A public hearing on bridge replacement turned into a plea for mass transit Tuesday night, when the state Transportation Department convened a meeting on plans to rebuild the Howard Frankland Bridge at a cost of $390 million.
From the St. Pete Area Chamber of Commerce to the Sierra Club to Duke Energy, speaker after speaker pleaded with state engineers to consider future transportation needs and to include light rail as an option. About 75 people attended the Tuesday night forum, which was at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority headquarters in St. Petersburg. Thirteen people spoke in favor of light rail or other rapid transit options. Two were against it.
R. Alexander Glenn, president of Duke Energy in Florida, was among members of the public who spoke at the public hearing, stepping to the podium after a representative of the Sierra Club spoke. Glenn noted that “It is not often that you see Duke Energy agree with the Sierra Club,” but he urged officials to put all transportation options on the table when developing plans to replace the north span – whether it’s “bus rapid transit or light rail.”
He argued that the state may find itself at “the point of no return,” if it fails to include a mass transit component when replacing the aging bridge span.
Frank Jacalone of the Sierra Club had just spoken, telling the crowd that “light rail is essential to any redesign.” He noted that even if a rebuilt north bridge span can accommodate higher volumes of vehicles, there will be gridlock as drivers exit the span for I-275.
Anne Drake McMullen of Doyle Wealth Management, who is active in the St. Pete Area Chamber of Commerce, also spoke. She echoed concerns about ensuring there is planning for mass transit. She urged the state to understand where Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are in considering mass transit options.
State officials noted that the 50-year-old bridge has become “strained” beyond capacity, “increasing delays and limiting economic activity.” At issue is a project for rebuilding the north span of the bridge. Plans include a span that is 6 feet higher than the existing bridge to minimize damage from waves in a bad storm. In addition, the new bridge will be wider to include a buffer, transit lane or express lane.
How that extra lane is utilized in the future was the focus of discussion.
A printed statement from the Transportation Department noted that the project has a framework, but it is just a beginning, with more work, planning and community involvement required.
The printed handout stated that “we need to look at the big picture for the Howard Frankland Bridge. The current study is only evaluating the replacement of the existing northbound bridge. Beyond considering an extra four feet of bridge width and a possible transit envelope, the study is not considering the environmental impact of a wider structure or a separate structure across Tampa Bay.”
