Quality of Life
Improving our transportation system through the completion of the Pinellas Trail Loop will promote ladders of opportunity for many individuals, helping to lift them and their families out of poverty. Investments like this that help to reduce or eliminate poverty are a more efficient use of our tax dollars, and produce better results, than paying to “manage” poverty, which for Pinellas County is estimated to cost $2.5 billion annually.
Increasing Community Transportation Options
With fewer cars on the road, and fewer vehicle miles traveled, the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall transportation system will increase. This project benefits more than just one mode of transportation. By removing vehicles from the road, the remaining vehicles will have less congestion to contend with, thus improving travel time and boosting the economy through reduced delivery delays. Through improved and safer connections to transit services, more people will be able to choose transit for their daily trips, further reducing congestion and vehicle miles traveled on the surrounding road network. The utilization of an existing utility right-of-way will demonstrate project efficiency by giving an additional purpose to existing infrastructure and maximizing the use of existing resources.
This project directly supports Goal 2 of the adopted Pinellas County MPO Long Range Transportation Plan: Provide a balanced and integrated multi-modal transportation system for local and regional travel. Completing the Pinellas Trail Loop will improve livability in the neighborhoods and communities directly surrounding the Trail and throughout the county as a whole, providing for safe and efficient travel for those utilizing alternative modes and overall enhancing the quality of life for Pinellas County residents and visitors.
In order to provide a viable alternative to the single-occupant vehicle, Pinellas County and the MPO seek to reduce the cost of mobility, improve transportation choices and expand the trails network. Completing the Pinellas Trail Loop will improve intermodal connections between residential areas, commercial development, and transit stops, thus providing an important link between transportation and land use. In addition, the buses used by the PSTA are equipped with bicycle racks, further encouraging multiple modes for one trip and accommodating bicycle riders who either do not want to drive a personal vehicle or do not own one.
In 2014, PSTA carried 408,000 bikes on buses.
By Completing the Pinellas Trail Loop, transit riders with bicycles will have increased access to this alternative transportation facility, presenting them with a safer alternative to traveling along high-speed roads. Completing the Pinellas Trail Loop will provide even more access to transit for bicyclists, further enhancing this popular intermodal connection. Transit is closely located near the Loop, as demonstrated in Table #3.
| Transit Availability, 1/2 Mile Buffer, In or Intersecting the Loop | |
|---|---|
| Bus Routes | Bus Stops |
| 41 (91% of all routes) | 1,567 (30% of all stops) |
The Pinellas Trail Loop provides direct access to Environmental Justice areas, shown in Figure 4, where there are high numbers of low income and minority residents. Completing the Pinellas Trail Loop will provide an affordable and convenient transportation facility to connect residents to transit, employment and commercial centers, improving their mobility and their overall quality of life.
For example, in the High Point neighborhood, the Loop will provide access to technical centers, workforce development facilities, grocery stores and employment centers which are currently largely inaccessible due to the current design of the transportation network. High Point qualifies as a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) eligible community with more than 51% of households having an annual income of 80% less than the area median income level, as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The County has invested nearly $2.1 million (year of expenditure) in CDBG resources to develop a YMCA facility that provides programs and support services to families and children. The County has also invested approximately $1.5 million to acquire lands and develop a 7,600 square foot facility, housing the High Point Neighborhood Family Center. Since 1998, Pinellas County has invested almost $13 million in federal, state and local resources to improving the community.
Figure 5 (Download PDF)
In addition to traversing areas of higher concentrations of minority and low-income populations, the Loop travels through areas associated with food deserts, shown in detail in Figure 5. By connecting residents of food deserts with grocery stores and other opportunities for purchasing affordable groceries, the Loop will provide a much-needed transportation option to access healthy foods at a reasonable cost.
The presence of trails also benefits businesses by creating a healthier workforce and lowering health insurance premiums through healthier lifestyle choices associated with walking and bicycling. The benefits of the Pinellas Trail Loop are not limited to just Pinellas County residents and visitors.
The Pinellas Trail Loop promotes active living which serves as a draw to young workers and the businesses that want to employ them.
“Pinellas County has approximately 94,997 veterans and many are in need of safe, low-cost transportation as they transition from military service to the civilian community. Furthermore, the completion of the Pinellas Trail Loop would also assist many disabled veterans with their rehabilitation from combat-related injuries by providing a continuous recreational facility where they can exercise to improve their strength, motor skills, and quality of life.”
The Pinellas Trail Loop is currently popular and successful, providing a unique quality of life experience for residents and visitors alike. Completing the Pinellas Trail Loop will increase the number of residents that can directly access and utilize the Trail and serves as an amenity that new residents seek and businesses are attracted to. The Pinellas Trail Loop will help retain and draw residents from diverse backgrounds, particularly younger generations, that can serve the needs of current and future employers. By serving as an amenity and attraction for both current and future residents and businesses, the Pinellas Trail Loop increases community and neighborhood vibrancy, making surrounding areas more desirable places to live, work and play.