Where should transportation dollars be spent? How do we make the County’s transportation system safer? Which transportation services are needed to meet  the mobility needs of the disadvantaged?
These are some of the questions addressed in the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the blueprint for Pinellas County’s future transportation system. The LRTP guides decision making for transportation improvements needed through 2035. The Plan was most recently updated by the MPO on December 9, 2009, extending its horizon year from 2025 to 2035. The MPO-appoved LRTP, which is available below along with appendices, is currently under review by State and Federal transportation agencies.
The LRTP is required by Federal Law in order for Pinellas County to receive Federaland State funding for transportation improvements. It is the focal point of the MPO’s planning programsand activities, assessing the existing and futuretransportation needs of Pinellas County and setting forth improvements necessary to address those needs.
The LRTP considers all principal modes of transportation as an integrated system including automobile travel, public transportation, bicycling, walking and flight. The preparation and implementation of the Plan is coordinated with other long-range transportation plans in the West Central Florida Region under the guidance of the Chairs Coordinating Committee (CCC), which is comprised of representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Districts 1 and 7, the Regional Planning Councils, Citrus County and each of the MPOs in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee, Sarasota and Polk Counties. The current LRTP includes and is designed to accomplish the goals listed below.
1. Provide for a safe and energy efficient "multi-modal" and "intermodal" transportation system that serves the transportation needs of Pinellas County while enhancing the quality of life for its citizens.
2. Promote “livable community” concepts that allow for people to travel freely and safely in the urban environment through non-motorized travel modes such as walking, bicycling and skating.
3. Contribute to the economic vitality of Pinellas County through the provision of a transportation system that provides for the effective movement of people and goods to and from major employment centers and intermodal facilities.
4. Ensure coordination of state, regional and local transportation plans.
5. Develop and implement plans and programs that are responsive to the transportation needs and interests of Pinellas County citizens while raising public awareness about the role and responsibilities of the MPO.
Population and Job Growth are Key to Defining Plan Improvements
Assessment of the County's transportation system and future needs is based largely on the growth patterns of its population and employment. The Population and Dwelling Unit Projections, staff report and the Forecast 2035 Employment Socioeconomic Data Report, produced by Tindale Oliver and Associates presents the data used in the regional modeling process. Based on this information, the model simulated 2035 traffic conditions in Pinellas County, which helped to determine the type and scale of transportation improvements needed to meet future travel demand. The population and socioeconomic data reports were released in 2008.
Safety First
The MPO's Safety Element, which examines causes of traffic accidents in the County as well as strategies to address them, is being introduced with the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan Update. These strategies revolve around the "4E" approach, including Engineering, Education, Enforcement and Emergency Response. In 2007, 23,248 documented crashes and 9,243 injuries
affecting bicyclists and walkers as well as motorists occurred on the County's roadways. In addition, 118 fatalities were recorded in the same year.
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
About the TIP
In addition to the Long Range Transportation Plan,
one of the principal responsibilities of the MPO
is the development and maintenance of the Transportation
Improvement  Program
(TIP).
The TIP is a Federal requirement necessary for
Pinellas County to receive State and Federal capital
improvement funds for transportation projects.
The TIP contains the scheduled work programs of
Pinellas County, the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT), municipal governments and the Pinellas
Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). These work
programs include projects to construct road, airport,
sidewalk, trail, transit and Port of St. Petersburg
improvements. They also include planned capital
purchases by PSTA and funding allocations for
the Transportation
Disadvantaged Program.
Project Priorities
The TIP also includes priority project lists for Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program funding. The STP funds are primarily used for road construction projects and the TE funds are primarily used for non highway construction projects such as sidewalk and trail improvements. These priority lists are approved annually by the MPO to guide FDOT's allocation of Federal and State funds. The TIP is annually approved by the MPO in June and subsequently adopted by FDOT as part of the State Transportation Improvement Program in July. The TIP is updated in the fall of each year to include the new County and municipal work programs.
2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Projects
Amendments to the FDOT Five-Year Work Program allocating ARRA funding to Pinellas County for transportation projects are described below.
