The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District Seven, conducted a corridor planning study along SR 693 (Pasadena Avenue) from Shore Drive South to 66th Street in Pinellas County – a distance of approximately 1.659 miles. SR 693 (Pasadena Avenue) is a north-south roadway that serves as a major commercial and commuter highway that traverses through the City of South Pasadena and City of Saint Petersburg. The corridor itself is an evacuation route and viewed as a gateway from the central business district and outlying areas of the City of St. Petersburg to the northern end of the St. Pete Beach communities.
The purpose of this study was to work with the community, stakeholders and a Project Advisory Group (PAG) to develop a vision and to identify a series of goals and objectives to enhance and improve the corridor. The corridor vision will guide proposed short-term and long-term recommendations. These included issues relating to capacity, traffic operations, safety, access and egress, freight movements, transit, bicycles, and pedestrian movements.
Phases of the Study
The study consisted of three phases, and each has its own technical and public involvement focus:
PHASE 1 – Developing a Corridor Vision
We listened to the community’s desires and used this input to help shape the corridor vision, which informed the study’s approach. Public outreach activities during this phase included:
- ONLINE SURVEY: As part of the outreach during this phase, we asked for feedback through a survey about the future of the SR 693 (Pasadena Avenue) corridor.
- PROJECT ADVISORY GROUP (PAG) Meetings: A series of PAG was held throughout the study. The first meeting was used to obtain insight from community leaders and residents to help develop a vision for the future of the SR 693 (Pasadena Avenue) corridor.
- VISIONING WORKSHOP: The findings from the PAG meetings were presented to the public at the visioning workshop, and the project team solicited input to refine the corridor vision.
Concurrent with the public outreach efforts, the project team gathered technical data on how the existing corridor was used. Findings of the technical analysis and a summary of public comments garnered through the online survey and PAG meetings were presented at a workshop at the end of this phase.
PHASE 2 – Develop/Refine Corridor Alternatives
The project team developed a variety of short- and long-term solutions to improve mobility and safety within the project corridor, and engaged the community in refining design options through Project Advisory Group meetings and an Alternatives Public Workshop. The public offered ideas and commented on what options they like best.
PHASE 3 – Corridor Alternatives and Strategies Report
A Corridor Alternatives and Strategies Report (CASR) was developed at the conclusion of the study. The CASR outlines a series of guiding goals and objectives, and identifies a range of multi-modal solutions to address the mobility needs along the corridor within a context that reflects the long-term vision for the study corridor.
Approach to Project Process
The CASR includes short-term and long-term strategies and policies/procedures that guide future development within the corridor, as well as specific improvements that can be advanced near term though local agency participation and/or by FDOT as resurfacing, restoration and rehabilitation (3R), safety enhancements or push-button projects.
Study Documents
Public Involvement Plan – Community participation for the SR 693 (Pasadena Avenue) Corridor Study is guided by a Public Involvement Plan, which outlines how the public can be involved in each stage of the study. In addition to an overview of the project and a list of stakeholders, the Public Involvement Plan lays out the objectives and strategies for sharing information and getting feedback.