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.

Lanes Closing at Franklin and Channelside Early Saturday

December 11 , 2009 - The northern three lanes of Channelside Drive at the Franklin Street intersection will be closed from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. this Saturday morning (12/12/09). These closures are in addition to the closures referenced in previous alerts.

Downtown Delays Continue Through Monday

December 8 , 2009 - Construction of the TECO Line Streetcar System's extension to Whiting Street continues this week, with a change in traffic pattern on eastbound Platt Street/Channelside Drive. Drivers in the downtown area should expect delays on Bayshore Boulevard and Platt Street through next Monday, December 14th. Beginning Thursday morning, travel patterns on Platt Street will shift with the two southern (right-hand) lanes on Platt re-opening, while the two northern (left-hand) lanes will close for storm drain and water line work. Work on the extension coupled with the existing traffic pattern is impacting commuters northbound on Bayshore and eastbound on Platt.

In addition, northbound Franklin Street at Platt remains closed through Monday. Drivers entering downtown from the south and west are urged to consider alternate routes such as Kennedy Boulevard. Platt Street to the west of Bayshore Boulevard is also an alternative for drivers who may experience significant delays on northbound Bayshore.

For a detailed construction schedule for December 9 - 14, please click here.

Maps (PDF files):

Streetcar Extension Project Overview - Dec. 10-14

Channelside Drive - Dec. 10-14

Channelside Drive - Dec. 10-14, (Saturday 2 a.m. - 4 a.m.)

Channelside Drive - Dec. 10-14, (4 p.m. - 7 p.m.)

Construction Reaches Next Phase; Road Closures on Franklin, Channelside in Next Few Weeks

November 20, 2009 - The next phase of the TECO Line Streetcar System's extension to Whiting Street is expected to begin as soon as November 30th, once all formal approvals have been granted. Various lane closures on Channelside Drive and Franklin Street will impact travel through downtown for approximately two weeks after construction begins. Anyone traveling through this area is encouraged to investigate alternate routes. A more detailed schedule of possible lane closures and dates will be provided in the coming week.

More information will be posted on this page as it becomes available, so be sure to check back often.

In-Town Trolley Routes Still Operating

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

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 is scheduled for October 2009 and the extension will be operational no later than December 2010.

Construction Schedule 10/15 - 10/26

Construction Completed 10/15 – 10/23
· New sanitary sewer manhole at the intersection of Franklin St and Whiting St
· 200 linear feet of 8” sanitary sewer within Franklin St
· New sanitary sewer manhole 200’ south of Franklin/Whiting intersection within Franklin St
· 50 linear feet of 12” DIP water main across Whiting St at the Franklin/Whiting intersection to the west side of Franklin St
· Pavement restoration and temporary striping on Franklin St (by end of day 10/23)
· Franklin St and Whiting St fully open for the weekend (10/23 evening – 10/25) in all directions

Construction Schedule 10/26 – Off Peak hours 9am – 3pm
· Continuation/Installation of remaining 20 lf 12” DIP water main on the west side of Franklin, south of the Franklin/Whiting intersection. Maintenance of traffic will enable northbound/southbound traffic on Franklin St
· Pavement restoration on Franklin St and within Franklin/Whiting intersection. Lane by lane closure/restoration on · Whiting St to enable eastbound/westbound traffic on Whiting St
· All sidewalks will remain open
· Construction activities are expected to be completed in 1 day

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.