43] appoint mayor ross as the chair
[21:47] of the livable roadways
[21:47] committee.
[21:48] I thank you very much for your
[21:49] attention to that item.
[21:52] All right, we'll move onto
[21:54] MR. Brian hunter from fdot for
[21:56] the status report on the safety
[22:02] outreach in motion.
[22:03] >> good morning, everybody.
[22:04] Brian hunter with the florida
[22:06] department of transportation.
[22:09] And so if you've heard recently
[22:10] secretary hall and myself really
[22:12] anybody at fdot talk, we always
[22:14] mention how safety is our number
[22:15] 1 priority.
[22:16] And we approach that with kind
[22:19] of four pillars.
[22:21] To achieve a safe transportation
[22:21] network.
[22:23] the first one is engineering,
[22:23] which are the things that you
[22:25] would typically associate with
[22:26] the florida department of
[22:27] transportation.
[22:29] So this is planning, designing,
[22:32] building, maintaining, an
[22:33] integrated multimodal
[22:34] transportation system.
[22:36] It is safe for all users.
[22:37] The second, so there are four --
[22:38] those four pillars.
[22:39] They all start with e, and so we
[22:41] call them the four Es of
[22:41] safety.
[22:43] So the first one is engineering.
[22:44] The second one is enforcement.
[22:46] So we look at data.
[22:47] We see where there's some
[22:48] particular challenges, and we
[22:50] work with our state and local
[22:53] law enforcement agencies to try
[22:54] and rectify that challenge.
[22:56] So a couple weeks ago, you MAY
[22:57] have seen on social media that
[23:01] we did a speeding campaign on
[23:03] the bridges crossing the bay.
[23:03] We noticed that there was a
[23:04] challenge.
[23:05] A lot of people were exceeding
[23:06] the speed limit on the bay, so
[23:08] we went out there and worked
[23:09] with our law enforcement
[23:11] partners to do an enforcement
[23:12] campaign to get people to slow
[23:14] down and make safer, better
[23:15] choices.
[23:17] The third e is emergency
[23:17] response.
[23:19] And so that's when a crash does
[23:20] happen, we have emergency
[23:21] responders, first responders
[23:23] that go out there and assist the
[23:25] victims of that crash so that's
[23:28] our fire, police, emergency
[23:30] medical services, and even our
[23:31] road rangers who create a safe
[23:33] environment for them to work in.
[23:35] And then the fourth e is
[23:36] education.
[23:37] and so that's the one that I'm
[23:40] going to talk about today.
[23:42] So florida D.O.T. Has the
[23:44] florida strategic highway safety
[23:44] plan.
[23:47] And so it's got five elements to
[23:50] it, and you can use the qr code
[23:50] or visit the web site if you
[23:52] want to read about any of these,
[23:54] but the main takeaway is that
[23:57] death or serious injury is just
[23:59] unacceptable on our -- in our
[24:00] transportation system.
[24:01] And so that's why the department
[24:03] has adopted target zero, which
[24:06] is our goal to have zero serious
[24:08] fatal -- serious injuries or
[24:10] fatalities on our roadway.
[24:12] And we have three different
[24:13] points that we use to try and
[24:14] achieve that.
[24:16] The first one is we identify
[24:18] what behaviors led to those
[24:20] serious or fatal crashes.
[24:21] Then we understand -- try and
[24:23] understand why the choices were
[24:24] made that were made.
[24:26] And then we try to use our
[24:29] influence in order to have
[24:30] people make better choices, and
[24:31] safer choices.
[24:33] And so that's where our outreach
[24:35] comes in.
[24:36] The numbers on the screen right
[24:38] here are from 2025.
[24:41] So this is the cumulative
[24:42] district-wide activity that we
[24:42] did.
[24:46] So we had 7500 conversations,
[24:47] almost 30 trainings.
[24:49] We went to almost 60 community
[24:50] events.
[24:51] Our social media, which is
[24:54] focused on safety and project
[24:56] information reached over 200,000
[24:57] people.
[24:58] And traditional media we were
[25:00] able to reach 350,000 people.
[25:02] And is then you know, it's very
[25:05] important to get people
[25:06] indoctrinated to making safe
[25:08] choices early on, and so at as
[25:11] they were, as people were, kids
[25:12] are learning how to drive, we
[25:13] went to high schools.
[25:15] We went to 11 -- or 18 high
[25:16] schools.
[25:20] We talked to over 110 classes,
[25:21] 2,300 students.
[25:23] These are teen drivers trying to
[25:24] get them to understand that
[25:26] their actions behind the wheel
[25:28] have consequences, and how to
[25:30] make better choices while
[25:33] they're driving.
