The SunRunner Rising Development Study is a federally funded project through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Transit-Oriented Development Pilot Program with a goal to integrate land use and transportation planning. Throughout the study, staff worked with community leaders to examine ways to improve economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrians and bicyclists, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs, and enable mixed-use development near transit stations. Next, staff will work to integrate these recommendations into the necessary policies and determine funding opportunities to turn these ideas into reality.
“We are excited to work with Forward Pinellas, the City of St. Petersburg, and the City of South Pasadena on the SunRunner Rising study,” said Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer of PSTA. “We know the recommendations will be incredibly beneficial for our community. Residents and visitors to our county will be able to live, work and play in a clean and sustainable way all around the SunRunner Corridor.”
The Forward Pinellas Board, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) and the City of St. Petersburg have accepted the final recommendations from the “SunRunner Rising” Study outlining how we can create a SunRunner Corridor that is vibrant, safe and accessible for everyone along the new SunRunner line in St. Petersburg, South Pasadena, and St. Pete Beach. These recommendations incorporated the community’s thoughts and ideas received through many different listening sessions and forums that focused on connecting our transportation network within the SunRunner Corridor to allow people to easily get to work, restaurants, retail and recreation. The SunRunner is nearing completion of its construction phase and will be operating with passengers this fall.
Highlights from the recommendations of the SunRunner Rising Study include:
- Creating 10 station areas to promote ridership
- Creating wayfinding to SunRunner stops
- Increasing bike and pedestrian connections from neighborhoods
- Promoting housing affordability through density bonuses and height increases
- Increasing public-private partnerships especially to address rent stabilization
- Fostering workforce development partnerships increasing educational opportunities
“It’s time to invest in transit throughout our communities. We know we still have a lot of work to do to provide access to homes, education and jobs throughout our county and region,” said Whit Blanton, Executive Director of Forward Pinellas. “We’re thankful for the excellent community and agency partnerships we’ve made throughout this study. The SunRunner Rising Study recommendations will ensure we’re setting this project and our communities up for success.”
