It states, “Central Avenue, because of the recent rezoning to allow 60 dwelling units per acre and the SunRunner BRT, is the corridor most poised to be redeveloped with TOD principles. PSTA, in partnership with the City and Forward Pinellas is developing a TOD strategic plan which seeks to maximize dense, walkable, mixed-use development near the BRT station areas.”
StPete2050 goes on to describe what such development might look like: “with active first floor retail uses and office and residential uses on higher stories.”
SunRunner should also fit in well with longer-term StPete2050 plans. For instance StPete2050 mentions the Downtown Mobility Study which includes review of the potential removal or modification of the I-175 spur separating Tropicana Field and the Edge district from Campbell Park and communities to the south. The SunRunner Tropicana Field station would help connect these neighborhoods.
And StPete2050 cites a Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority study to identify a future BRT project along I-275 that will connect Downtown St. Petersburg, Gateway and Tampa. Rank says SunRunner “will be a catalyst for many future BRTs that we can continue to connect our community through transit.”
Although the Greenlight Pinellas light rail and bus route expansion was shot down eight years ago, a successful SunRunner could help renew efforts to finally bring extensive public rapid transit to Tampa Bay.
PSTA’s SunRunner is expected to open later this year. For more information on the SunRunner and its benefits, visit PSTA’s website.