How bad is traffic in the Tampa Bay area? According to a recent survey by GPS manufacturer Tom Tom, Tampa ranks as having the 21st worst traffic in all of the Americas: North, Central and South.
The Tampa Bay Business Journal took the results from Tom Tom's survey and asked its readers to provide more detailed information: specifically, where the worst spots are located. Then Tampa Bay Business Journal Digital Producer Jo-Lynn Brown compiled the results.
"And it was an open ended survey, so people were actually encouraged to leave, in their own words, where they have the worst headaches," she said. "And some of the responses were quite telling."
The Howard Frankland bridge tops the list, followed by the downtown Tampa interchange, the Veterans Expressway, Dale Mabry Highway and the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and West Shore Boulevard.
Brown says these spots are right in line with current crash data.
"Not only is it aggravating for workers as they're commuting to and from work, but it's also dangerous because this is where we have the most people on the road and this is where the most accidents happen," she said.
Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Kris Carson reviewed the list and says it is right in line with their current project list.
"They're very similar," she said. "As I mentioned the downtown interchange, I-275 and 60, the Howard Frankland bridge... we've got that replacement project coming for the northbound Howard Frankland bridge. I think Dale Mabry was on the list. We don't have a lot of improvements listed for Dale Mabry. We're really constrained by all of the businesses and the right of way, which we don't own."
The focus of the Tampa Bay Business Survey was to show the need for increased transit and to send a message that decreased traffic congestions could equal increased Business Activity coming to Tampa Bay.
To see the complete survey, visit the Tampa Bay Business Journal article.