Sowing
Florida Planning Conference September 2024
Tim Boesch AICP, PMP
• Moderator
• Senior transportation project manager
• Multiple BRT and bus improvement corridors
• Policy, planning, and preliminary engineering
• Commuted on five different bus and rail systems
Abhishek Dayal AICP
• Lead project manager for SunRunner
• PSTA director of project management
• Valley Metro Phoenix manager of capital planning
• Led the first-ever in the region partnership to design and construct electrical infrastructure to support electric vehicle chargers for fleet transition to zero emission.
• Member of APTA’s Planning, Policy and Program Development Steering Committee
• Master of Community Planning
• Avid transit rider whose family takes public transit on their travels
Tom Whalen AICP, CTP, ENV SP
• Lead St. Petersburg staff for SunRunner development
• St. Pete’s Transportation Planning Coordinator, Transportation and Parking Management Department
• Site plan and traffic impact review for developments
• Development multimodal impact fees
• Grant development
• Master of Regional Planning
• This year Tom's second daughter Ava has joined her older sister Lauren at UF
Catherine Woods Artist, Owner, C Glass Studio llc.
• SunRunner visual artist
• Nationally recognized sculptor, working primarily in architectural glass and metal
• Woman-owned business
• Creates artwork that incorporates narrative elements
• Award-winning work has been recognized by Americans for the Arts prestigious public art competition ‘Year in Review’
• Enjoys working with area stakeholders and the people who comprise the community where her art will be located.
Discovering the unique quality of an area is part of the joy of creating public artwork.
St. Petersburg’s Vision 2020 Plan
• Citizen-based visioning process (2001)
• Transportation and 14 other themes
• Public input on existing transit services
• Public liked trolley buses and disliked lack of quality public transportation and plain ‘big box’ diesel buses
• Vision for improved transit services
• “Public transit system sensitive to the context of neighborhoods and integrated into future economic and development plans”
• “Great public transit system that everyone can access in all areas of the city and enhances the property values and quality of life in the areas in which it runs”
• Centers, Corridors, and Neighborhoods Concepts
Downtown St. Petersburg East-West Transit System Study
(2002 -2004)
• Pinellas Co. MPO’s Pinellas Mobility Initiative (1997 – 2003)
• Central Avenue had the highest demand for transit (4,900 to 6,300 daily riders in 2020) amongst major corridors in Pinellas County
• Two of PSTA’s top routes (Routes 18 and 52)
• Problem Statement
• Over-reliance on automobiles for access to and within the downtown area
▪ Parking consumes land and increases development costs
• Other transportation modes are underutilized
• Transit facilities do not influence investment decisions, livability, or marketability of study area
Downtown St. Petersburg East-West Transit System Study
• Project goal
• Develop a cost-effective transit system that attracts new ridership
• Supports the City’s revitalization and economic development plans
• Improves long-term liveability
• Improves safety for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Supports the unique character of the study area
Study Area
Street Intercept Survey Findings
• Statistically valid survey
• Residents, employees, students, visitors, tourists
• BRT vehicle favored over streetcar
• Most desired features:
• 15 minute or less headways
• More evening and weekend service
• Low floor boarding
• Serve Baywalk, Pier, Tropicana Field, and USF
• Many respondents would:
• Use the service regularly, walk further to access the service, and pay a higher fare
Five Alternatives Selected for Detailed Evaluation
• Criteria for ranking alternatives
• 2025 daily ridership
• Capital cost
• Operating cost (annual & per trip)
• Impacts
• East-west to north/south BRT system ranked No. 1
• Connect Grand Central Station (built in 2002) to downtown waterfront
• Streetcar system
• Lower projected ridership and higher capital and operating costs
PSTA’s Central Avenue BRT Study PE Study (2005 – 2007)
• Alignment modified
• 1st Avenues instead of Central Avenue
• Southern waterfront only
• 3 western alignments studied
• Issues discussed
• Operate on which side of 1st Avenues?
▪ Left or right-side?
• Type of bus
▪ Clean diesel or hybrid electric?
▪ Articulated or standard length?
▪ Stylized or standard bus?
