Would an expressway down the middle of Gandy Blvd. hurt business?

Tampa, Florida -- One of the main arguments against an elevated highway down the middle of Gandy Blvd. is the impact on businesses in the area. A new study is offering some answers to that important economic question.

The state says there's just no taxpayer money available to prepare for what's seen as a looming nightmare for drivers: a dramatic increase in traffic on Gandy Blvd. in South Tampa expected in the next 15 years.

So, the state and city asked the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority to look into a way to prepare for the traffic crush that would pay for itself through tolls.

The authority's experience adding reversible express lanes to the Selmon Expressway near Brandon encouraged its planners to look into a similar -- but higher -- elevated highway down the middle of Gandy Boulevard.

The proposed expressway would carry toll-paying drivers from Dale Mabry Highway to the Gandy Bridge. Private investors would front the money, then a toll of around 25 cents would pay off that loan over time.

The expressway authority says studies show the road would carry about a third of Gandy's traffic. That would take 17,000 cars a day off of the regular road down below and ease what's expected to become a crush of traffic there by the year 2025.

But some neighbors and business owners are opposed to the idea. Mikael Eskildsen owns a ScanDesign furniture store along Gandy and fears the overhead highway 30 feet up will be an eyesore and drain away business.

In response, the expressway authority brought in an outside group to study the impact on businesses. Here's what the study found:

Shops that bank on passersby like gas stations and restaurants would see a loss in sales, because some of the casual drivers who may normally stop in will cruise on by. That amounts to a loss of about $1.9 million, the study found.

Stores like supermarkets that count on regular customers would see an increase in business, because some shoppers who live in South Tampa would find those stores easier to get to. The gain in sales would add up to about $800,000, according to the study.

In total, the study shows business along the Gandy corridor would drop by about 0.8 percent if the new overhead expressway becomes reality.

The expressway authority assembled an advisory group to provide advice and input on the project. It's made up mainly of government officials, along with a few representatives from neighborhoods and businesses in the area. That group's final meeting is set for the evening of Tuesday, September 29.

After that meeting, the expressway authority will take its final proposal to the Florida Department of Transportation -- most likely in October, an authority spokesperson said. FDOT is in charge of Gandy Blvd. and was one of the agencies that originally asked the expressway authority to come up with this new plan to prepare for future traffic.

If FDOT's local office likes the proposal, the expressway authority will launch a study to prove to potential investors that the new highway would have enough traffic to pay for itself through tolls.

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