The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District Seven is conducting a corridor planning and concept development study along a portion of SR 580 in Pinellas County. This study focuses on segments of SR 580 from Alternate US 19/SR 595/Broadway to Tampa Road being conducted in Pinellas County, Florida.
Beginning at Alternate US 19 in the City of Dunedin, SR 580 is a four-lane divided urban arterial for approximately one mile then transitions to a four-lane undivided urban arterial to Pinehurst Road. East of Pinehurst Road, SR 580 is a six-lane undivided urban arterial that continues east until just west of SR 590/Philippe Parkway. At this location, SR 580 transitions to a four-lane undivided urban arterial and continues to the end of the project at Tampa Road. Daily traffic volumes range from 10,800 vehicles per day to 48,500 vehicles per day along the corridor in the year 2018. The total length of the corridor is approximately 8.5 miles. The corridor features sidewalks on both sides of the roadway, with a few exceptions. Bike lanes are present on both sides of SR 580 from Alternate US 19 to Countryside Boulevard.
SR 580 consists of several different segments, each of which vary in the land use and development patterns both along the roadway and in the surrounding areas. The purpose of the studies are to work with the community, stakeholders and a Project Advisory Group (PAG) to develop a plan and identify needs and issues. The corridor plan will guide proposed short- and long-term recommendations. These may include issues relating to capacity, traffic operations, safety, access and egress, freight movements, transit, bicycles, and pedestrian movements.
Phases of the Study
The SR 580 Corridor Planning and Concept Development Study will be conducted in two phases.
Phase I focuses on Defining the Problem which includes collection and assessment of the existing conditions, which leads to defining the Purpose and Need. The Purpose and Need will help to determine which intersections, roadway segments and multimodal transportation facilities must be further analyzed in Phase II. The future traffic volumes and SYNCHRO network will be developed during Phase I.
Phase II involves conducting detailed operational analysis, such as SYNCHRO and Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), on the selected intersections, roadways segments and multimodal facilities. Phase II ultimately focuses on developing alternatives for the transportation facilities, discussed in Phase I. Phase II work activities may be expanded after the locations for further evaluation are selected at the end of Phase I activities.
Defining the Purpose and Needs by conducting detail operational analysis (SYNCHRO and HCM) on the selected intersections, roadway segments and other multimodal facilities then focus on further developing alternatives for the transportation facilities defined in Phase I. Phase II work activities will follow this task after the locations for further evaluation are selected at the end of certain Phase I activities.