• Great Recession put project on hold, lack of operating funds
Downtown and Central Avenue Transit Enhancements
• Downtown Looper Improvements (2004)
• More frequent service and reduced fare
• In 2018, later weekend service, longer route and fare free
• Central Avenue Shuttle (2010) and Central Avenue Trolley (2011)
• Service from St. Petersburg Pier to Grand Central Station and then to Pass-aGrille Beach
Central Avenue Revitalization Plan (2010 to 2012)
• Extensive Public Involvement
• City staff did the research and evaluation and wrote the plan
• Key elements of the plan
• Land use and urban design
• Transportation
▪ Transit
▪ Bicycle and pedestrian connections
▪ Automobile connections
• Streetscape improvements
• Corridor-wide promotion and economic development support
Much of the City’s early development revolved around Central Avenue
Neighborhood and Business Associations
• Seven mixed-use districts and eight surrounding neighborhoods
• Central Avenue Council
• District representatives met monthly and provided input on initiatives such as the SunRunner project and bicycle and pedestrian enhancements
Zoning Districts Along Central Avenue Corridor
• Based on New Land Development Regulations (2007)
• Establish flexible building setback and height regulations
• Increase density and floor area ratios
• Increase diversity of land-use types
• Establish standards and incentives for favorable urban design principles
• Improve streetscape standards and connectivity
Central Avenue BRT Route and Stations
Pedestrian Connections
• BRT Corridor Enhancement Concept Plan
• $975,000 from Congressional Earmarks in 2009 and 2010
• Safe pedestrian connections from BRT stations to Central Avenue along northsouth streets
▪ New sidewalks
▪ New curb ramps
▪ Intersection improvements
• Constructed by the City in coordination with PSTA during the SunRunner project
Central Avenue Activity Center (2013)
• First corridor-based activity center in the Comprehensive Plan
• West of Downtown Center districts, 19th Street to Pasadena Avenue
• Central Avenue and parcels south of 1st Avenue N and north of 1st Avenue S
• Overlay allowed higher densities and intensities and greater building heights
• Justified by excess roadway capacity, existing transit service, and future BRT
TOD Place Types
Height
Max 6 stories
(max 5 stories in South Pasadena)
Max 8 stories
(max 5 stories in South Pasadena)
Max 8 to 12 stories (different maximums in parts of the stations areas)
Density 60 to 90 DU/A 60 to 120 DU/A 90 to 150 DU/A
Minimum 2 stories along Central Avenue
No changes from existing
St. Petersburg Innovation District
Downtown Core
EDGE District - East
The EDGE Apartments - 1123 1st Ave. N Approved Hermitage Apartments - 151 7th St. S Viv Apartments -1000 1st Ave. N
Camden Central Apartments - 801 Central Ave.
EDGE District - West
Orange Station – 1301 Central Ave.
Under Construction
EDGE Collective – Central Ave., 11th St. to 13th St.
Phase 1 – Hotel (Completed)
Phase 2 – Multifamily and Commercial (Approved)
Historic Gas Plant Redevelopment
Large redevelopment of the Tropicana Field Site
• Ten different land uses
• Reconnect the grid network with new public roads
Grand Central District
The next BRT service on 34th St.
• Connect with SunRunner at Grand Central Station
Gallery 3100 Apartments – 3100 Central Ave.
