TECO Line Streetcar System Whiting Street Extension Project

The TECO Line Streetcar System has grown!  As of December 19th 2010, the streetcars now reach the heart of downtown Tampa with a 1/3-mile extension to Whiting Street.

A design-build contract was awarded to Kimmins Contracting Inc. on April 6, 2009. Groundbreaking took place in October 2009 and the extension held a soft opening on December 19, 2010.

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– 4/31/2010 Subsurface Utility Construction
5/1/2010 – 8/8/2010 Streetcar Track Construction
8/15/2010 - Streetcar Station construction begins
8/15 – 11/15/2010 – Resurfacing Franklin Street, installation of traffic signals and signage
10/15/2010 – 11/15/2010 – Overhead Catenary System installation
12/06/2010 – Streetcar Station Substantially Complete
12/06-12/18/2010 – Streetcar Extension Maintenance and Operations Testing
12/17/2010 – Public Art Component on Streetcar Station complete
12/19/2010 – Streetcar Extension Open to the Public
1/31/2011 – Grand Opening Ceremony

Streetcar Extension Breaks Ground

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 hopes 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 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):

A design-build contract was awarded to Kimmins Contracting Inc. on April 6, 2009. Groundbreaking took place in October 2009.

Streetcar Extension is Making Tracks

September 21st, 2010 - When you hop off the TECO Line Streetcar System at its current terminus near the Tampa Convention Center, you can just about catch a glimpse of downtown. "Just a little farther," you might think, "and it would be right there!"br>
Well, soon it will be right there. A 1/3-mile extension of the system to the corner of Franklin and Whiting Streets has been underway since October, and is right on schedule to open by the end of this year. Let's take a look!

First, we'll get our bearings. Right now, the streetcar line ends on Franklin Street, just south of Channelside Drive - which is just about at the front door of the Tampa Convention Center, next to the Embassy Suites hotel.

The extension will take the line north on Franklin, under the Selmon Expressway overpass, through the Brorein intersection, and just past the Ft. Brooke garage. The new end of the line will be between the downtown YMCA and Hattricks, and across the street from the Poe Plaza esplanade.

Now that you know where we're going, let's see how we're going to get there. As of this 08/06/2010, new tracks have been installed from the current end of the line all the way up to Whiting Street, including a section of double track between Brorein and Cumberland that will allow two streetcars traveling in opposite directions to pass each other. In addition, the system of overhead catenary wires that powers the streetcars has begun with installation of the pole foundations.  Lots of work has been done on utilities and stormwater drainage, along with demolition for the new station stop at Franklin and Whiting.

Track installation is expected to be completed this month with the finishing of a turn-out, the Cumberland Avenue crossing, and a short section of double track between Brorein Street and Cumberland.  The next big step is construction of the brand new station stop, which began in August and should be wrapped up in November.

So by Christmas, when you take the TECO Line Streetcar System toward downtown, you won't just have to glimpse those tall buildings. You'll already be there!

STREETCAR EXTENSION

TAMPA, Fla. — The TECO Line Streetcar System's extension from Dick Greco Plaza (near the Tampa Convention Center) north into downtown Tampa has begun operating as of December 19.
 
The extension ends at the new station at Franklin and Whiting Streets, which is between the downtown YMCA and Hattricks, and across the street from the Poe Plaza esplanade. This extension adds one-third of a mile to the 2.4-mile streetcar system to better connect some of Tampa's most popular tourist, entertainment and business districts:  Ybor City, the Channel District and Downtown Tampa. To view a map of the entire streetcar system, visit:  http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/about/maps/downtown_network_map_12_01_10.pdf

A grand opening ceremony to celebrate this extension project and unveil the new station's lighted public art component will be held in late January 2011 and will be open to the public.
 
About the Extension Project
The design and construction cost of the extension project was $5.3 million, paid with primarily federal funds, including $1 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The project includes a new station, and single track from Dick Greco Plaza to Franklin and Whiting Streets, with a passing track north of Brorein Street. 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.
 
Family Discount Pass Now Available
The TECO Line Streetcar System is also now offering a family discount pass for $12.50. This fare covers up to five passengers, which includes up to two adults. Children ages 4 and under continue to ride free with a paid adult. These family passes may be purchased with cash or debit/credit card at Ticket Vending Machines, located at most streetcar stations. at Ticket Vending Machines, located at most streetcar stations.

The Whiting Street Station features a public art light display titled "Siteliner" by artist James Woodfill.

Tampa’s Historic TECO Line Streetcar System moved north. The existing 2.4 mile system that terminated at the Dick Greco Plaza has been 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 the HART 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.