US 19, overpass, transit

A 34-mile highway extending from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg, US 19 is the most heavily traveled arterial road in Pinellas County.  It is part of the Florida Strategic Intermodal System (SIS), a statewide network of high-priority transportation facilities, and is served by Route 19, which has the highest ridership of all routes in the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) system.

Since the 1980s, substantial public investment has converted US 19 from an at-grade arterial road to an uninterrupted partially controlled access facility, including overpasses and interchanges, from 49th Street in Pinellas Park to SR 580 in Clearwater. The MPO Long Range Transportation Plan calls for these improvements to continue north of SR 580 to the Pinellas/Pasco County Line.

There has also been substantial investment made toward improving the safety of the corridor, including crosswalk installations, sidewalk construction to close existing gaps along the roadway, median modifications, intersection improvements and wayfinding signs.  Safety remains a serious concern, however, as the highest crash rates in the County continue to be reported at US 19 intersections.  In addition to safety, other major issues afflicting the corridor include lack of accessibility afforded to vulnerable users (e.g., pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users), and the economic impact of the partially controlled access improvements on adjacent businesses. Forward Pinellas and the Florida Department of Transportation focused on pedestrian and bicycle safe access to transit along US 19 in a 2016 study, summarized in this report that includes potential alternatives and strategies.

Project Contact: Chelsea Favero

Email: cfavero@forwardpinellas.org

Phone: 727.464.5644

Through this SPOTlight initiative, Forward Pinellas will work with its local government, agency and community partners to develop a coordinated vision for the corridor.  This vision will serve as the basis for the development of land use and transportation strategies and improvements designed to increase the mobility, safety and accessibility of vulnerable transportation users as well as the economic viability of the corridor.