Mission Complete: Operation Tampa Traffic Signal - Remove the Danger at a Veterans' Hospital, USF & IQ Apartments Intersection

Let's get 1,000+ signatures!
Operation Traffic Signal (OTS) at a Dangerous "Russian Roulette" Intersection!

10 October 2023 Update:
Lead night time photo: With the new traffic signals recently constructed and going live, emergency vehicles can now enter and exit the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital's main entrance/exit  much more safely. And, at the same time, the traffic signals will make it much more safe for patients being transported in the ambulances.

05 September 2023 Update:
Great news!  The traffic signals went live on Tuesday, 05 September 2023 at approximately 11:04 am at Richard Silver Way and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. This is the main entrance to the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (JAHVH).

Special thanks to the JAHVH Leadership and Staff who procured the nearly $2M for the project, the Hillsborough County Commissioners and especially the Hillsborough County Public Works Department, TECO (Tampa Electric Company) which is wholly owned by Emera of Canada and the nearly 1,000 from the JAHVH, USF, iQ Apts and the Veterans and Civic Associations who signed the Operation Traffic Signal GoPetition.

And special thanks to Operation Helping Hand; Imperial Polk County, Lakeland, FL, MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) Chapter and the Tampa Chapter of MOAA for their support and GoPetition signatures.

And let us not forget the workers who did the labor in setting up the traffic signals, pedestrian signals and painting the crosswalks in Florida's Blazing Heat!

Only 175 more signatures to reach the goal of 1,000 signatures on this GoPetition.

How has the vehicle and pedestrian safety been improved with the new traffic and pedestrian signals at this intersection of the JAHVH, USF and iQ Apts?

This traffic signal project began officially on 27 January 2014.

23 August 2023 Update:
From a Hillsborough County Government Official, 23 August 2023:
Good morning Mr. Sawallesh, This email is to provide an update to the signal at Bruce B Downs Blvd and Richard Silver Way. I’ve been advised that TECO will be working to turn on the power to the signal today Wednesday, August 23, 2023. The light is expected to go into full operation on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

18 August 2023 Update:
Great News!
From a Hillsborough County Government Official, 17 August 2023:
Good afternoon Mr. Sawallesh, Staff has advised that the signal at Richard Silver Way and Bruce B Downs Blvd. will be turned onto flash Tuesday, August 22 and go live on Thursday, August 24, 2023.

10 August 2023 Update
TECO Email to Sawallesh on 09 August 2023: "Weather permitting, completion of the traffic light project is estimated to be two weeks.  Please be assured, Tampa Electric is committed to this project and will continue to partner with Hillsborough County until final resolution."  Sawallesh comment: TECO (Tampa Electric Company ) is wholly owned by Emera of Canada.

05 August 2023 Update:
"Good afternoon Mr. Sawallesh, I was just informed this morning by staff that TECO is having issues connecting to the signals for them to go live. We anticipate that they will resolve this concern within the next three weeks. However, we are not able to provide an actual date for the light to go into flash mode. We will continue to work with TECO to get this work completed as soon as possible. We will follow up as soon as a Go live date has been provided." Email signed by Hillsborough County Government Official on 03 August 2023.

Sawallesh comment: TECO (Tampa Electric Company ) is owned by Emera of Canada.

01 August 2023 Update:
Signals Going Live! August 8th & 10th - Tampa Veterans' Hospital, USF & iQ Student Luxury Apartments Intersection
by Robert F. Sawallesh, US Army, Retired
Operation Traffic Signal (OTS)
Hillsborough County Government Public Works Email to Sawallesh - 01 August 2023:

"We received your request for an update for the signals on Bruce B Downs and Richard Silver Way and Campus Hill Drive. Staff advised that both intersection lights will be placed in flash mode on August 8th and fully operational on August 10th 2023, barring any unforeseen conditions."

This "battle" with the Hillsborough County Government for the traffic signals at Richard Silver Way and Bruce B. Downs Blvd began officially on 27 January 2014.

An Outstanding "Job Well Done" goes to Major Delores Incremona, USAF, Retired who suggested that I start a petition on the above traffic signal project and to former USMC Sergeant Ben Ritter who got this traffic signal project on the Jack Harris "AM Tampa Bay" News Radio Program 970.

