The City of Tampa will add four additional enhanced crosswalks, with rapid-flashing beacons, along Bayshore Boulevard as part of an expedited pedestrian safety plan. That’s in addition to three areas where the beacons are currently being installed.
The locations, announced Monday, are on Bayshore Boulevard, south of Howard Avenue, near the intersections of W. Alline Ave., W. Knights Ave., W. Euclid Ave., and S. Carolina Ave. Work on these installations is expected to be completed before the end of the year, according to the City.
Currently, work is underway to install flashing beacons on Bayshore Boulevard at S. Delaware Ave., S. Dakota Ave., and mid-block between S. Brevard Ave. and W. Swann Ave. The flashing beacons are scheduled to be activated on October 24, the City says.
The changes are being installed to make pedestrian crossings on Bayshore Boulevard safer and more conspicuous. The City has already reduced the speed limit from 40 to 35 mph, a change that was previously planned, but implemented sooner than anticipated, following the deaths of Jessica Raubenolt and her 21-month-old daughter, Lillia, in May. The mother and daughter were killed after they were hit by a Ford Mustang traveling at reported speeds of up to 102 mph, according to Tampa Police.
The Mustang’s driver, Cameron Herrin, then 18, was arrested, as was the driver of a Nissan Altima, John Barrineau, then 17. Police say the men were racing their vehicles on Bayshore Boulevard. Herrin’s brother, Tristan, was also in the Mustang at the time of the crash. Herrin and Berrineau are each charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, felony reckless driving, and unlawful racing on a highway. Tristan Herrin is charged with unlawful racing on a highway.
The entire Bayshore Safety Action Plan is available at this link.
