TBARTA selects WSP to study and design 41-mile BRT project

Development of a 41-mile bus rapid transit project connecting Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties took another major step forward April 26 when the governing board of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) selected WSP USA to conduct a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study.

Designed to provide faster transit service to commuters, as well as an impetus for future projects, the regional bus rapid transit (BRT) route under study begins in downtown St. Petersburg and travels north on I-275 through Tampa before ending in Wesley Chapel. Stops in the Westshore District, downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida are planned.

“TBARTA is committed to developing a world-class regional transit system in Tampa Bay, and bus rapid transit moves us in that direction,” said Jim Holton, TBARTA Chairman. “It’s the right step at the right time.”

WSP USA is a worldwide transportation and infrastructure firm with local offices in Tampa. The company has experience in BRT development and funding, covering all components including bus lanes and busways, stations and maintenance facilities. Over a proposed 28-month timeline, WSP will coordinate with stakeholders and the public to develop design alternatives, study their social, environmental and economic impacts, and use the findings to develop an application for a capital investment grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The TBARTA contract is for three years in an amount not to exceed $5 million.

“Not only will this project provide a more extensive and efficient means to get people where they want to go, it will also serve as a catalyst for future regional transit development,” said David Green, TBARTA Executive Director. “BRT is one of the fastest growing public transport systems, and Tampa Bay is increasingly a regional community with a need for enhanced connectivity that benefits residents, workers, and visitors.”