News and Updates

MPO Public Hearing Scheduled on February 8 - Transportation Improvement Program Amendment for Regional Information Service

Pinellas on the Move - PSTA Annual Ridership Record Highlights
Transportation Performance Report (E-news: Vol. 3, No. 1)

PSTA To Assume Operations of Transportation Disadvantaged Program

FDOT Launches New Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Campaign

MPO Concurs with Renaming of Planned Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail to "Dolphin" Trail

MPO Approves Fall Update and Amendment of Transportation Improvement Program

FDOT Presents New State Transportation Work Program

MPO Approves New Program of Projects for Jobs Access Reverse Commute and New Freedom funding

MPO Approves New Transportation Improvement Program and Priority Project List

Pinellas on the Move - Crosswalk Improvements Aid Pedestrian Safety (E-news: Vol. 2, No. 1)

Walkwise Tampa Bay - Spreading the Word on Pedestrian Safety

FDOT Releases Florida Transportation Plan

MPO Public Hearing Scheduled for February 8 - Transportation Improvement Program Amendment for Regional Information Service

The MPO will conduct a public hearing on February 8, 2012 to allow the public the opportunity to review and comment on an amendment to the Pinellas County FY 2011/12 – FY 2015/16 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  The purpose of the amendment is to include a Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority project for a regional One-Call/One-Click Transportation Information Service, which will provide information on transportation programs and services throughout the region via the web, over the phone and through mobile applications.  The project is being funded by a $1,098,339 Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative grant awarded by the Federal Transit Administration.

The public hearing will be held in the Pinellas County Board Assembly Room, 5th Floor, Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court Street, Clearwater, Florida, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Following a brief staff presentation describing the proposed amendment, public comment will be received.

Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact, within two (2) working days of your receipt of this public hearing notice, the Office of Human Rights, 400 S Fort Harrison Avenue, Suite 300, Clearwater, Florida 33756; [(727) 464-4062 (V/TDD)].

The public hearing is being held pursuant to Chapters 120 and 339.175 of the Florida Statutes. Further information may be obtained by contacting the MPO via email or (727) 464-8200.

PSTA Assumes Operation of Transportation Disadvantaged Program

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) tok over responsibility for operating the County's Transportation Disadvantaged Program on January 1, 2012. The MPO and PSTA boards approved an agreement at their meetings on December 14, 2011 that laid out the responsibilities for the ride scheduling and customer management services that are currently being provided by Greater Pinellas Transportation Management Services (GPTMS). The MPO's contract with GPTMS for these services expired on December 31. Individuals wishing to apply or arrange for transportation through the TD Program can do so by contacting PSTA's InfoLine at (727) 540-1900 or through the PSTA website.

FDOT Launches New Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Campaign

In an effort to educate all parties and lower the number of pedestrians and bicyclists injured and killed in the State, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has launched a new pedestrian and bicycle safety campaign, See the Blind Spots. The campaign utilizes television, radio, print media, outdoor advertising and a website http://www.seetheblindspots.com/ to achieve the goal of the initiative, which according to District Secretary Don Skelton, is to "reduce pedestrian fatalities in the Tampa Bay area by 20% before the year 2015."

"We are launching this bold campaign to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths by bringing awareness to both the driver and the pedestrian and bicyclist," the Secretary explained in a November 7, 2011 release. The See the Blind Spots website features safety tips for bicyclists and pedestrians, crash data, and a section where members of the public can upload personal stories about pedestrian or bicyclist crashes that can be shared with the community.

MPO Concurs with Renaming of Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail to "Dolphin" Trail

At their meeting on November 9, 2011, the MPO agreed to rename the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail, which is currently scheduled for construction in the MPO Transportation Improvement Program for fiscal year 2015/16, to the "Dolphin" Trail. The planned trail will provide bicyclists and pedestrians with a scenic transportation corridor connecting Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties alongside the Causeway. The name change was previously approved by the Bicycle Advisory Committee on October 24.

MPO Approves Fall Update and Amendment of Transportation Improvement Program

The MPO approved the annual fall update of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011/12 – FY 2015/16 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) at their regularly scheduled meeting on November 9, 2011. The update incorporates the recently adopted Pinellas County and municipal work programs into the TIP.

