Challenge

As Florida’s third-largest city, Tampa is growing quickly and positioning itself as a major urban center. For years, however, the city lacked a citywide mobility plan to guide investments across all modes of travel. Tampa needed a plan that would help guide multimodal investments equitably and strategically, even under changing funding conditions.

Solution

Kittelson worked with the City of Tampa and local stakeholders to create Tampa MOVES, the City’s first comprehensive mobility plan. The plan established a framework of goals and objectives rooted in community priorities, with a focus on equity, safety, and multimodal access.

Our team analyzed existing conditions to understand how residents travel, where gaps exist in the transportation system, and how Tampa compares to peer cities. This work included a context classification system that tied street typologies, design criteria, and safety treatments to the unique conditions of different neighborhoods. A gap analysis highlighted where the system was not meeting its intended function and identified locations in need of improved crossings, traffic-calming, and other treatments.

To build a connected active transportation network, the team designed a low-stress bicycle system to link residents to destinations across the city. Four high-priority corridors were advanced through design charrettes, which used walking audits, workshops, and open studio sessions to develop conceptual designs with direct input from the community.

Public involvement was also important throughout the plan. Listening meetings, focus groups, surveys, walking audits, and community events ensured that the plan reflected community priorities. A project website allowed for continuous feedback, including an interactive map where residents shared their daily challenges navigating the city.