PINELLAS COUNTY, FL —- Forward Pinellas is now accepting applications from local government or regional partners operating in Pinellas County for three grant programs. The Complete Streets, Transportation Alternatives, and Multimodal Priority programs are designed to make streets more accessible, improve infrastructure for people walking and on bike, or improve mobility in Pinellas County.
Forward Pinellas developed these incentive programs to assist local governments’ ability to focus on safety and accessibility for everyone in our community while encouraging redevelopment and economic growth. Applications are due to Forward Pinellas for evaluation this fall, with staggered deadlines for each funding program.
Grant Programs Include:
The Complete Streets Program provides opportunities for transformative land use changes by creating opportunities for walkable, bikeable and more livable communities. Previous projects awarded include funding for the revitalization of historic neighborhoods and redevelopment for more comfortable places along Disston Avenue in Tarpon Springs, 54th Avenue N in Lealman, and 78th Avenue in Pinellas Park, as well as construction funding for projects in Oldsmar, Dunedin, Largo and St. Petersburg.
- Transportation Alternatives Grant Funding
Transportation Alternatives is a federal funding program that can be used for the construction of smaller-scale pedestrian and bicycle projects, as well as infrastructure to improve non-driver access to transit. Previous projects awarded include bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, new multiuse trail construction along 118th Avenue in Pinellas Park, and new sidewalk construction in the Lealman community.
- Multimodal Priority Projects Program
Through the Multimodal Priority Projects Program, Forward Pinellas strives to fund projects of countywide significance that improve mobility and accessibility for everyone, while supporting the redevelopment vision for the county and its many diverse communities. Current priorities include widening 126th Ave N in Pinellas Park, improving the intersection of Alt 19 and Curlew in Dunedin, adding infrastructure related to the Cross Bay Ferry service in St. Petersburg, procuring additional vehicles for regional vanpool services managed by the Tampa Bay Regional Transit Authority and improving the roadway along Martin Luther King Jr Blvd S in St. Petersburg to improve mobility for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Over the past four years, the Forward Pinellas Board has awarded more than $6.5 million toward the Complete Streets projects, prioritized seven new Transportation Alternatives projects and added three new Multimodal projects to the priority list, with the intent of assisting communities in meeting their goals for mobility and safe access for all users, regardless of mode of transportation, age or physical ability.
Learn about the Complete Streets, Transportation Alternatives, and Multimodal Priorities Programs here: www.ForwardPinellas.org/callforprojects