The MPO also approved an amendment to the TIP to include a State of Florida Good Repair Program grant awarded to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) for the purchase of buses.  The grant amount is $5 million. 

FDOT Presents New State Transportation Work Program

The Florida Department of Transportation District 7 Office presented their new Five-Year Tentative Work Program for Fiscal Years 2012/13 through 2017/18 at a Public Hearing Webinar on October 13, 2011. The FDOT presentation can be viewed here The Tentative Work Program covers the next five years of preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and public transportation projects for Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties and includes Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise projects in these counties.

MPO Approves Program of Projects for Jobs Access Reverse Commute and New Freedom funding

A new list of projects was approved for federal Jobs Access Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom (NF) funding by the MPO at their monthly meeting on September 14, 2011.  The JARC Program is intended to provide transportation to welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals to and from jobs and activities related to their employment. The New Freedom (NF) Program is designed to provide services and public transportation alternatives for disabled individuals beyond those required by the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.  The programs are authorized under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The projects were competitively selected based on their capacity to further the objectives of the Tri-County Access Plan, which identifies regional transportation needs of older adults, persons with disabilities, and low income people living in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Prior to the Pinellas MPO action, the project lists were approved by the Hillsborough and Pasco County MPOs.  

MPO Approves New Transportation Improvement Program and Priority Project List

The MPO approved a new Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years (FY) 2011/12 - 2015/16 at their monthly board meeting on June 8. In addition, the MPO approved its list of priority projects for Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program funding as well as a Congestion Management Process (CMP) project list.

The TIP is required by Federal and State Law and contains the transportation work programs of the County’s local governments, including the airports and the Port of St. Petersburg, as well as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7 and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. The new TIP incorporates the latest version of the FDOT Five Year Work Program and accompanying transportation improvement maps identifying the project locations. The priority lists are used to determine the order of projects scheduled for the allocation of Federal funding under the STP, and the TE Program by the FDOT District 7 Office and will be incorporated in the TIP along with the CMP list in the fall.

Walkwise Tampa Bay - Spreading the Word on Pedestrian Safety

Over the past five years, the number of per capita pedestrian crash fatalities in Florida has been higher than every other state except New Mexico. Walkwise Tampa Bay, a grassroots initiative managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at USF and funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7, is doing its part to reverse this trend. Representatives of CUTR are covering the Tampa Bay region speaking to businesses, civic associations, churches, schools and other groups about pedestrian safety and asking their audiences to take the Walkwise pledge to join the growing list of ambassadors for pedestrian safety. Anyone living or working in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties is invited to request a free Pedestrian Safety Presentation for their organization.

FDOT Releases Florida Transportation Plan

The final version of the Florida Transportation Plan (FTP), Horizon 2060, is now available.The FTP formalizes the State’s transportation vision while identifying goals, objectives, and strategies to guide transportation decisions and investments over the next 50 years. Comments or questions about the Plan can be directed to Huiwei Shen, 850-414-4911.

About the MPO

The Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) was established in 1977 following the passage of the Federal Highway Act of 1974. The task of the MPO is to develop plans, policies and priorities that guide local decision making on transportation issues. Principal responsibilities include the development of a 20-year Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), a five-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a two-year Unified Planning Work Program and related transportation planning studies and projects. For more on the role of MPOs, read MPO's: A Primer.

The MPO seeks to improve transportation in the county for all principal modes of travel, including mass transit, walking, and bicycling, as well as automobile. The MPO prioritizes capital improvements to address the county's travel needs and allocates federal funding to implement the projects as identified in the TIP and the LRTP.

MPO Public Involvement Opportunities

The MPO places a high value on public involvement. Presentations are made to professional, civic and social groups. The MPO also participates in community-based public involvement events including public hearings, forums and community fairs.

One way to become involved in transportation planning is by making a brief presentation on an issue that deeply concerns you during the "Citizens to be Heard" segment of the MPO's monthly meeting. Another way is through participation on one of the MPO's advisory committees. Openings occur periodically, and you are encouraged to apply if you are interested and willing to make a time commitment.

For any questions or comments regarding the contents of this website, please email, mail or telephone the MPO using the contact information below.

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

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