[25:35] And that's just one example of
[25:37] the outreach that we do.
[25:38] Another one is our community
[25:39] traffic safety team.
[25:43] So this is where we bring in law
[25:44] enforcement, municipalities,
[25:46] counties, cities, residents,
[25:48] local organizations, and we talk
[25:50] about what are some of the
[25:52] challenges that you're having
[25:53] traffic safety-wise in your
[25:53] community.
[25:56] And how we can use the four Es
[25:58] to improve that situation for
[25:59] the people who live in your
[26:01] community and are most affected
[26:03] by any dangers on the roadway.
[26:05] So these are regular meetings
[26:06] that occur.
[26:08] We invite a ton of people to
[26:08] them.
[26:10] They're actually very highly
[26:12] attended, and they seem to be
[26:13] very effective at taking some of
[26:15] those lessons that we've learned
[26:17] at like a national level and
[26:20] boiling them down to state and
[26:21] local level where we can
[26:24] actually have some actionable
[26:26] items and make an influence on
[26:28] traffic safety.
[26:31] Another aspect to our outreach
[26:33] is where we try to make sure
[26:36] that the most vulnerable
[26:37] populations receive information
[26:39] to help them be less vulnerable.
[26:41] And so that includes children
[26:43] out on our roadways, so we film
[26:46] segments for local media,
[26:47] teaching parents and caregivers
[26:50] how to install a carseat
[26:52] properly in a car, and then we
[26:53] go and talk to kids as well.
[26:56] Woo eteach them how to be -- we
[26:57] teach them how to be a
[26:58] pedestrian, a bicyclist, how too
[27:00] cross a road, when to use, that
[27:02] you should use a cause
[27:04] crosswalk, what that little
[27:05] button does.
[27:06] For us it's things that are just
[27:07] intuitive, but a lot of kids
[27:09] don't know when to utilize those
[27:13] facilities.
[27:14] And then good
[27:16] when you're riding a
[27:17] bike how to make sure a bicycle
[27:19] helmet fits, it's buckled, it's
[27:20] tight, it's in the appropriate
[27:21] portion of your head, and we
[27:23] give out bicycle helmets to kids
[27:24] as well so everybody riding a
[27:26] bike can be out there and do it
[27:28] as safe as possible.
[27:29] And then on the flip side of
[27:31] that spectrum, we do what we
[27:33] call car fit, and this is where
[27:35] we have trained technicians that
[27:37] go out and they teach people how
[27:39] to adjust their car to them.
[27:40] So how you should be comfortable
[27:42] driving a car, where your
[27:44] mirrors should be pointed, and
[27:45] so that when you're driving a
[27:46] car, you don't have the
[27:48] distraction of you know reaching
[27:50] for something or being out of
[27:50] place.
[27:52] You have a better awareness of
[27:53] what's going on around you on
[27:55] the road while you can still
[27:56] focus on what's going on in
[27:57] front of you.
[27:58] So we do this at community
[27:59] events.
[28:01] we also if organization invites
[28:03] us out, we will go out there and
[28:05] teach anybody that is willing to
[28:07] listen to any of these safety
[28:08] topics, we're always willing to
[28:11] go out there and so these are
[28:12] trained folks who know how to do
[28:12] it.
[28:15] They set up examples for people,
[28:19] teach them how to do it
[28:19] themselves.
[28:21] And then one of the final things
[28:23] I'll talk about today is our
[28:24] round-tables.
[28:25] This is where once again we
[28:27] bring in partners in a
[28:28] community.
[28:30] This one is recently done a
[28:31] couple weeks ago.
[28:33] It was focused on hillsborough
[28:33] county.
[28:35] We had people from all three
[28:37] cities as well as the county,
[28:38] tpo staff is in the back part of
[28:39] the picture, you probably can't
[28:40] see them, but there are a couple
[28:42] of them back there.
[28:45] Nd what we do ask we
[28:46] is we talk about
[28:47] some of the things that we're
[28:48] seeing as far as traffic safety
[28:50] and challenges that we're
[28:50] having.
[28:54] They talk about the same things.
[28:55] We determine what we can do to
[28:58] move forward and make those
[28:59] changes that need to be made.
[29:01] Then we talk about what our
[29:03] message is going to be.
[29:05] If you ever took a marketing
[29:06] class, you know that sometimes
[29:08] you need to beat people over the
[29:11] head with the message, so we are
[29:13] all at the state, local, you
[29:15] know, law enforcement, community
[29:16] organizations, we're all putting
[29:17] that same message out there so
[29:19] that people can hear it
[29:21] repeatedly so maybe they
[29:22] remember and make safer choices.
