TAMPA, Fla. — In a Transportation Planning Organization meeting Wednesday night, the Transportation Improvement Plan was approved for the I-275, I-4 corridor.

But the expansion project remains a controversial topic for those living in the area.

The group wants to move forward with the operation safety improvements proposed by the Florida Department of Transportation. That includes expanding lanes on I-4. 

FDOT still also has the right of access and can still purchase homes (if owner sells) to clear the path to build the lanes.  

What You Need To Know

  • Hillsborough's Transportation Planning Organization voted 13-1 to give FDOT rights to acquire properties and clear a path for the interchange expansion in May. After a public hearing Wednesday they decided to move forward with the project as written in TIP.

  • Some neighbors along I-275 and I-4 corridor say their historic district shouldn't be touched

  • Others say they've been approached by FDOT with offers to buy their homes, but not enough money was offered

  • Transportation Improvement Plan (.pdf)

  • VIDEO: FDOT Presentation and Crash Study

Last month, Hillsborough County amended its Transportation Improvement Plan, giving FDOT access to purchase parcels of property in the area and clear the path for construction. 

Once home to cigar factory workers, the little houses along 14th avenue, known in Spanish as 'La Casitas,' are a big part of this historic district's character, according to homewner David Abella. 

He says many of his neighbors would like them to stay as they are. 

"They got concerns. They would like to leave it the way it was," Abella said. 

FDOT proposed building an extra eastbound lane along I-4 to alleviate traffic congestion — a move concerned citizens say would be made possible by the leveling of homes and elimination of green space.

"We're told their supposed to do a park through here, like build a dog park or something," Abella said.

FDOT has already sectioned off some property it purchased, and at least six more homes could be purchased to make room for the infrastructure project.

Rick Fernandez grew up in the corridor and says those homes are worth saving. 

"That's heritage," he said.

Fernandez has been speaking out against the proposal because he says there will be adverse impacts on this community.

"If you add lanes to a travel corridor, you will, for a temporary period of time reduce the congestion. But because the congestion is reduced more, people start coming to [the] road to use it. As more people start coming to the road, it becomes congested again," he said.  

Traffic studies conducted by FDOT found there are around 1,000 crashes around the interchange every year.

FDOT released the following statement to Spectrum Bay News 9.

The department has worked hard to minimize impacts to the local community and is continuing to provide additional improvements such as traffic calming, bicycling and predestrian improvements and other safety measures along 14th and 15th street. "