Traffic Tops Iorio's New Tampa Agenda

NEW TAMPA - In her campaign for mayor, Pam Iorio appealed to New Tampa voters by identifying with their biggest problem.
She designed a glossy brochure and mailed it to thousands of residents, promising that ``I am committed to finding solutions to New Tampa's traffic problems.''

When The Tampa Tribune sat down with her to talk about her goals for New Tampa, transportation projects topped the list.

``Clearly, that is the biggest problem with New Tampa and quality of life,'' she said. ``The widening of Bruce B. Downs [Boulevard], the east- west road, the interchange: These are big-ticket transportation items. It's going to take a lot of attention to get the money allocated and then to see the projects to eventual completion.''

Preliminary budget estimates for the east-west road and its interchange at Interstate 275 approach $75 million, but Iorio said it's still too early to decide whether the road connecting Tampa Palms to I-275 should be a toll road.

``It may be. I don't think that's really for me to say,'' she said. ``I think that the road has to go through a process of public input and an evaluation. We have to look at financing. I think it's premature to say now.''

Completing the New Tampa Community Park is another priority for the new mayor. She pledged to work closely with the Hillsborough County School District to complete the 40-acre park that is scheduled to open in the summer. The park still needs restrooms, concession stands, lighting and dugouts.

Funding for a recreation center and city hall annex could be in Iorio's first budget in the fall. ``Absolutely, they're all good projects,'' she said. ``They all serve those neighborhoods. This is an area with a lot of children, a lot of families with children. Certainly, the 40-acre park, I think, is going to be widely used.''

The city hall annex would have about 40 staff members to handle building permits and work with residents on problems with city services. Iorio wants to include an area where she and council members could meet with constituents.

``I'm very supportive of that idea of having a city hall there,'' Iorio said. ``I think a city hall there could serve that community well, given the tremendous distance those people would have to drive to get to downtown Tampa.''

Iorio also said she supports the concept of a cultural center in New Tampa and is eager to see the results of a feasibility study. The mayor said she had not been briefed on plans for a skate park in New Tampa, but she knows such parks are ``in vogue now.''

City Councilman Shawn Harrison has proposed that Tampa begin charging impact fees on new home construction to help pay for parks and recreation, but Iorio seemed cool to the idea.

``One of my concerns about increased impact fees is the negative affect it could have on the redevelopment of our center city, so we'd have to look at that very closely,'' she said.


Rethinking Other Projects

Iorio is giving careful consideration to some other big-ticket projects planned for New Tampa, namely light rail and reclaimed water.

The mayor said last month's Federal Transit Administration ruling supporting a light-rail system linking New Tampa, downtown and the West Shore business district paves the way for study. But she doesn't expect the city to invest in light rail beyond buying right of way.

``If we do have light rail, I think, eventually, you'll see a link going to the university area,'' she said. ``It's still futuristic.''

The previous administration was committed to extending a reclaimed-water system similar to the one under construction in South Tampa to quench lawn watering demands in New Tampa. Iorio said the project, now estimated at $140 million, should be re-evaluated.

``Whether it's federal money or state money or local money, it's still money,'' she said. ``And we have to be sure we're being responsible. We can't say we're taking reclaimed water up north regardless of the cost. That's not being responsible.''


New Tampa Specialist?

One of Iorio's first personnel moves was to appoint a specialist to oversee the redevelopment of East Tampa. She said she doesn't see the same need for New Tampa.

``Growth is occurring on its own in New Tampa and brings quite an opposite set a problems,'' she said. ``We need to ensure that we have quality services to meet the demands of the high growth. Whereas, we have other parts of the city where there's no growth going on and we need economic development.''

But Iorio would like to see improved city services in the neighborhoods around Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida. She named Curtis Lane, a former deputy police chief and deputy mayor for Dick Greco, to head the city's code enforcement division.

Beautifying major road corridors such as Busch Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue were campaign promises Iorio said she has every intention of keeping.

Iorio also shares Harrison's concerns about the concentration of apartment complexes in New Tampa. ``I think we have to be very careful,'' she said. ``There's the traffic. Also, apartment complexes have more of a potential to change over time than single-family developments do. They start out one way, and 20 years later they might be something else.''


Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 977-2854, Ext. 25.