New lanes, transit money and driverless shuttles: not all bad for transportation in 2020
Published Dec. 19, 2020
Lanes are blocked by cones in August as construction crews work at the north end of the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. The Florida Department of Transportation added new lanes to the bridge approach. JONAH HINEBAUGH | Times
David Gwynne, local secretary with the state Department of Transportation, speaks during a news conference Dec. 8 on a state grant to extend the TECO Line Streetcar north. Also attending was Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, left. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Tampa streetcar motorman Jorge Cruz of Tampa uses a track switch tool in December to change the route of a Tampa streetcar at the Dick Greco Plaza station downtown. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Local officials gather Aug. 17 at Tropicana Field for groundbreaking on the SunRunner service, a rapid transit route that will run on a dedicated lane along First Avenue North and South and link downtown St. Pete with the beaches. SCOTT KEELER | Times
This year brought driverless shuttles to Tampa Bay, giving many locals their first chance to ride an autonomous vehicle. Beep launched pilot programs in both Tampa and, with a shuttle named Ava plying Bayshore Drive, St. Petersburg. MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE | Times
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Rhys Reid, 19, a Beep engineer, drives the autonomous shuttle in manual mode during a tour up and down Marion Transit Way in Tampa during October. DIRK SHADD | Times
Brian Stephens, 45, left, and his wife Susan Stephens, 45, from Beaufort, S.C., get the app up and running as they rent scooters near the Museum of Fine Arts on Beach Drive Northeast. The city of St. Petersburg followed Tampa in clearing the way for e-scooters to debut downtown in November. DIRK SHADD | Times
Wisk's air taxi, the Cora, seats two passengers and can travel 25 to 50 miles. Tampa Bay transportation officials are considering air taxis and aerial gondolas to move people around the region. Wisk
Bus rider Sandra Bailey talks with transportation planner Justin Willits at the Netpark Transfer Center about proposed changes to her bus route. The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority cut 10 percent of service starting in January to make up budget shortfalls. CAITLIN JOHNSTON | Caitlin Johnston
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and the Tampa Bay Foundation for Architecture and Design unveiled a rolling art canvas on the side of a public transit bus in January. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority
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Transportation leaders and elected officials from Hillsborough County, including Amanda Brown, Cheryl Wilkening and Sarah McKinley, board a SunRail train during a visit to Orlando in March. About a dozen Hillsborough representatives toured SunRail and met with staff members to learn more about commuter rail in Florida. CAITLIN JOHNSTON | Caitlin Johnston
Tampa attorney Chris Altenbernd, a retired state appellate judge, speaks on behalf of his client, Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White, before the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday. White has challenged the constitutionality of a transportation sales tax approved by voters in 2018. CAITLIN JOHNSTON | Times
Cars drive by a new crosswalk and pedestrian beacons in December along Busch Boulevard at Overlook Drive. The Florida Department of Transportation made a number of improvements on Busch east of Interstate 275 to make it safer for people walking and biking. MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE | Times
A mural at the William F. Poe parking garage in Tampa draws attention to newly installed bike racks. Transportation advocates are hoping the racks and murals at four Tampa garages will encourage more people to bike downtown. Tampa Downtown Partnership
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority unveiled its first-ever all-electric bus in front of St. Petersburg City Hall in 2018. This year, the agency purchased four more and Hillsborough's bus agency also bought four.
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/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QITJS3KKAVFMXBPEKWXNCO2I5E.JPG "Lanes are blocked by cones in August as construction crews work at the north end of the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. The Florida Department of Transportation added new lanes to the bridge approach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RY7RKUJ3PBCUDBIDRCNGBS2YZ4.JPG "David Gwynne, local secretary with the state Department of Transportation, speaks during a news conference Dec. 8 on a state grant to extend the TECO Line Streetcar north. Also attending was Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, left.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BV7QYCKDEBF5XC5J4FTM3HJN7I.JPG "Tampa streetcar motorman Jorge Cruz of Tampa uses a track switch tool in December to change the route of a Tampa streetcar at the Dick Greco Plaza station downtown.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/54XIAIGYMJBMZFKRBIQOJABJSQ.JPG "Local officials gather Aug. 17 at Tropicana Field for groundbreaking on the SunRunner service, a rapid transit route that will run on a dedicated lane along First Avenue North and South and link downtown St. Pete with the beaches.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OCFCQWTTVBD2XHDAYWBJGBALCA.JPG "This year brought driverless shuttles to Tampa Bay, giving many locals their first chance to ride an autonomous vehicle. Beep launched pilot programs in both Tampa and, with a shuttle named Ava plying Bayshore Drive, St. Petersburg.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CLHLTLHVURBBTAKGMKJGY65O4A.JPG "Rhys Reid, 19, a Beep engineer, drives the autonomous shuttle in manual mode during a tour up and down Marion Transit Way in Tampa during October.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OEKZ3TRSYVAQZEWOF7TG44ZV3I.JPG "Brian Stephens, 45, left, and his wife Susan Stephens, 45, from Beaufort, S.C., get the app up and running as they rent scooters near the Museum of Fine Arts on Beach Drive Northeast. The city of St. Petersburg followed Tampa in clearing the way for e-scooters to debut downtown in November.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GFZFQZ7AL5DYVILGT3NWT57IRQ.jpg "Wisk's air taxi, the Cora, seats two passengers and can travel 25 to 50 miles. Tampa Bay transportation officials are considering air taxis and aerial gondolas to move people around the region.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/O3B22TXOEZEWHECQUURWFWUYV4.jpg "Bus rider Sandra Bailey talks with transportation planner Justin Willits at the Netpark Transfer Center about proposed changes to her bus route. The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority cut 10 percent of service starting in January to make up budget shortfalls.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZOIWOPHUANEF5DTKPV6A52KJZM.PNG "The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and the Tampa Bay Foundation for Architecture and Design unveiled a rolling art canvas on the side of a public transit bus in January.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ELUBVB45QJALFIVRIH2I7Y5T5A.jpg "Transportation leaders and elected officials from Hillsborough County, including Amanda Brown, Cheryl Wilkening and Sarah McKinley, board a SunRail train during a visit to Orlando in March. About a dozen Hillsborough representatives toured SunRail and met with staff members to learn more about commuter rail in Florida.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YBUBOODZJ5GW5GYKZPSKHN6MGA.JPG "Tampa attorney Chris Altenbernd, a retired state appellate judge, speaks on behalf of his client, Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White, before the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday. White has challenged the constitutionality of a transportation sales tax approved by voters in 2018.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PYJ6Q2ZFERHQ3BRWFCB7YCAMOA.JPG "Cars drive by a new crosswalk and pedestrian beacons in December along Busch Boulevard at Overlook Drive. The Florida Department of Transportation made a number of improvements on Busch east of Interstate 275 to make it safer for people walking and biking.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RYQDKGFL6NGNLBJIUIHAKDQACM.jpg "A mural at the William F. Poe parking garage in Tampa draws attention to newly installed bike racks. Transportation advocates are hoping the racks and murals at four Tampa garages will encourage more people to bike downtown.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/A4HEQKXF3EI6TBDGIBWI6S7HAY.jpg "Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority unveiled its first-ever all-electric bus in front of St. Petersburg City Hall in 2018. This year, the agency purchased four more and Hillsborough's bus agency also bought four.")
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