U.S. 19 Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study

Overview:

Bus rapid transit is a cost-effective means to reduce travel time and improve connections throughout Tampa Bay. While the PD&E Study for TBARTA’s I-275 BRT project continues, in August 2021 TBARTA initiated a feasibility study of BRT on another heavily travelled corridor, this one connecting the western portions of Pinellas and Pasco counties.

The study is evaluating U.S. 19 from S.R. 52 in Pasco County to Pinellas County’s Gateway area. It seeks to identify a feasible alternative for implementation, while defining cost requirements and building consensus with FDOT and planning and transportation agencies in Pasco and Pinellas Counties.

Goals Include:

  • Station Area Evaluation with 44 potential sites under review.
  • Alignment Evaluation, including recommendations for roadway improvements and measurements of impact on ridership, travel time, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Preliminary Concept of Operations, which will include 10% of design, a draft operating plan of service hours and frequency, and capital and operating expense estimates.

This study is a collaboration of TBARTA, The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Forward Pinellas, The Pasco County MPO, The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), and GOPasco.  The study's executive team is:

  • Carl Mikyska, Pasco MPO
  • Jason Harris, GOPASCO
  • Whit Blanton, Forward Pinellas
  • Cassandra Borchers, PSTA
  • Ming Gao, FDOT
  • David Green, TBARTA