TAMPA, FL, May 12, 1998 --
Tampa's beautiful Bayshore Boulevard was recognized today as one of the nation's "Top
Roads" by the national AAA organization. Only 10 roads were selected nationwide
for this honor.
The awards are being given by AAA to focus
attention on just how good highways and roadways can be with adequate investment, planning
and design. The selections were based on design and architecture, sfety features,
and bridge and pavement conditions.
"Bayshore Boulevard is an outstanding
road, enjoyed by motorists and pedestrians alike," said Kevin W. Bakewell, vice
president of public and government relations for AAA Auto Club South. "AAA's
objective is to showcase some of America's most outstanding roads to remind citizens and
government officials of the investment needed to maintain the world's best highway
system."
In addition to Bayshore Boulevard, two other
Florida roads were also named "AAA Top Roads": The Central Florida
GreeneWay (S.R. 417) in Orlando, from Interstate 4 to U.S. 17/92 and S.R. A1A in Ft.
Lauderdale, from Bahia Mar Marina to U.S. 1.
Nominations for the Top Roads honors were
made by AAA clubs and the association's road reporters, who evaluate roads for AAA's maps
and TripTik © routings, millions of which are
distributed annually.
The winning roads were determined by a panel
of experts representing organizations such as the Federal Highway Administration, National
Association of Governor's Highway Safety Representatives, Associated General Contractors,
American Public Works Association, Transportation Research Board, Virginia Department of
Transportation and AAA.
According to judges, Bayshore Boulevard is
what every boulevard should be. It provides motorists with a panoramic view of the
immediate environment in a park-like setting, while providing for efficient, high-volume
traffic flow. It's architectural features accommodate motorists, bicyclists and
pedestrians with equal facility, on the longest uninterrupted sidewalk in America.
The winners of AAA's Top Roads Awards are:
Rural freeways
Colorado -- I-70, near Glenwood Canyon; Glenwood Springs to Siloam Springs
Wisconsin -- S.R. 29; 4-lane sections between Chippewa Falls and Green Bay
Other rural multi-lane roads
Arizona -- S.R 87 Beeline; north of Fountain Hills to Sunflower
Georgia -- U.S. 23; Gainesville to Clayton
Rural two-lane roads
New Hampshire -- Franconia Notch Parkway through Franconia State Park
New Jersey -- Rt. 47; Millville to Lower Township Line
Urban freeway/parkway
Arizona -- Aqua Fria Freeway, Phoenix; 99th Ave. to I-17
Florida -- S.R. 417 -- The Central Florida GreeneWay, Orlando; I-4 to U.S. 17/92
Urban street
Florida -- S.R. A1A, Ft. Lauderdale; Bahia Mar Marina to U.S. 1.
Florida -- Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa; Downtown to Gandy Blvd.
An award recognizing Bayshore Boulevard as
one of AAA's "Top Roads" will be presented to representatives from Mayor Dick
Greco's office by AAA Auto Club South on May 12 at 1:45 p.m., at the corner of Bayshore
Boulevard and S. Gunby Ave. (in the median next to the three horses sculpture.)
"AAA's Top Roads should be a source of
pride for state and local governments," said James L. Kolstad, vice president of the
national AAA Public and Government Relations department. "For every mile of
road we are honoring, however, there are many more miles of road in desperate need of
repair or improvement."
The Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act (ISTEA), which funds the nation's surface transportation infrastructure
from the gas taxes paid by motorists, is currently being debated in Congress.
AAA, the nation's governors and other groups
representing highway users, have urged Congress to spend more of the $30 billion collected
annually from motorists in federal gas taxes on the nation's deteriorating roads and
bridges.
In a recent speech to the National
Association of Governors, AAA President Robert L. Darbelnet said, "More than
one-third of U.S. roads are in poor to mediocre condition and the number of people killed
on our highways is rising. To understand why things are deteriorating," he
said, "consider this gap: since 1960, vehicle miles traveled have jumped 234
percent, fuel taxes collected from motorists have leaped 155 percent, but investment in
our highway system has plummeted 50 percent.
AAA Auto Club South is the third-largest
affiliate of the national AAA organization. Its more than 3 million members are
found in all of Florida, Georgia and middle and west Tennessee.
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