We know transportation plans can take a long time to become a reality. When you read about bridges being built 10 years from now, it can feel like an eternity away as you sit in traffic. One of the core documents Forward Pinellas produces each year in its role as the metropolitan planning organization is…
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Across the country, demand is growing for healthy, local, sustainable, and safe food, and Pinellas County is no exception. Urban farming – whether in the form of a community garden, rooftop garden, vertical garden, or a hydroponic system – is a way to grow food locally, but it comes with challenges. Local and state regulations…
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When you think of Alternate U.S. 19 in North Pinellas County, do you think of vibrant arts and cultural destinations? If you don’t already, we think you will soon. Forward Pinellas and Creative Pinellas, the county’s designated arts agency, are working together to create a Cultural Corridor linking destinations along Alternate U.S. 19 from Largo to…
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An unprecedented partnership effort launched this past week to transform transportation and development in Pinellas County’s economic center, the Gateway/Mid-County Area. The Gateway Master Plan is a collaborative effort led by Forward Pinellas, the countywide land use and transportation planning agency, along with funding partners Pinellas County, the City of St. Petersburg, the City of Largo, the…
DetailsPinellas County is regarded by many—justifiably—as a coastal paradise. But last year’s run-in with Hurricane Irma reminded us all that life on the coast has its dangers, too. With global temperatures steadily warming, research suggests that hurricanes are growing stronger and waters are rising higher. Communities need to plan their future growth carefully to keep…
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The Tampa Bay housing market is underserved in providing affordable housing options for residents, and that trend is expected to grow. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Tampa Bay region had the fourth highest population growth in the country for 2016. Additionally, 39 percent of Pinellas County households are considered cost-burdened by the Department…
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Is traffic congestion getting better or worse in Pinellas County? How many people are using the Pinellas Trail? Are the streets getting safer for pedestrians? If you’ve ever asked questions like these—or just wanted to know more about the current state of transportation —the Countywide Trends and Conditions Report for Pinellas County is for you.…
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Residents of Lealman and Kenneth City could have another transportation option in their area’s future – one that positively affects community health, is safe, and provides an inexpensive option by not requiring a car. Forward Pinellas and consultant AECOM, in partnership with Pinellas County, have completed a planning study that is the first step in…
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Thank you to everyone who participated in the Forward Pinellas Transportation Technology Forum on September 28, 2017. The forum provided a platform for information sharing, discussion and decision-making on innovative and emerging transportation technologies, ranging from aerial transit to autonomous and connected vehicles. The presentations from the forum are available on our website. To ensure…
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You read about them in the paper just about every day: an elderly man killed crossing 34th Street S in St. Petersburg, hit by a driver at 1:42 AM. Or maybe it’s a young woman, attempting to cross US 19 near Sunset Point Road; stepping in front of a truck driver is all the information we…
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St. Petersburg Council Member Jim Kennedy is a member and former chair of our board. Given recent editorials and articles in the Tampa Bay Times about forming a regional MPO, he felt compelled to respond. An abbreviated version of this letter ran in today’s paper. The Tampa Bay Times continues to beat the drum for a regional…
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For most of us in Pinellas County, we don’t have to think about how we get to the doctor or grocery store: it just involves our cars and the best roads to get us where we want to go. But what about people who don’t own a car? Or those who can’t drive? Accessibility to…
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