The Hillsborough County Transportation Planning Organization voted Dec. 10 to approve TIP Amendment 43, which adds express lanes on Interstate 4 between I‑75 and County Line Road to the FY26–30 Transportation Improvement Program.

Elizabeth Watkins, TPO staff, told the board the amendment would fund preliminary engineering with about $3.7 million in state and federal funds and move an FDOT plan to deliver one express lane in each direction on a 17‑mile corridor toward a FY2028 construction letting. The full buildout anticipates two express lanes in each direction; Watkins said the construction cost is estimated at about $500,000,000 (in 2028 dollars).

Several members of the public and the Citizens Advisory Committee urged rejection. Public commenters — including CAC Chair Rick Fernandez, CAC member Dana Lazarus, Chris Vela and Dr. Neil Manamala — argued the amendment could create a 'point of no return' that would lock a major highway expansion into the TIP, risk precluding future transit options and replicate managed‑lane projects that raised safety and equity concerns. Fernandez read the CAC motion recommending rejection; CAC action on the amendment was 9–5 against at the committee level.

FDOT representatives including Secretary Hall and staff responded that the amendment follows a staged implementation in the project development and environmental (PD&E) and NEPA records approved in 2019 and preserves the transit envelope where designated (44 feet median preservation in certain sections). Staff said areas with less than 44 feet (for example through parts of Plant City) would require structure or right‑of‑way acquisition and that the TIP amendment is a funding action that does not change the corridor preservation established in NEPA.

After board discussion and clarifying remarks that transit vehicles can operate free in the express lanes, Commissioner Wostel moved to approve the TIP amendment and Mayor Kilton seconded. A roll‑call vote was conducted; the motion carried 13 to 2. Members Hertack and Carlson voted no.

The board’s approval moves the project into the FY26–30 TIP and authorizes staff to program the identified preliminary engineering funds; it does not guarantee construction funding beyond the amounts shown in the amendment and does not itself alter any NEPA/PD&E commitments.