Ever-increasing demand on toll
facilities already burdened to
capacity can necessitate radical
engineering solutions, but
convincing uneasy local populations
of their benefits requires patience
and persistence. Growing congestion
on Tampa’s Gandy Boulevard, in
Florida, initially prompted plans to
widen the narrow corridor by
removing homes and businesses,
twice thwarted by vociferous
community opposition.
When Tampa Hillsborough
Expressway Authority (THEA) took
over the project in 2009, their daring
vision for an elevated tollway above
the existing median that would leave
adjacent buildings intact faced
continued opposition focused on
perceived aesthetic and economic
detriments. But by 2014, with
congestion jeopardizing hurricane
preparedness and Tampa’s
population projected to double by
2040, action had become imperative.
THEA relaunched the Selmon
West Extension Project with a
multifaceted outreach campaign at
its leading edge, first engaging
| IBTTA Awards
community and business leaders in
meaningful one-to-one
conversations. They created a digital
survey and commissioned an
economic impact study, using the
results to address public concerns.
THEA’s procurement has minimized
construction-related lane closures
and the precast segmental bridge
design will maintain cross-corridor
visibility. Virtual Town Hall
Meetings enabled locals to vote for
alternative design concepts, investing
them in the superstructure’s
aesthetics. This proactive approach
secured resounding project
endorsement following four previous
failures over 25 years and THEA’s
Shop Gandy! campaign continues
to boost local business revenues
predicted to suffer from worksrelated
disruption.
The Selmon Expressway is now
under construction, a dramatic
engineering spectacle which will
improve regional connectivity from
2020 onwards. “Community
partnership is an indispensable pillar
of our work,” says THEA CEO and
executive director Joe Waggoner.
“The success of any construction
project depends on open and
ongoing dialog with those it affects.
THEA is honored to accept this
IBTTA Award on behalf of the entire
Tampa Bay community, who have
been so integral to
this effort.”
Community partnership is an
indispensable pillar of our work.
The success of any construction project
depends on open and ongoing dialog
with those it affects
Joe Waggoner, CEO and executive director, THEA
2040 The year by which it is
predicted the population
of Tampa, Florida,
will double
Customer
Service and
Marketing
Outreach Award
WINNER:
Tampa Hillsborough
Expressway
Authority
September/October 2019 Traffic Technology International
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