04/14/2014 - Topic Transportation WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOPIC TRANSPORTATION
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 14, 2014
Present: Councilmember Bill Jonson, Councilmember Doreen DiPolito
Also present: Jill Silverboard -Assistant City Manager, Rod Irwin -Assistant City Manager,
Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
The Work Session was called to order at 12:30 p.m. at City Hall.
1 — PSTA— US 19 Accessibility and Circulator Study Request
Planning & Development Director Michael Delk said PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority)
staff recommended Clearwater's PSTA representative present to the Board of Directors for
approval, the City's request to study the circulation system on US19 as outlined in Phase I of
the City's Greenlight Plan. It was agreed a timely study is necessary to gauge current levels of
demand and establish a baseline to measure future assumptions re increased densities,
intensities, and employment on US19. Councilmember Jonson will present the request. Staff will
coordinate attendance at the meeting.
It was stated for a decade PSTA discussed the US19 redesign with FDOT (Florida Department
of Transportation), pressing the importance of accommodating transit riders; residents near
Harn Road will lose accessibility across US19 due to FDOT cost benefit choices. Discussion
ensued regarding the need to coordinate local transportation studies, new funding to incorporate
transit improvements, and the request to extend the North County Circulator to Cypress Point.
2 — PSTA— Beach Bus Considerations
It was recommended that Clearwater identify parking for PSTA Park and Ride. Assistant City
Manager Jill Silverboard said staff will contact PSTA re which pieces of the plan Clearwater
should address first. Assistant City Manager Rod Irwin said many discussions re rapid transit
had considered multi modal site parking for Tampa Airport and beach destinations, however the
new PSTA facility has not been launched. The biggest impediment to public transportation to
the beach is heavy bridge traffic. It was stated ferry service from downtown could drop
passengers at the beach marina and/or Pelican Walk.
3 —ACPT Meeting Conflict with Council Work Sessions
It was stated Hillsborough and Pasco MPOs (Metropolitan Planning Organizations) members
have voiced respect for ACPT (Advisory Committee for Pinellas Transportation)
accomplishments. Due to the City's strong statement of support for the Greenlight Initiative, it
was recommended that Clearwater be represented at all ACPT meetings. As one ACPT
meeting conflicts with a Council Work Session on May 12, it was recommended the Work
Session be rescheduled.
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4—TBARTA Presentation Request—2013 Regional Transportation Master Plan (3/25/14
email)
Assistant City Manager Jill Silverboard said TBARTA (Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation
Authority) had offered to schedule presentations on a variety of topics.
Consensus was to invite TBARTA to a City Council meeting to present the updated Regional
Transportation Master Plan including corridor studies, alternatives analyses, and new plans for
improved transportation and benefits of regional leveraging for transportation planning, funding,
and improvements.
5—Other Business
Councilmember Jonson presented photographs of privately funded benches near a bus stop.
He said the County is considering terminating the related contract as the benches provide
minimal income for charities and are positioned to maximize advertising potential rather than to
serve transit customers.
6 —Adjourn
The Work Session adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
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