Whiting Street Extension Project

TECO Line Streetcar System Whiting Street Extension Project

The TECO Line Streetcar System is growing! In 2010, the streetcars will reach the heart of downtown Tampa with a 1/3-mile extension to Whiting Street.

August 20, 2010 - Tampa, Florida - Construction of the TECO Line Streetcar System's extension to Whiting Street continues during the week of August 23rd. The schedule is as follows:

STREETCAR EXTENSION 08/23/2010 - 08/26/2010

Please see the Maintenance of Traffic and Construction Activities for Monday (08/23/2010) through Friday (08/27/2010)

Maintenance of Traffic

       · All lanes on Franklin Street southbound will remain open except for Wednesday
          8/25/2010 from 8am - 2pm. On Wednesday, the west lane will close from
          Channelside Drive to the northern Franklin Street entrance of the Convention
          Center.
       · The right lane of northbound Franklin Street will remain closed from Old Water
          Street to Whiting Street.
       · Only the center lane will be open on Northbound Franklin Street at Whiting
          Street. This lane will allow for right and left-hand turns onto Whiting Street.
       · All lane will remain open on Whiting Street.

Construction Activities

       · Track installation north of Brorein Street
       · Site demolition for the Station
       · Traffic Signalization work
       · OCS pole installation

In-Town Trolley Routes Still Operating

HART's In-Town Trolley October 27, 2009 - A report in the October 26, 2009 St. Petersburg Times incorrectly stated that the In-Town Trolley Purple and Green Lines (Routes 96 and 97) will be discontinued during construction of the TECO Line Streetcar System extension to Whiting Street. The routes will be on temporary detour during much of the construction, but they will continue to operate. Please click here for more information on the In-Town Trolley detours.

Streetcar Extension Breaks Ground

VIPs turn the dirt at Whiting Street Extension groundbreaking ceremony October 9, 2009 - On Friday, October 9th, the TECO Line Streetcar System marked a new milestone, as Hillsborough Area Regional Transit and Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc. broke ground on the Whiting Street extension in a ceremony held at the future location of the new station stop. Against a backdrop of music by the Sam Rampello Downtown Partnership School band, HART CEO David Armijo hosted the event, which featured speeches by Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, former Mayor Dick Greco, HART Board Chair Ron Govin and THS President David Mechanik. Mayor Iorio stressed that the streetcar exension will provide additional connectivity and a link to future transit initiatives.

Click here for more photos from the ceremony.

Signature Station Design Charrette
Urban Charrette facilitated a design charrette for the new station on Franklin Street at Whiting Street. Participants in this one-day workshop chose the theme of "color by day and light by night." The station design is hoped to activate the space with comfortable “living rooms” for waiting riders. A modular station design affords flexible applications in future downtown stations. Lights at night will provide a warm glow to attract riders and improve safety. Click here to view the complete report (PDF file).

Below are sketches of the station design (click on images for a larger view):

Tampa’s Historic TECO Line Streetcar System is moving north. The existing 2.4 mile system that currently terminates at the Dick Greco Plaza is being extended to Whiting Street at the south end of downtown. Extension Phase IIa consists of a single track from the current terminus with a passing track within HART’s parking area north of Brorein to Fort Brooke Garage to a new station at Whiting. Three vehicles will be capable of boarding at the side-loading platform station and up to four vehicles will be able to stage at the passing track. Click here or on the map at left to view larger.

A design-build contract was awarded to Kimmins Contracting Inc. on April 6, 2009. Groundbreaking took place in October 2009 and the extension will be operational late 2010 - early 2011.

Activities to date:

6/4/09 Technical Review Committee/Utility Coordination
6/30/09 Topographical Survey Completed
7/13/09 Utility Relocation Design Submittal
7/17/09 Design Charrette by Urban Charrette
8/25/09 Steering Committee

9/28/09 Final Civil Engineering Drawings
9/29/09 Signature Station Architectural Review Drawings
10/9/09 Groundbreaking
10/9/09 Utility Construction Begins

11/30/09 Construction Begins

HART and Kimmins are working closely with the City of Tampa to minimize potential impacts on the traveling public and our neighbors. As with any construction project, some disruption is anticipated, particularly to traffic. The following guidelines are used to develop construction phasing and will be adhered to in the associated Maintenance of Traffic plans.

• Minimize directional closures required for track install – no intersection welds
• Maintain turning movements
• Minimize duration of lane/directional closures
• Coordinate timing of closures with area activities/events
• Provide for safe pedestrian access
• Minimize disruption to Fort Brooke Garage Franklin entry and surface parking
• Delay elimination of parking meters as long as possible
• Relocate Whiting northbound bus stop (Green & Purple trolley lines)
• Publicize plans to enable affected public and property owners time to react

Not all closures will happen at once. Work is expected to begin with utility work first, beginning at the north end and working south. Check back for details on affected traffic patterns and scheduling.