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 Federal and State funding for transportation improvements. It is the focal point of the MPO’s planning programs and activities, assessing the existing and future transportation 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. These improvements are reflected in the maps below. 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
2009/10 TIP Amendments
Approved by the MPO on February 10, 2010.
- Add $391,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2009/10 for the design phase of the Oldsmar Trail from the Progress Energy Trail to the City of Oldsmar. The design and construction of the trail is to be managed by the City under the Local Agency Participation (LAP) program. The funding source for this project is the federal Transportation Enhancement Program.
- Adds construction phase in FY 2009/10 for installation of signs and pavement markings for designated bike lanes on S.R. 688 (Walsingham Road/Ulmerton Road) from S.R. 699 (Gulf Boulevard) to 119th Street North. The funding is provided from the Arterial Safety Contingency and In-House Contingency categories.
Approved by the MPO on December 9, 2009.
- Upgrading lighting poles, Memorial Causeway (SR 60) from Clearwater Harbor Channel to west of Memorial Bridge. Funding increase of $330,103. Scheduled for installation in FY 2009/10. With amendment, total funding amount is $440,103.
- Change in project limits and advancing of construction from FY 2012/13 to FY 2009/10 on North Bay Trail from 30th Avenue North to 54th Avenue North. The original limits were between 30th Avenue North and 78th Avenue. The North Bay Trail is a 10-foot wide shared use trail. The project is being funded through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies and Pinellas County MPO Ehnancement Program reserves in the amount of $1.68 million.
- Installation of concrete barrier and repair of fencing on the Pinellas County side of the Howard Frankland Bridge. Funds are provided by the District Arterial Safety Contingency and In-House Contingency reserve in the amount of $540,876.
- This project is to design a “slip ramp” for eastbound 118th Avenue traffic to access the CR 296/I-275 on-ramp. This improvement will provide free flow eastbound access to I-275 that is expected to relieve the back up occurring at the 31st Court North/118th Avenue traffic signal. This design is funded from the district-wide design contingency reserve in the amount of $5.8 million.
- Fall Update of the TIP incorporating municipal and County work programs adopted by the local governments in 2009.
Approved by the MPO on October 14, 2009.
- Reconstruction of US Highway 19, south of McCormick Drive to north of Enterprise Road. Funding increase of $620,275 for safety and operation improvements. Scheduled for construction in FY 2009/10. With amendment, total funding amount for the project is $6,674,350.
- Sidewalk installation on south side of St. Petersburg Drive, Chestnut Street to Buckingham Drive. New project scheduled for construction in FY 2009/10. Project funding amount is $78,722.
Roll forward of projects from fiscal year (FY) 2008/09 to 2009/10 approved by the MPO on September 9, 2009.
- Pinellas County Jobs Access Reverse Commute (JARC) grant funds for fixed route transit operations. Scheduled for FY 2009/10. Fund Amount: $194,041.
- Pinellas County New Freedom grant funds for fixed route transit operations. Scheduled for FY 2009/10. Fund Amount: $647,441.
- St. Petersburg Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5309 Discretionary Earmark for Central Avenue bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor enhancement. Scheduled for FY 2009/10. Fund amount: $475,000.
|
TIP Amendments
|