Oct 8, 2018
Bay Area prepares as Hurricane Michael approaches
Hurricane Michael is quickly approaching the Florida coast line and it is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle, but the Bay Area is still under a tropical storm watch.
School systems are monitoring the storm, but Citrus county schools are closed tomorrow and Wednesday. Local officials in several communities are offering sand bags to residents. Here are the specific locations:
PASCO COUNTY:
CITRUS COUNTY:
HERNANDO COUNTY:
A Walk of Silence
Advocates are pushing for change as they remember a teenage girl killed on Busch Boulevard.
Alexis Miranda died three years ago after she was hit by a car on her way to Chamberlain High School. A group called Vision Zero joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the school district and Miranda’s mother for a walk of silence. The group was told to wear white shoes and walk a mile without saying anything. They were also permitted to carry signs. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of traffic safety.
The Florida Department of Transportation plan on installing better lighting, crosswalks and other road improvements to make Busch Boulevard safer, officials say.
Free rides in downtown Tampa
Tampa will be offering free rides on its own TECO Line Streetcar for the next three years, according to city officials.
The rides come courtesy of the Florida Department of Transportation through a $2.3 million grant. The three-year term officially started October 7, 2018.
City officials also hope that this move will help smooth traffic congestion. The streetcars will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on 15 minute intervals through Tampa during weekdays. The street cars will also go to and from the Tampa International Airport, so tourists can ride for free.
Lyft wants to give you a lift
HART and Lyft are challenging you to ditch your ride for 30 days with them. Tampa residents can sign up online to try the “Ditch Your Car” program. Only 50 people will be chosen to participate and they will receive nearly five hundred dollars in transportation credits.
The goal is to reduce traffic congestion, help the environment and save money on gas. Participants can sign up at ditchwithlyft.com.
Police will patrol Treasure Island to keep bicyclers safe
A new safety campaign kicks off in Treasure Island today in an effort to keep bicyclers safe. Law enforcement is increasing police presence to help drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians share the road.
Police will be patrolling along Gulf Boulevard to educate anyone using the roadways. Pinellas has the highest per capita cyclist death rate in the Tampa bay area. The goal is to educate drivers, but anyone caught breaking the law will get a warning or citation.
Anchor: Valezka Nava
Prompter: Kaitlyn Hart
Audio: Steven Carrandi
Technical Director: Galen Martin
Director: Kelsey Baker
Camera Operator: Hikari Nitta
Floor Manager: Angie Romero
Graphics: Sherra Parent
Graduate Assistant: Kelsey Baker
Faculty Advisor: Cathy Gugerty
