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State Grant Begins Plan For Trail Across Old Tampa Bay

A state grant awarded in December is the first step toward a bicycle/pedestrian trail spanning Upper Tampa Bay from McMullen Booth Road to Veteran’s Expressway along the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

The Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway Corridor Advisory Committee (CCSH CAC) has been awarded $400,000 in statewide Transportation Enhancement funding from the Florida Department of Transportation, District 7 to explore options for constructing a multi-modal trail across Tampa Bay.

The project limits for this feasibility study extend a distance of approximately 9.9 miles, from McMullen Booth Road to the Veteran’s Expressway along the Courtney Campbell Causeway (SR 60).

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the environmental effects and the technical feasibility of adding a bicycle/pedestrian facility for the entire project length. The study also will provide alternatives for spanning the bay, determining the feasibility of either attaching the trail to the existing bridge structure or constructing independent trail structures. Trails on both the north and south side of the causeway are envisioned, linking public parks, boat ramps and businesses.

The proposed trail will connect Hillsborough County and Pinellas County, allowing users to make a seamless journey between the two metropolitan areas while enjoying the corridor’s pristine vistas. The trail would provide connectivity to major trail and park systems within core areas of Clearwater and Tampa.

This project is a component of the Corridor Management Plan for the recently designated Courtney Campbell Causeway Scenic Highway. The project is unique in that it is a cooperative effort between the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, the cities of Clearwater and Tampa and the counties of Pinellas and Hillsborough. Additionally, the partnership includes the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, Westshore Alliance and the consulting engineering firms PBS&J and URS. This trail link is also an identified priority on the West Central Florida MPO Chairs Coordinating Committee’s Regional Multi-Use Trail Priority Map.

Corridor Advisory Committee Vice-Chair and City of Tampa Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena said, “The exciting part of linking Hillsborough and Pinellas County is the cooperative approach the Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway Corridor Advisory Committee has taken. Eco-tourism is growing in both counties and the opportunity to have a bicycle and pedestrian trail will expand that opportunity further. It would be great to be able to ride your bike, skate, or walk the Courtney Campbell across the bridge.”

Florida Department of Transportation, District 7 staff is working on the scoping and will be going out for bid in February.