The City of Tampa and The Florida Department of Transportation have partnered together to conduct a study to explore the future path of the streetcar. The study will determine the feasibility of the modernization and expansion of the streetcar system to serve more of Tampa. It will also show the necessary adjustments needed in order to make the Street Car a true transportation option for residents, visitors, and those who work in the downtown area.
Currently, the streetcar is a charming way for visitors to see the 3 most exciting boroughs of Tampa: Ybor City, the Channel District, and Downtown. With Downtown Tampa being a port of call for international cruise ships, the Streetcar attracts a large number of ship passengers. For Ybor City & Channel District residents, the Streetcar serves as a reliable and inexpensive way to commute to work in Downtown Tampa. With an expansion of the operating territories, more stops through the city of Tampa will be included. These potential stations could be Marion Transit Center and The Heights.
“Our urban core demands more transportation options,” says Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “The streetcar system is an underutilized asset and we are taking a hard look at its future. A potential extension of the system through downtown could open up connections to new neighborhoods, jobs, and entertainment.”
The first meeting is on March 7th at the Tampa History Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This will be a community brainstorming session where residents will hear about the planning process. Feedback from the residents will then be given to the planning team regarding the needs for the downtown Tampa community for transportation options. The second and third meetings will be held April 4th and May 2nd with the first phase of the study expected to be finished in June of this year. Phase 2 of the study will be to define the extension and modernization, and to complete the project development parts and will be conducted from July 2017 to July 2018. Phase 2 includes public involvement and community support, conceptual plans, environmental studies, finance planning, and applying for grants to help fund the expansion. “The goal of this planning process is to take the first step towards creating another viable transportation choice for Tampa,” says Mayor Buckhorn.
To learn about what the study entails, including updates, meeting information, FAQ’s, and more, check out the InVision: Tampa Streetcar study here. In the meantime, before the extension finally goes underway, there are plenty of scheduled Street Car Live Saturdays to keep Tampa entertained, as well as Rock The Park at Curtis Hixon, guided tours and more! Be sure to check out http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/ for all of the schedules and events. Follow them on twitter at @TampaStreetCar and on Facebook at The TECO Line Street Car System to stay up to date!
