Hillsborough TPO Regular Meeting and TIP Public Hearing - June 26, 2026
Hillsborough TPO Regular Meeting and TIP Public Hearing - June 26, 2026
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was held on June 10, 2026, but the user stipulates the date is June 26, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.
The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) convened a regular monthly meeting followed by a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027–2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The board approved a crash mitigation report, a resilience guidebook, and after extensive debate, adopted the TIP as amended by removing the I-275 widening project (Hillsborough Avenue to Bears Avenue).
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes from the May 13, 2026 meeting (motion by Commissioner Meyer, seconded by board member Stevens).
- Approved the consent agenda (motion by Councilmember Clendennin, seconded by Commissioner Bowles).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chris Villa (private citizen, CAC member) expressed opposition to highway widening, citing 832 pedestrian crashes (23 fatal, 83 incapacitated, 280 with injuries) and 345,000 bike trips in Tampa. He argued the I-275 widening project has no funding and should be removed from the TIP.
- Rick Fernandez (CAC Chair) reported that the CAC voted 14–2 to recommend removing the I-275 project (FPN 431821-3) from the TIP on procedural grounds (no funding, no five-year implementation). He noted the CAC then voted 10–5 to reject the entire TIP, a first in his nine years, citing frustration with the board’s disregard for CAC recommendations.
- Keith Wagner (Seminole Heights resident) requested a safety wall along I-275 between Hillsborough and Sly Avenues, supporting widening if necessary to build the barrier. He provided photos of a May 3 crash into his backyard.
- Michael Marino (Executive Director, Westshore Alliance) supported the TIP for the Westshore Interchange improvements but highlighted pedestrian safety issues near Dale Mabry and Boy Scout Boulevard, citing 31,000 pedestrians during a 2023 game. He urged approval of projects near Hillsborough College.
- Dana Lazarus (CAC Vice Chair) argued the TIP is a “sham process,” noting that 11 widening projects (1.413 billion for 41.651 miles) lock in future costs while preliminary engineering funds (under 2%) make removal impossible. She stated Tampa Bay is the 8th most dangerous metro for pedestrians.
Discussion Items
- Crash Mitigation and Congestion Management Process (CMCMP): Presented by Harry Walsh (TPO staff). The CMCMP covers 1,000 of 5,500 centerline road miles, identifying 169 miles of congestion hotspots, 137 miles of safety hotspots, and 113 miles of resiliency hotspots. Key corridors include I-75, I-275, I-4, Hillsborough Avenue, Dale Mabry, and Bloomingdale Avenue. The report includes a toolbox of strategies (e.g., signal coordination, smart technologies). Board member Gray requested inclusion of areas like Apollo Beach. The report was accepted unanimously.
- Local Roadway Resilience Countermeasures Study: Presented by Sharon Wright (HDR). The guidebook focuses on flooding (rainfall and tidal) and extreme heat, with case studies on three corridors (e.g., 78th Street area). It includes a diagnostic framework and concept drawings. Board member Young praised the integration of green infrastructure. The report was accepted unanimously.
- TIP Adoption Debate: Elizabeth Watkins (TPO staff) presented the FY27–31 TIP, a $1.8 billion program of 180 projects. Key projects include the Westshore Interchange, I-4 Express Lanes, and six new projects near Hillsborough College. The I-275 widening project (Hillsborough to Bears) has zero funding programmed through 2031, with design expected after 2035. Staff recommended keeping it in the TIP for transparency. The CAC recommended removal. Board members debated compliance with state statute (five-year funding requirement) and potential harm to grant eligibility. FDOT Secretary Hall stated removal would not affect project delivery.
Key Outcomes
- CMCMP report accepted (motion by Councilmember Clendennin, seconded by board member Gray). Vote: unanimous.
- Local Roadway Resilience Countermeasures report accepted (motion by Councilmember Clendennin, seconded by Commissioner Myers). Vote: unanimous.
- Substitute motion to approve TIP as presented (by Commissioner Wostel, seconded by Mayor Kilton) failed 6–8. (Yes: Wostel, Kilton, Kluge, Slater, Joseph, Ross. No: Myers, Cohen, Bowles, Clendennin, Hurtak, Young, Gray, Stevens.)
- Motion to remove I-275 widening project (FPN 431821-3) from TIP (by board member Gray, seconded by Commissioner Myers) passed 8–6. (Yes: Myers, Cohen, Bowles, Clendennin, Hurtak, Young, Gray, Stevens. No: Wostel, Kilton, Kluge, Slater, Joseph, Ross.)
- Motion to approve TIP as amended (by Commissioner Cohen, seconded by Councilmember Clendennin) passed 11–3. (Yes: Cohen, Bowles, Clendennin, Hurtak, Young, Gray, Kluge, Stevens, Slater, Ross. No: Wostel, Kilton, Joseph.)
- Dr. Wong reported on the Tri-County BOCC meeting (June 5) regarding the regional merger study, noting concerns about board size. The TPO’s Bright Line Station Area Study won the One Bay Macintosh Award. Legislative updates on the Build America 2050 bill were shared.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good evening, everybody, and welcome to the June 10th meeting of the Hillsborough TPO. Um, if you would please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Good evening again. Uh, just for clarity for everybody, we actually will be having two meetings tonight. The first is the uh regular monthly meeting of the TPO to discuss regular business. Uh then we will adjourn and reconvene. We're not going anywhere, but we'll adjourn one meeting and um call to order the second meeting, which is to discuss the annual update to the transportation improvement plan commonly referred to as the TIP. So if you're wondering what's going on as we're adjourning, that's what was going on. Um I'd like to ask Ms. Deziona, would you please call the role for the first meeting, please? Ross here Wostel here Miller is excused, Myers here, Cohen here, Bowles, here Clendennan here Take. Young. Can you please turn on microphones? Here you're Gray here. Kluge? Here Stevens? Here Slater? Here. King. Joseph? Here. You have a quorum, sir. Thank you very much. And uh as many of you may have noticed, we have a new board member tonight. Uh City Council Member Naya Young has joined the board. Uh welcome aboard, and would you like to introduce yourself and say a few words? Uh well, thank you all for having me. Um I'm happy to be here. Um looking forward to the meeting. So, yeah, that's all happy to be here with you all. Very good. Well, welcome aboard, we're happy to have you. Yes. So uh board members, has everybody had an opportunity to review our minutes from May 13th, and if so, is there a motion to approve? Move to approve. Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Meyer, seconded by uh board member Stevens. Is there any uh are there any improved corrections or adjustments to the minutes? If not, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, no nays, the minutes are adopted. Public comment on agenda items other than the tip. Uh, we currently have no members of the public signed up to speak at this meeting. We do have some signed up to speak at the next meeting. Um we don't have anybody signed up for this staff. Did we miss something? We have Chris signed up for the TIP comments. We do have you signed up for the tip, but I don't have you signed up for this one.
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