The City of Tampa is taking the next step in the West River District BUILD Grant project, which aims to expand the Tampa Riverwalk and connect it to more neighborhoods west of the Hillsborough River.
The city has recently advertised for a design-build team or firm to design and construct this approximately 5-mile-long project. Once the City of Tampa selects a contractor, our teams will be able to develop renderings, continue to coordinate with the community, and shape what this expansion will truly look like.
The additional trail will connect to more neighborhoods including West Tampa, Tampa Heights, Bayshore Boulevard, Hyde Park, Riverside Heights, North Franklin Street, and Bowman Heights. The trail will go from North Bayshore Boulevard, near the Platt Street bridge, and will have some over-water segments and living shorelines.
The project will also feature better sidewalks, bike lanes, and enhanced crossing features at major roadways to expand safer connections in neighborhoods that make up the West River area. Several schools are on the path, so this project will allow kids to walk to school more safely.
"This project is about more than just following the river, it's about connecting our neighborhoods and making them safer," Mayor Jane Castor said. "We are thrilled to be able to transform the west side of the river and fill in the gaps. This project will make it safer and more fun for anyone who wants to come to downtown and experience the center of our city, the Hillsborough River.”
In the Fall of 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved a $24 million grant to partially fund this project, with funding secured by Representative Kathy Castor through the Federal Highway Administration's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program.
"The $24M BUILD grant will improve neighborhoods, mobility, and connectivity through 12 miles of multi-modal paths and street improvements,” Representative Kathy Castor said. “I am proud to have championed the City's vision and the positive impact previous grants have had on our hometown. The previous federal funding of $10M for the Tampa Riverwalk has been instrumental in the redevelopment of the downtown and waterfront. Mayor Castor is a great partner in securing funding and building a safer, friendlier, and connected Tampa."
This project is part of Mayor Jane Castor and the City's commitment to Vision Zero, an international strategy to get to zero deaths and life-changing injuries on Tampa’s roadways by improving safety in areas with high numbers of pedestrian and vehicle crashes.
The project is slated to be substantially completed by December 31, 2026.