[29:24] and one of the most valinable
[29:25] things of these round --
[29:26] valuable things of these
[29:27] round-tables is we -- it's a
[29:28] feedback loop for us.
[29:31] We hold these pretty regularly.
[29:33] We see what changes were
[29:33] implemented.
[29:35] We hear what the impacts of
[29:36] those changes were.
[29:39] And we can reevaluate and make
[29:40] some adjustments to what we're
[29:42] doing, and that includes, you
[29:44] know, the way that we design
[29:45] roads,
[29:45] .
[29:46] We incorporate that.
[29:47] How we are responding to
[29:50] incidents on the roadways, and
[29:51] our outreach.
[29:52] So it's really an important
[29:54] feedback loop for all of us, so
[29:57] that we can make sure that we're
[29:59] being effective in what we're
[29:59] doing.
[30:01] And we have an entire team of
[30:03] folks that is dedicated to going
[30:04] out there and doing this
[30:06] outreach and talking to folks
[30:08] that
[30:10] .That program is led by tina
[30:10] russo.
[30:12] She is our bicycle and
[30:14] pedestrian program manager and
[30:16] if you ever seen her talk in the
[30:17] public about roadway safety, she
[30:18] is passionate and she loves what
[30:21] she does so if you ever get an
[30:22] opportunity you know have an
[30:23] opportunity for someone to come
[30:25] out, she would be a great person
[30:25] to have.
[30:28] She really connects with the
[30:28] kids.
[30:31] And like I said, if you're ever
[30:33] heard anybody from fdot talk, we
[30:34] emphasize that safety is our
[30:36] number one priority and we
[30:37] always end on a safety message.
[30:40] So the one on the left is a
[30:42] reminder to drive safe, and that
[30:45] is with coda the fluff who I
[30:47] understand is a rather popular
[30:49] social media star, and so we've
[30:51] been able to partner with coda
[30:53] on a number of social media
[30:55] posts to get the message of
[30:57] driving safety, safely out
[30:57] there.
[30:58] And then on the right is a video
[31:00] that we did with coda the fluff,
[31:03] the rays, so we have raymond and
[31:04] dj kitty.
[31:08] It's a reminder on how to, what
[31:09] to do now that school is back in
[31:11] session, so it's very timely.
[31:12] Its
[31:15] it's about 2 1/2 minutes long so
[31:16] I won't play for
[31:18] for it for you, but
[31:19] if you get an opportunity it's a
[31:20] good thing to watch.
[31:21] Show your kids.
[31:22] It teaches everybody, drivers
[31:26] and kids how to interact safely
[31:29] with each other.
[31:31] So that is the end if anybody
[31:34] has any questions, I'll be more
[31:36] than happy to take them.
[31:37] >> joshua wostal: thank
[31:38] okay.
[31:40] Thank you for not playing the
[31:41] video I'm trying to have a
[31:42] record fast meeting today.
[31:43] Commissioner hurtak.
[31:44] >> thank you.
[31:44] I want to say thank you forlet
[31:46] work you do, but I wanted to
[31:47] brick up something that I talked
[31:49] to you about before that I
[31:52] noticed again yesterday.
[31:55] The northbound 275 exit at
[31:57] hillsborough, during hush
[31:58] -- rush
[31:59] hour, people just believe that
[32:00] that striped off spot is another
[32:02] lane for them, and we witnessed
[32:03] an almost crash.
[32:05] Someone was coming while someone
[32:07] was trying to get off the west,
[32:09] nd it was, it was just
[32:10] millimeters away.
[32:12] So I'm asking for more
[32:13] enforcement there, but not even
[32:14] more enforcement.
[32:16] Maybe some barricades because
[32:18] people are simply not -- they
[32:20] just really believe that's a
[32:21] lane, and I only really see it
[32:23] during rush hour.
[32:25] So I know we've -- you've done
[32:26] some enforcement and I'm just
[32:28] going to ask for more
[32:29] enforcement, maybe some
[32:30] barricades, anything to prevent
[32:32] what could be a simply
[32:33] preventable tragedy.
[32:35] >> absolutely, yeah, so you
[32:36] brought that to our attention.
[32:37] We were out there I think over
[32:39] three days they had 50 incidents
[32:41] where they were able to educate
[32:43] folks that that was not a travel
[32:43] lane.
[32:44] We did on the first couple of
[32:47] hash marks, we put a block
[32:50] stripe which would follow the
[32:51] design guidelines.
