Channelside Drive Project

What is the Channelside Drive Design Project

Imagine the potential that Channelside Drive holds to complement the Channel District's emerging urban neighborhood. The City of Tampa and the Channel District Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) are engaging the Channel District community and other interested stakeholders to create a plan for a transformed Channelside Drive.

This input, along with an analysis of conditions along Channelside Drive from south of the roundabout at Cumberland Avenue to north of Kennedy Boulevard (SR 60), will be used to create a plan to improve neighborhood safety, mobility, and vibrancy.

NEW! Plan A or B? Which do you prefer?

Two conceptual design plans for Channelside Drive were featured at a community meeting hosted by the City on November 7, 2018. The City is seeking feedback from the Channel District community and other interested persons on Plan A and Plan B for Channelside Drive.

Tell us what you think! Review Plan A and Plan B by clicking on the links below. Let us know which you prefer along with any additional feedback you have. You may print the survey/comment card linked below to write down your preference for Plan A or Plan B and additional feedback.

Plan A Conceptual Design (large file)
Plan B Conceptual Design (large file)
Project Brochure - Conceptual Design Plans
Survey/Comment Card - Conceptual Design Plans

Project Objectives

The Channel District and surrounding neighborhoods are rapidly evolving. New residents, businesses, institutions, and visitors are coming to the district, ramping up the urban vibe. The project asks the question, "How might we reconfigure Channelside Drive to better serve multiple modes of travel while contributing to the vibrancy of the Channel District?"

The planning process for Channelside Drive is guided by the following objectives:

Improve safety for all users of the street
Ensure pedestrians feel comfortable crossing the street
Improve multi-modal mobility and connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods/venues
Maintain or improve capacity for motor vehicles
Correct any existing drainage deficiencies
Maintain consistency with adjacent development/infrastructure projects
Improve aesthetic value
Develop a plan to incorporate the new design to complement the established themes in the neighborhood

Whether taking your dog to the park, walking to get ice cream with the kids, or socializing with neighbors along your way, Channelside Drive has the potential to enhance your experiences in the Channel District.

Project Timeline

Underway - Data Collection and Conditions Evaluation
May 21, 2018 - Community Meeting #1 (Needs, Preferences & Opportunities)
Summer 2018 - Agency and Key Stakeholder Coordination Meetings
Fall 2018 - Conceptual Design Alternatives
November 7, 2018 - Community Meeting #2 (Conceptual Design Alternatives)
Spring/Summer 2019 - Selected Preferred Conceptual Design Approval

Public Involvement

Vital to decision-making for the project is learning about what is important to the Channel District community. Public input on the Channelside Drive project was solicited at two community meetings and during public comment periods following these meetings.

Community Meeting #2 was held on November 7, 2018, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Port Tampa Bay Boardroom. During this final community meeting for the conceptual design phase, two alternative design concepts were displayed for the public's review and feedback. Plan A and Plan B were shown on large-format boards and distributed in a brochure containing a survey/comment card. Those in attendance at the meeting were asked to indicate their preference for Plan A or Plan B on the survey/comment card and to submit the card at the meeting or during the 14-day public comment period following the meeting. The public comment period ends on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

Community Meeting 2

Community Meeting #1 was held on May 21, 2018, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Tampa Bay History Center. Rain and a hockey playoff game that evening didn’t discourage the 37 community members who came out to lend a hand in this community-driven project. Residents, business representatives, and other interested persons helped shape the project design concepts by providing: 1) observations about Channelside Drive, 2) ideas on ways the street could be improved, and 3) opinions on design features that should be a top priority.

5/21 Public Meeting

The public input period for Community Meeting #1 ran through June 30, 2018. Public input received is documented in a public input summary for the project.

Stakeholder Meetings

Over the summer of 2018, the project team interviewed key stakeholders, including government agencies, that manage major assets in the Channel District. The information collected was used in the evaluation of project area conditions and needs and informed the Channelside Drive conceptual design plans.

What’s next?

Feedback received on Plan A and Plan B during the public comment period (November 7 - 24, 2018) will be reviewed by the City's project team to inform the development of a preferred conceptual design plan for Channelside Drive. This work is anticipated to be completed by Spring/Summer 2019.

Channelside Drive Project Logo