City of Tampa is Doubling its Paving Capacity
The City of Tampa is excited to announce the acquisition of a brand-new paving machine that, along with eight new hires, effectively doubles the City's in-house paving capacity.
The Caterpillar AP 1055 is a newer version of the Mobility Department's older, but still capable paving machine. It will be added to the current fleet of paving equipment, which also includes a brand-new roller and other related machinery. The new machine brings the city's paver trucks to two. More fuel efficient, quieter, and easier to operate than previous models, it can pave up to a 25 foot wide street in one pass.
"We've heard the calls of 'pave my street,' and we're doing just that. This new equipment, along with our increased manpower reflects our commitment to making significant road improvements now," said Mayor Jane Castor. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, but just know we're on our way."
Simply put, the new equipment will allow the City's Mobility Department to pave more streets even faster, and at a lower cost to the taxpayer than hiring an outside contractor. Over the last five years, the Mobility Department has paved more than 167 lane miles all across the city. It is industry practice to measure in lane miles. A lane mile refers to the length of the road multiplied by the number of lanes it has. For example, a one mile stretch of road that has two lanes would be equivalent to two lane miles.
This year alone, the paving team has paved more than 36 lane miles, with several additional paving projects still to come. The increased focus on paving also opens new opportunities for roadway safety enhancements through Quick Build Projects, which include upgrades like new bike lanes, on street parking, and improved drainage.
“Maintaining our city streets improves the appearance of our neighborhoods, enhances, property values, and provides better drainage. With the addition of this equipment, along with our dedicated city employees, we’ll pave more streets while saving taxpayer money,” said Councilman Alan Clendenin.
Additionally, because of the significant role the new paver truck is going to play, the City of Tampa is launching a naming contest. This workhorse will be out in the field daily, so the team is looking for something catchy. To submit your name suggestions, visit: tampa.gov/newpaver and the team will select a winner in a few weeks.