[32:53] We are evaluating whether we can
[32:55] continue those so that it's a
[32:58] little more visually, hits hard
[32:59] to see sometimes the white
[33:00] striping on the concrete,
[33:01] especially when it's fresh
[33:02] concrete, so we're looking to
[33:04] see if we can go with more of
[33:04] those.
[33:05] But yeah.
[33:06] We'll take a look at that and
[33:07] I'll follow up with you.
[33:09] See what we can do.
[33:11] >> joshua wostal: okay, member
[33:11] gray?
[33:13] >> thank you.
[33:14] And thank you, MR. Hunter.
[33:16] You know, we just passed a
[33:19] policy regarding e-bikes not on
[33:21] campus during the school times
[33:23] and my question is, with this,
[33:25] and you've done a marvelous job,
[33:27] your organization, with target
[33:31] zero and tina russo, have you
[33:33] reached that situation where
[33:34] e-bikes and I'm sure there's
[33:36] other names, but they're all
[33:40] over the city of tampa downtown,
[33:44] and on roads, there's a big
[33:45] safety hazard.
[33:47] Many of our children still swear
[33:49] that they're going to be safe
[33:51] riding up and down boyette road
[33:56] or other main fareways.
[33:57] What's your thoughts on tht.
[33:58] >> so right now those
[33:59] regulations are determined at
[34:00] the local level.
[34:02] But we do, when woo
[34:03] we do our
[34:04] outreach we educate folks on the
[34:05] challenges with those.
[34:07] We have seen an increase in
[34:09] crashes related to e-bikes, and
[34:11] so it is part of our education
[34:15] and outreach topics that we, we
[34:19] broach with children and kids at
[34:20] school.
[34:21] >> it's an important, relevant
[34:22] subject right now.
[34:23] >> very much so is.
[34:24] >> yeah.
[34:24] All right.
[34:27] Well thank you so much.
[34:28] >> joshua wostal: director wong.
[34:29] >> brian, I just want to say
[34:30] thank you for attending today
[34:31] and sharing this information
[34:33] with the board.
[34:35] I have been particularly
[34:38] impressed with the speed and
[34:40] responsiveness of fdot,
[34:43] pertaining to safety issues that
[34:45] you've identified.
[34:46] We've worked with you as
[34:48] partners on initiatives big and
[34:49] small.
[34:50] One particular case that stands
[34:51] out in my mind was months ago we
[34:54] had a member of the public who
[34:56] lived near 275 come to this
[34:58] board and say that we need to
[35:00] implement this sound walls
[35:04] because a car had run off of the
[35:06] interstate and ended up his
[35:06] backyard.
[35:07] About 45 minutes after this
[35:09] meeting ended, I gave him a
[35:10] call, and I spoke to him.
[35:11] He said oh, D.O.T. Already
[35:12] called me.
[35:15] And that just speaks to how
[35:17] quickly you move and how
[35:18] concerned you are with the
[35:20] impacts of your facility on the
[35:20] community.
[35:21] So I appreciate that.
[35:23] >> thank you.
[35:24] >> joshua wostal: excellent.
[35:24] All right.
[35:25] I see no more questions.
[35:27] Thank you very much, MR. Hunter,
[35:28] for the presentation.
[35:30] All right, we will move onto
[35:32] director wong's report.
[35:33] >> I'm going to help you set
[35:38] this record, commissioner.
[35:40] The tpo board meeting will be
[35:41] held OCTOBER 14th.
[35:43] We have a tma meeting
[35:44] OCTOBER 2nd at psta.
[35:46] We will be discussing the
[35:48] merger, draft deliverables.
[35:50] There is one legislative update,
[35:52] I'll be really quick.
[35:55] On 2nd of SEPTEMBER, the
[35:56] federal transportation
[35:57] authorization was extended again
[35:58] through 11th of DECEMBER.
[36:00] That gives congress
[36:01] approximately three more months
[36:05] to negotiate a reauthorization.
[36:08] As I mentioned, last week, I
[36:10] would like for you to consider
[36:11] canceling the tpo regular
[36:13] meeting on NOVEMBER 4th.
[36:14] That's the day after the
[36:16] election, and I know many
[36:17] members around the table will be
[36:19] attending watch parties.
[36:20] I've worked with fdot to ensure
[36:21] that we won't have any urgent
[36:24] action items coming in that
[36:24] month.
[36:25] We don't.
[36:26] We do have an action item that
[36:27] we'd like to cover, but there is
[36:29] no harm in pushing that off
[36:30] until DECEMBER.