Also, an Outstanding "Job Well Done" goes to the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (JAHVH) who modernized Richard Silver Way to connect with Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Most important, the JAHVH obtained the major funds from the US Department of Veterans' Affairs for this traffic intersection public works project.

And an outstanding "Job Well Done"to the Hillsborough County Public Works Department and the contractors who modernized this very dangerous intersection, at times, in very hot weather.

The success of this project could not have been accomplished without the tremendous support of the Military Veterans, Wounded and Injured and their Families; JAHVH Staff and Employees; University of South Florida Students, Staff and Employees; Operation Helping Hand; Hillsborough County Government Staff and Employees; GoPetition Staff and Employees; Howard Altman, formerly with the Tampa Tribune and the Tampa Bay Times; Tampa Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America; Imperial Polk County, Lakeland, FL, MOAA Chapter; iQ Luxury Student Apartment Residents, Staff and Employees and the nearly 1,000 who signed the petition at https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/remove-the-danger-highway-intersection-at-usf-and-tampa-veterans-hospital-campuses.html.

Also, see the YouTube videos on this traffic project at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sawallesh.

If you and your colleagues and friends have not signed the above petition please think about it as we are very close to 1,000 signatures. You may sign anonymously. Signers are from around the world. On the petition scroll down and click on "Map."

March 2023 Update:
Dear Mr. Sawallesh, "I was informed that Construction Services Staff advised that this project is complete except for the Traffic Operations Cabinets, Thermoplastic Stripping at the intersections, and “punch list” items. Staff explained that we cannot finish the intersections without the ADA Pedestrian Post working. At this time, the Traffic Operations Cabinets are expected to be delivered in the coming months." Sincerely, Hillsborough County Legislative Aide.

October 2022 Update:
Hillsborough County Government, Florida:
“At this time, we do not have a completion date for this project; However, Our Capital Programs Department has been working diligently to narrow down the project completion date with our Contractors. Delays are due to unforeseen utility conflicts and traffic control manufacturing delivery delays.”

03 September 2022 Update:
Great news: The Project Manager, Hillsborough County Public Works, has advised the anticipated completion date on this project will be middle to end of September. Delays in receiving a casing for Tampa Water line caused the date to be moved back. And the Project Manager advised the sub-contractor will be notifying Hart when all of the bus pads have been installed and the project is complete. Hart will manage the re-installation of the bus stop shelter.

July 2022 Update: Great news...traffic signals are being installed!

28 May 2022 Update:
Breaking News: Traffic Signal Going "Live" in August

The future traffic signal at this very dangerous Veterans' Hospital / USF / iQ Apartments intersection in Tampa should go "live" this coming August, 2022 according to a Hillsborough County Public Works Administration Email of 27 May 2022. Great news for 50,000 motorists who drive through this dangerous intersection daily, Monday through Friday.

Special thanks to Major Dolores Incremona, USAF, Retired who suggested that I start a petition. This GoPetition now has over 43,000 views with nearly 1,000 signatures. And special thanks to Former Marine Sergeant Ben Ritter who got me on 970 am Radio very early in the morning to talk about this very dangerous intersection with no traffic signals. Special thanks to all who signed and supported the Operation Traffic Signal petition.

And special thanks to the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Leadership who no doubt fought for $2M for the traffic signal project. And don't forget JAHVH also modernized Richard Silver Way to connect to Bruce B. Downs Blvd. And special thanks to the MOAA Tampa Chapter and the chapter's newsletter, "The Retrospect" and the Imperial Polk County Chapter of MOAA (Officers Association of America) who strongly supported this traffic signal project. Great thanks to Operation Helping Hand whose leadership and members know exactly what it is like to drive through this dangerous intersection.

Many very seriously wounded and injured veterans from past wars drive through this dangerous intersection daily and this includes their families. Also, do not forget the thousands of JAHVH employees who for years have driven through this very dangerous intersection daily.

Special thanks to the many Veteran Associations who supported OTS such as the VFW, DAV, Purple Heart Association, American Legion and the many other veteran and civilian associations.

OTS supporters have signed this OTS GoPetition from around the world, from Alaska to Guatemala and from Guam to Armenia. See GoPetition Google map and signer 824. Tampa is truly an international city.

