Key Takeaways
- ✓The Selmon Expressway connects Brandon/Valrico to downtown Tampa in 20-30 minutes.
- ✓Properties near Selmon on-ramps command 3-7% higher rents than comparable homes farther away.
- ✓Reversible express lanes make rush-hour commuting predictable — a major tenant selling point.
Quick answer: The Lee Roy Selmon Expressway (formerly Crosstown) is a toll road running from Brandon to downtown Tampa and south toward MacDill AFB. It features reversible express lanes that move traffic in the dominant commute direction during rush hour. Tenants working in Tampa choose east Hillsborough rentals specifically for this 20-30 minute commute, making properties near Selmon on-ramps consistently in demand.
Why the Selmon Expressway Drives Rental Demand
Tampa Bay's job centers are concentrated in three areas: downtown Tampa, the Westshore business district (including Tampa International Airport), and MacDill AFB. All three are directly accessible from east Hillsborough via the Selmon Expressway.
For tenants, the math is simple: they can rent a 3BR home in Brandon for $1,900-$2,200/month and commute 25 minutes on the Selmon, or rent a comparable home in south Tampa for $2,800-$3,500/month and save 10 minutes. East Hillsborough wins on value, and the Selmon makes it practical.
Commute Times via the Selmon Expressway
Brandon to Downtown Tampa
20-25 minutes
Valrico to Downtown Tampa
25-35 minutes
Brandon to MacDill AFB
25-30 minutes
Brandon to Westshore/Airport
20-30 minutes
The reversible express lanes (REL) on the upper deck are the key differentiator. During morning rush, the upper deck runs westbound (toward Tampa). During evening rush, it reverses to eastbound (back toward Brandon). This keeps commute times predictable even during heavy traffic — unlike I-275 or Dale Mabry, which can be unpredictable.
Employment Centers Connected by the Selmon
- •Downtown Tampa. Financial services, law firms, government offices, and the growing Water Street Tampa development. Thousands of professionals commute from east Hillsborough daily.
- •Westshore business district.Tampa's largest concentration of office space. Major employers in finance, insurance, and corporate services. Adjacent to Tampa International Airport.
- •MacDill AFB. Over 12,000 active-duty personnel plus thousands of civilian employees and contractors. The Selmon connects directly to the Dale Mabry/MacDill corridor.
- •Ybor City and Channelside. Growing entertainment, dining, and residential district with new apartment developments and commercial growth.
Neighborhoods With the Best Expressway Access
Not all east Hillsborough neighborhoods are equally close to a Selmon on-ramp. Here is where your property stands relative to expressway access:
- • Western Brandon (near SR-60/Selmon interchange): 2-5 minutes to on-ramp. Highest premium for expressway access
- • Providence/Brandon South: 5-10 minutes to on-ramp. Good balance of access and affordability
- • Riverview (US-301 corridor): 5-10 minutes to on-ramp via US-301. Growing area with newer construction
- • Valrico: 10-15 minutes to Selmon via SR-60 through Brandon. Longer expressway access but better schools and more suburban feel
The Bottom Line
The Selmon Expressway is the infrastructure that makes east Hillsborough rentals viable for Tampa commuters. Properties with good expressway access lease faster and at higher rents because tenants are buying commute time. Barrett Henry has 23+ years of real estate experience and manages rentals throughout the Selmon corridor. We understand how to market commute-friendly properties to the right tenant pool at 8-12% of collected rent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Barrett Henry
Designated Property Manager
23+ years of Florida real estate experience. Barrett lives in Valrico and manages rentals across east Hillsborough County — the same neighborhoods he drives through every day.
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