[36:31] I think that with the routine
[36:34] action items, we'll be taking up
[36:35] in DECEMBER, we can fit it all
[36:36] into the meeting without
[36:40] extending it.
[36:42] >> so moved.
[36:43] >> that is the ekd
[36:44] end of my
[36:45] director's report.
[36:46] >> joshua wostal: can the chair
[36:48] just do it or can we take a
[36:49] motion now?
[36:50] Okay, we got a motion.
[36:55] Hurtak and second from broalz to -- boles to cancel the five
[36:57] 4th, 2026 meeting.
[36:58] So what happens when mayor ross
[37:00] isn't here?
[37:01] We're just canceling.
[37:02] Okay.
[37:03] But all those in favor, say aye
[37:06] to cancel the meeting.
[37:07] Like sign.
[37:10] That was a good choice.
[37:11] All right, that motion is
[37:12] approved NOVEMBER 4th, 2026,
[37:14] board meeting has been canceled.
[37:15] That concludes director wong's
[37:15] report.
[37:18] Is there any old business?
[37:22] Any new business?
[37:24] >> harry cohen: commissioner
[37:24] wostal.
[37:25] >> joshua wostal: yes.
[37:25] >> harry cohen: I don't mean to
[37:26] reign
[37:33] ruin your record here but I have
[37:34] new -- esther's comment and the
[37:36] email received by COUNCILMAN
[37:36] Carlson.
[37:41] The issue of the tpo being
[37:44] really spearheading a planning
[37:46] exercise related to the stadium
[37:47] district.
[37:50] and I wanted to ask DR. Wong
[37:51] what you thought was the best
[37:54] way to proceed on that type of a
[37:55] project because I do think we
[37:57] need it.
[37:59] >> given that a lot of the
[38:01] concerns are related to
[38:02] transportation but also land use
[38:05] and parking and you
[38:07] , and you know, other
[38:10] topics thatt fall outside of the
[38:11] mpo's wheelhouse, I think it
[38:13] would make sense us for to be a
[38:14] partner as part of larger study.
[38:15] The planning commission seems to
[38:16] be particularly well positioned
[38:19] to take that on with some
[38:20] support.
[38:22] One of the reasons why I want to
[38:23] be cautious about how we proceed
[38:26] is we didn't envision that we
[38:27] would conduct this study when we
[38:30] drafted the upwp months ago.
[38:33] We have been mindful of not
[38:34] spending all of the planning
[38:36] funds that we have recognizing
[38:38] that there MAY be a need for a
[38:41] stadium district planning
[38:41] effort.
[38:42] But what I would like to do is
[38:46] engage the community and better
[38:46] understand how they would like
[38:49] for us to scale and scope the
[38:50] transportation impacts around
[38:52] the stadium district itself.
[38:54] That's very easy, but given that
[38:55] a lot of the game day attendees
[38:57] will be coming from pinellas and
[38:58] pasco, there's always a concern
[39:00] that we might need to do a
[39:01] regional transportation study,
[39:04] which could escalate the costs
[39:04] considerably.
[39:06] So until I'm able to speak with
[39:08] members of tampa city council,
[39:09] hillsborough bocc, and the
[39:12] community, I think that we
[39:13] should perhaps make ourselves
[39:16] available to participate but I'd
[39:19] have to take a look at what the
[39:20] funding commitment would be.
[39:21] >> harry cohen: okay, so I think
[39:23] what I would ask of you then is
[39:25] to please go ahead and set those
[39:27] meetings up with relevant
[39:29] commissioners and
[39:29] councilmembers, any ones of us
[39:31] that wish to meet with you to
[39:34] discuss that, and in terms of
[39:36] funding, you know, once you,
[39:38] you've determined the scope of
[39:41] what you might need, the county
[39:42] commission might be in a
[39:44] position to help you, the city
[39:45] council might be in a position
[39:47] to help, but we can't, we can't
[39:49] help unless we know what is
[39:51] being asked of us.
[39:52] But I think it behooves us to
[39:54] get on this, and start working
[39:55] on it.
[39:58] And I think the best thing to do
[40:00] would be to start initiating
[40:01] individual discussions with each
[40:06] of us to get us an idea of what
[40:08] our priorities are in terms of
[40:09] what ought to be studied.
[40:10] >> agree and understand.
[40:12] I'll work on scheduling those
[40:13] meetings.
[40:14] >> harry cohen: okay, thank you.
[40:15] >> joshua wostal: okay.
[40:16] Seeing no one else, this meeting
[40:16] `is adjourned.
[40:34] Thank you.