And very special thanks to Howard Altman, formerly of the Tampa Tribune and the Tampa Bay Times. He put this very dangerous intersection on the front pages. He is now the Managing Editor at Military Times.

Lastly, special thanks to the Hillsborough County Government Public Works Administration who have the action for this traffic signal project, and we cannot thank enough the workers who will be installing the traffic signals and poles in 90 degree plus heat. And do not forget TECO/Emera, without TECO/Emera, there would be no electric traffic signals.

Mid-May 2022 Update: Traffic signal poles are now being installed at the main entrance to the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. This is great news to tens of thousands of veterans and their families and employees at the JAHVH. Once the traffic signals become operational, legal, and safe left turns can be made from Richard Silver Way on to Bruce B. Downs Blvd. USF students making U-turns can make safe U-turns into the iQ Luxury Student Apartments. USF staff and employees at the USF Health Science Library will find it much safer to enter and depart their parking lot.

And do not forget the veterans in power chairs who will have a much safer crosswalk when going to and from the JAHVH. You can help expedite the installation of the traffic signals by signing the GoPetition, anonymously if you like.

If you have already signed the GoPetition, thank you! We are nearing 1,000 signatures, Please forward this GoPetition to your friends and colleagues so we may reach the 1,000 goal.

November 1, 2021 Update: Petition Signer 803 quote: “It became so dangerous coming from East Fowler Avenue and suicidal turning left into Haley Hospital, that I changed my driving plan and got onto Bruce B Downs from East Fletcher Avenue so I was able to make a Right Turn into Haley Hospital.”

October 2021 Update: At this dangerous intersection area is a pedestrian bridge crossing Bruce B. Down Blvd. Read on: ?Party Time on the USF / Veterans' Hospital Pedestrian Bridge? Need a drink of whiskey? Look next to the door on the stairs leading up to the pedestrian bridge – USF side. Need a place to sleep? The homeless sleep on this bridge. Like looking at trash? There is plenty of trash on the floor of the pedestrian bridge. USF students living at the iQ Luxury Student Apartments walk across this pedestrian bridge going to and from class at USF.

08 September 2021 Update: Great news! On 02 September 2021, construction began to modernize a section of Bruce B. Downs Blvd, of which, the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and the University of South Florida are on either side of this boulevard section. Most important, this modernization includes traffic signals at BBD Blvd and Richard Silver Way. This is the main entrance to one of the busiest Veterans' Hospitals in the nation. 

22 July 2021 Update: Email from Hillsborough County, FL Government Official. 7/22/2021 10:06:31 AM Eastern Standard Time.
Good morning Mr. Sawallesh: "The Bruce B Downs Blvd. and Richard Silver Way Intersection contract was awarded on July 14, 2021. It is anticipated that the contractor will receive notice to proceed (NTP) in late August and construction will start soon after. The signal should be operational by the end of the calendar year."

June 2021 Update: Email from Hillsborough County, FL Government Official.
6/18/2021 4:02:21 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Good afternoon Mr. Sawallesh, "Thank you for your commitment to the Bruce B Downs Boulevard at Richard Silver Way Intersection project. To follow up on the status of the project, bids were opened on 2/5/21. Following bid opening, there was a formal protest by one of the bidders. That was evaluated by the Procurement Department which has since been resolved. Procurement is targeting to award the contract at the upcoming July BOCC meeting." "Based on the July award, it is anticipated that notice to proceed will be issued in late August 2021. Construction of the VA signal is expected to be completed within 120 days with a completion date by late December 2021." 

April 2021 Update: Great news! In April 2021 this Roadway Operations and Safety Project moved from the Design Phase to the Procurement Phase. Next phase, Construction! Please sign this petition, anonymously if you like, to help keep this project a top priority in the Hillsborough County Government.

September 2020 Update: Very close to this dangerous intersection is a pedestrian bridge which goes over Bruce B. Downs Blvd. This bridge connects the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and the University of South Florida. During the current construction of the new bed tower at the JAHVH the pedestrian bridge was partially demolished. So people at USF and JAHVH can use the remaining pedestrian bridge, temporary steps and an elevator were connected to the remaining portion of the pedestrian bridge.

