TAMPA, Fla. — Big changes are coming to downtown Tampa that will make it easier for bicyclists to get around, but may impact drivers as the project gets underway.
The City of Tampa is preparing to add dedicated bike lanes along Morgan Street, stretching from Brorein Street to Fortune Street.
The project will create the first separated north-south bike lane connection through downtown, something bicycle advocates say has been needed for years.
“We can get anywhere without having to pay for parking, without having to pay for gas,” said Paula Flores with Walk Bike Tampa.
Flores said the project will help connect neighborhoods and existing bike routes, making it easier and safer for people to travel through downtown without a car. The changes will mean losing some travel lanes on Morgan Street. Depending on the section of the road, drivers will have either two or three lanes remaining.
Tampa Mobility Director Brandon Campbell said the city conducted a traffic study and found Morgan Street has relatively little traffic.
“This is a very low-volume corridor. It’s about 2,400 cars a day on a daily average basis,” Campbell said. “It gets a little more intense on the south end during special events.”
The City of Tampa is preparing to add dedicated bike lanes along Morgan Street, stretching from Brorein Street to Fortune Street. (City of Tampa)
Campbell said the lower traffic volume makes Morgan Street a good location for the new bike lanes. He he says parallel parking will remain available on the corridor.
Construction is expected to begin within the next three months and should take only a few weeks to complete. Most of the work will happen at night, and the city plans to schedule construction around major events at the arena to limit traffic disruptions.
“Once it starts, it should go really quick,” Campbell said.
The Morgan Street project is part of Tampa’s larger effort to create a more connected bicycle network and give people more options for getting around downtown.