- US Highway 19, north of Whitney Road to south of Seville Boulevard. Reconstruction of frontage road and Belleair Road interchange. ARRA funds: $45 million. Construction start date: fiscal year (FY) 2009/10.
- East Avenue, Turner Street to Drew Street, Bicycle Safety Improvements. ARRA funds: $314 thousand. Construction state date: FY 2009/10.
- North Bay Trail (1st Street) from 30th Avenue North to 54th Avenue North. Construction of bicycle path/trail. ARRA funds: $1.9 million. Scheduled in FY 2009/10.
- 14 Hybrid Buses for Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) fleet. ARRA funds (Section 5307): $8.4 million. Scheduled in FY 2009/10.
- Automated Vehicle Location System for PSTA. ARRA funds (Section 5307): $5.6 million. Scheduled in FY 2009/10.
- Passenger Amenites for PSTA fleet. ARRA funds (Section 5307): $1.0 million. Scheduled in FY 2009/10.
- PSTA Section 5307 Administration. ARRA funds: $10 thousand. Scheduled in FY 2009/10.
Visit the websites below for more information about the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the implementation of ARRA funded projects in Florida.
Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board
Florida Department of Transportation Economic Stimulus
2011/12 TIP Amendments
Approved by the MPO on May 9, 2012
Approved by the MPO on March 15, 2012
- FPN #432140 1 - Replacement of an existing pier at Fort De Soto Park. Project intended to improve access to the Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge located off-shore from the City of St. Petersburg. The funding source is a federal discretionary grant provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in the Parks Program. Pinellas County is the grant applicant. In order for Pinellas County to receive the grant funds, the project needs to be included in the TIP. The funding amount is $1 million.
Approved by the MPO on February 8, 2012
- FPN #432035 1 - Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative grant to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority 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. Awarded by the Federal Transit Administration, the grant amount is $1,098,339.
Approved by the MPO on November 9, 2011
- Fall Update of Fiscal Year (FY) 2011/12 – FY 2015/16 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); incorporate Pinellas County and municipal work programs recently adopted by the respective local governments; and
- FPN #431949 1 - State of Florida Good Repair Program grant to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) for the purchase of buses. The grant amount is $5 million.
Approved by the MPO on September 14, 2011
- FPN# 430405-1 - Nursey Road from Keene Road to Oakadia Drive West;
Added $660,000 to the Work Program in FY 2011/12 for the construction phase of a sidewalk on Nursery Road from Keene Road to Oakadia Drive West, to be funded with Safe Routes to School (SRTS) dollars.
- FPN# 4245561-3 – S.R. 60 (Courtney Campbell Causeway) from Bayshore Boulevard to east of Tampa Bay Bridge #138; - added $1,005,000 for consultant costs in FY 2011/12 for the design phase of the Courtney Campbell Causeway Scenic Multi-Use Trail from Bayshore Boulevard to east of Tampa Bay Bridge #138. The funding source for the design phase is FDOT’s Enhancement Contingency fund.
- FPN# 4245561-4 – S.R. 60 (Courtney Campbell Causeway) from east of Tampa Bay Bridge #138 to the Pinellas/Hillsborough County Line; - added $511,000 for consultant costs in FY 2011/12 for the design phase of Courtney Campbell Causeway Scenic Multi-Use Trail from east of Tampa Bay Bridge #138 to the Pinellas/Hillsborough County line. The funding source for the design phase is FDOT’s Enhancement Contingency fund.
- FPN# 256903-1 – S.R. 682 (Pinellas Bayway) from east of Gulf Boulevard to west of S.R. 679; - added $57,400,000 in FY 2011/12 for the construction phase of the Pinellas Bayway Bridge from east of Gulf Boulevard to west of S.R. 679. The funding sources for the design phase are FDOT’s District Dedicated Revenue (DDR) fund and Pinellas Bayway (DSB3) fund.
- Roll Foward Projects - moved projects from previous year TIP that were obligated prior to June 30, 2011 into the current year TIP. Amendments reconcile year one TIP with year of the State Work Program.
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TIP Amendments
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