South Tampa stormwater project gets a nearly $1M federal grant
A South Tampa neighborhood will see some relief from flash floods, thanks in part to $959,752 in federal funds secured by a Tampa Bay lawmaker. A South Tampa neighborhood will receive nearly $1M in federal funds from Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Bay lawmaker, for a stormwater project that will replace and upgrade the stormwater drainage system along Manhattan Avenue at Vasconia Street and north to Bay to Bay Blvd. The project will also include improvements to reduce standing water and reduce pollutants from the system. The money will be used to clear roads and reduce street flooding in the area. The area is one of several projects Rep. Castor secured funding for in the federal appropriations package for the 2024 fiscal year. Construction is set to begin on Manhattan Ave. in Spring 2025 and be completed the next year.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Rachel Tucker in Politics
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A South Tampa neighborhood will see some relief from flash floods, thanks in part to $959,752 in federal funds secured by a Tampa Bay lawmaker.
Rep. Kathy Castor joined Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Wednesday to announce the federal infrastructure grant.
“I’m so excited when a plan comes together to invest in our neighbors and our neighborhood,” Rep. Castor said.
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The project, which has been funded and is in the design phase, will replace and upgrade the stormwater drainage system along Manhattan Avenue at Vasconia Street and up north to Bay to Bay Blvd. City officials say it will help the stormwater drain into Old Tampa Bay faster to clear the roads and cut down on standing water after the storm passes.
The flood relief project will also include improvements to cut down on the pollutants spilling out into the bay when stormwater drains.
The area is just one of the South Tampa neighborhoods with an undersized and aging drainage system. Mayor Castor said some wastewater pipes in the city are 80 to 100 years old.
“What I can say to our community is that we are doing everything we can to address not only our successful growth, but to address those effects of climate change to ensure our community remains resilient and that our growth is sustainable,” Mayor Castor said.
Rep. Castor said she expedited her request for funding because these projects are crucial to protect residents, businesses and their properties from damage and the resulting property insurance claims.
The Virginia Park neighborhood experiences frequent and dangerous street flooding, even during typical afternoon thunderstorms, that makes it hard for both drivers and pedestrians to navigate.
“It is a real impact on the small local businesses along here and the residents,” Carroll Ann Bennett, a representative for the Virginia Park Neighborhood Association and a lifelong South Tampa resident, said. “I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve seen cars stalled out on this section of Manhattan.”
Bennett said the project has the full support of the neighborhood association.
The Manhattan stormwater project is one of four in the “upper peninsula” area of South Tampa aiming to mitigate flooding and one of several projects Rep. Castor secured funding for in the federal appropriations package for the 2024 fiscal year.
Officials say construction is set begin on Manhattan Ave. in Spring 2025 and is expected to be completed the next year.
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