A portion of the New North service area on the north and west side is currently being studied by Hillsborough County as a proposed Multimodal Transportation District (MMTD). A MMTD is a designation granted by the State of Florida Department of Community Affairs, to a particular geographic area where pedestrian mobility takes priority over motor vehicle movement. Capital improvements within a MMTD are directed toward sidewalks, pedestrian signals and other features that make it safer and convenient to walk to a destination or public transit stop. Land use planning may also emphasize higher densities and the arrangement of land uses to make it easier to walk, bicycle, and ride public transit. The MMTD designation is an alternative approach that local governments may use to satisfy State requirements that adequate transportation public facilities be in place by the time that new land development is occupied (aka concurrency”, as well as maintaining an adequate level of service for transportation.
In March 2009, the Board of the New North Transportation Alliance voted unanimously to endorse the pursuit by the County of a MMTD designation for portions of unincorporated Hillsborough County that overlap the west and north portions of the New North service area. The MMTD complements the NNTA goal to provide and promote transportation choices. A study by the County is presently underway and periodic public meetings are held, seeking input from community members.
NNTA hosted the Kick-Off meeting for the proposed MMTD on June 30th. The purpose of the meeting was to identify available data and stakeholder groups, give reports on what types of projects each representative is working on and how it relates to the MMTD, and review the proposed boundaries of the area. NNTA sees an important role in the implementation of a MMTD by providing programmatic support to employers within the District, including commuter assistance services.
A public workshop was held September 9, 2009. View the meeting announcement.
A stakeholder meeting was held October 1, 2009 to identify data requirements for analyzing the MMTD. NNTA will provide notices when future public meetings are scheduled.