Toll Talk Episode 34 Recap: Tampa’s Growth, Customer Journeys and Community Design
Guest: Greg Slater, Executive Director, Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA)
Hosts: Alex Fakeri ( Mojo ) with guest host Pat Wicketts (CSG)
Sponsored by CSG
1. Redesign for the city you have, not the one you inherited
Tampa’s population is growing faster than planned. The median age is now 33 and travel patterns look very different from the city that existed when the expressway was built. THEA is redesigning ramps and access points to match how the region moves today.
What changed
Ramps designed for low density areas now empty into busy neighborhoods and venues
Backups appear where flow used to be consistent
High speed ramps serving Emily Arena and downtown need reconfiguration
THEA is removing outdated ramps and replacing them with modern alignments
“The whole city has grown up around us. The system was built for a very different city.” Greg Slater, Executive Director, THEA
Bottom line: Infrastructure built for past growth cannot support current travel behavior. Redesign is required to keep the region moving.
2. Under expressway space is community space
THEA is turning shaded land under the expressway into active community space. A multi mile greenway already connects key parts of the city and a new master plan will expand this activation work. What they built
A shaded pedestrian and cycling greenway under the expressway
Lighting and landscaping that support safe non vehicle travel
A long term plan that includes pickleball courts, dog parks and open community zones
New connectors that link neighborhoods on both sides of the corridor
“We are creating environments that activate the space and connect communities on both sides of the expressway.” Greg Slater, Executive Director, THEA Bottom line: When space under the expressway becomes an asset, mobility and community outcomes both improve.