On 31 August 2020 a homeless person was observed sleeping on the walkway of the pedestrian bridge as people were walking to and from USF and JAHVH. Connecting on the USF side of the pedestrian bridge is the USF Shimberg Health Sciences Library. To see this pedestrian bridge and USF students running across BBD Blvd go to Instagram and search < pentagonmaverick >. Is this pedestrian bridge now a "home base" for the homeless?

12 June 2020 Operation Traffic Signal Update: Hillsborough County Government Update of 12 June 2020: Projected start of construction – January 2021. Projected completion of construction/signal operational – April 2021. Sawallesh comment: Your signature and comments on this petition may very well help to complete this project ahead of time.

To see videos of this dangerous intersection go to YouTube and search
< Sawallesh >. And don't forget to come back and sign this free petition.

It is extremely important that everyone and their colleagues and friends sign this free petition so we can make sure that this project is a top priority, 24/7.

Hillsborough County Government Update, 16 January 2020: These projects are currently in Final Design stages to be let for construction this year (Potentially just before the summer). Hillsborough County will be signalizing and improving pedestrian features at the intersections at Bruce B Downs Boulevard & Richard Silver Way and Bruce B Downs Boulevard & Campus Hill Drive. In addition, we are in the Preliminary Engineering Design Phase for a sidewalk on the east side of Bruce B Downs Boulevard from Fowler Avenue to Fletcher Avenue. This project aims to improve pedestrian connectivity throughout the entire corridor.

Active duty, wounded and injured and veterans are treated at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa. Civilians, Veterans and Military are urged to sign this GoPetition, anonymously if you like. Across the highway from this Veterans' Hospital is the University of South Florida. Suggest reading signer comments 312, 409, 410, 491, 578 and 748 and then your comments would be greatly appreciated. Just click on "Signatures" at the top of this page.

University of South Florida students living in the iQ Luxury Apartment, adjacent to the Veterans' hospital luxury apartments are still crossing this very dangerous intersection multiple times day and night by walking, running and skateboarding. Diagonally across from iQ Luxury Apartments is the USF Shimberg Health Sciences Library.

And at this intersection, illegal left turns are still being made from Richard Silver Way. It is no doubt that thousands of USF students, professors, staff and employees drive through this dangerous intersection once and probably twice a day.

A new Fisher House in the Tampa Bay area was dedicated on 27 February 2019 by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fisher House Foundation and the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. This is the second Fisher House at this VA Hospital in Tampa, a Level One Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center that provides intensive specialized and comprehensive rehabilitation care for military and veterans.

 What has the Fisher House Foundation done to help expedite this traffic signal project at this very dangerous intersection? Many families who stay at these two Fisher Houses will / may drive thru this dangerous intersection multiple times a day.

This Hospital opened in 1972. For decades a traffic signal was needed at this dangerous  main entrance / exit of the hospital which is on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. In August 2018 the US Department of Veterans' Affairs funded $1.4 Million for Hillsborough County to construct the traffic signal project. And now the Hillsborough County Government states the projected work will be completed no later than mid-2021. You can help put this project on FAST TRACK!

Urgently needed are critical traffic signals, pedestrian crosswalks with signals, turning lanes and modern street lights. Kudos to the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital which completed action to modernize Richard Silver Way which connects to Bruce B. Downs Blvd!

This traffic signal project is located in "Tampa's Hospital Row." Hospitals are the Advent Health and Hospital, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital; Shriners Hospitals for Children, Moffitt Cancer Center,  USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. And many, many medical offices.

Also, click on the petition map to see petition signer locations from around the world.

Who does the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital treat? FOIA 2018 answer: "In FY 17, Tampa/673 treated patients from 66 of Florida's counties, all 50 US states plus D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands, as well as seven countries outside of the US and its territories (NICARAGUA, SINGAPORE, AUSTRIA, COSTA RICA, POLAND, QATAR, SAINT CHRISTOPHER/St. KITTS AND NEVIS)."

Please sign and comment today, anonymously if you like. Petition is free. Civilians, Medical and Nursing Students, Veterans and Military are urged to sign this petition.

Please post this GoPetition on your social media sites and forward to Colleges and Universities, Businesses, Veterans and Military Communities. It is no doubt that many traveling to and from Tampa's Busch Gardens drive through this dangerous intersection. Thank you!