Existing Apartments
Bellamy at Whitney Village – 3200 1st Ave. S
Approved Mixed-Use Project
Professional District
4740 1st Ave. N Townhomes
Junction Townhomes - 3601 1st Ave. N
West Central District
Sixty90 Apartments
6090 Central Ave. Under Construction
6565 1st Ave. S Townhomes
CONCEPT
DESIGN
DESIGN ELEMENTS
Street Side
Patron Side
LINEAR ELEMENT
Florida Planning Conference September 5, 2024
SunRunner Bus Rapid Transit
Intro Video
About PSTA & Pinellas County
• Population of 961,739
• 24 municipalities - 22 served by PSTA
• Top industries – health, tourism, manufacturing, & financial services
• 46 bus routes including 4 contracted trolley routes
• 10.4 million rides in FY23
SunRunner Stations
SunRunner Project Features
• Fast: Beach to ’Burg in 35 mins
• Frequent: Service every 15 mins (from 6 am to 8 pm)
• Clean: Low-emission hybrid electric
• Timely: 6 a.m.-12 a.m. daily
• Workforce & Residents (50,000 jobs/40,000 people within ½ mile)
• Affordable: Only $2.25 per ride
SunRunner Project Features
• Bus-and-turn lanes along 6.5 miles of the 10-mile route
• 30 uniquely branded station platforms with real time bus arrival
• Artwork on stations and on hybridelectric buses
• Transit signal priority along the route
• On-board bike racks
• All door boarding
Planning Phase – Corridor Alternatives
• Identified as a future premium transit route in 2003
• Included in the MPO’s Long Range Transportation Plan in 2015
• Three route options considered during planning
Project Timeline – Project Development
Planning Completed – June 2015
Accepted into FTA Small Starts PD – May 2016
Final Design Completed – January 2020
Federal Grant Executed – July 2020
Vehicles Received – May 2021
Completed – October 2022
Service – October 21, 2022
1st Project in FTA New Starts Process
• Total project cost (YOE) - $43.9 Million
• Funding Sources:
• FTA
• FDOT
• City of St. Petersburg
• PSTA
FTA Project Funding
• Announced through a Presidential Tweet on May 28, 2020
• Last piece of funding needed to start construction
City of St Petersburg Partnership
• Funding for project construction - $4 Million
• Additional funding for station art - $750,000
• $950,000 in pedestrian improvements for sidewalks, ADA connections and safe connections between stations
• Conversion of one inside lane for BAT lanes
• Assistance with design reviews and construction oversight
• Expedited permitting assistance (no permits needed for right-of way improvements)
• Coordinated effort on community outreach
FDOT Partnership
• Funding for project construction - $10.5 Million
• Additional technical support during design and construction – real estate acquisition
• Conversion of one outside lane for BAT lanes
• Assistance with design reviews and construction oversight
• Coordinated effort on community and stakeholder outreach
SunRunner Project Features
oSemi-dedicated bus lanes for approx. 65% of the route
▪ Allows for business access as well as emergency vehicles (called BAT lanes)
▪ Bus lanes paved with red-pigmented asphalt
▪ Way-side signage along the route
BAT Lanes Deployment - Communication
• Coordination with City of St Petersburg PD and Pinellas County Sheriff for enforcement and outreach
Left-Side Running BAT Lanes
Station Platform Adjacent to BAT Lane
SunRunner Interior Bike Racks
SunRunner Buses
oNine 40-Foot Gillig Hybrid-Electric SunRunner Buses
oUSB ports on each seat
oFare validators near each door
oArtwork by local artist
oPurchased through State contract
SunRunner Project Features - TSP
• Transit signal priority at several traffic intersections
Project Groundbreaking
• Held on August 17, 2020 in front of TB Rays Stadium
Launched on 10/21/22
Cashless Fare System
• Enter through any door
• Tap your Flamingo Card, Contactless credit/debit card OR
• Scan your Flamingo App, Apple Pay, Google Pay
• Validators at each door
• Limited use passes available for scanning
Safety – Before and After SunRunner
• Overall traffic crashes have reduced in the corridor
Special Event Ridership
• Special event ridership surpassed weekday ridership counts
• Rays games
• Regional cultural events (St Pete Pride, MLK Day)
• Local events (localtopia, Halloween-on-Central)
• New Year’s Eve, Spring break
• Additional buses deployed during some events due to demand
SunRunner Project Savings
• Project was successfully completed under budget
• Improvements planned with project savings:
o Additional station near St Petersburg pier (under construction)
o Additional SunRunner buses for more capacity
o More frequent Friday/ Saturday night service
TOD Place Types
Height
Max 6 stories
(max 5 stories in South Pasadena)
Max 8 stories
(max 5 stories in South Pasadena)
Max 8 to 12 stories (different maximums in parts of the stations areas)
Minimum 2 stories along Central Avenue
No changes from existing
