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$24 million BUILD Grant will fund project to extend Tampa's west Riverwalk northward

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Posted at 5:26 AM, Sep 07, 2021
and last updated 2021-09-13 04:48:54-04

TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) will consider an amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2021-2022 through 2025-2026 to fund the extension of the City of Tampa’s West Riverwalk to the north from I-275 to Columbus Drive.

According to a press release, the project will build 12.2-miles of multimodal, car-free paths connecting three neighborhoods on the west side of the Hillsborough River to downtown Tampa. The path will serve as a safe place for walking and cycling. It will also connect to transit stations, the water taxi, the TECO streetcar, and major roadways in the area.

RELATED: City of Tampa to discuss $24 million BUILD Grant to extend Riverwalk, improve Big Bend Road Corridor

The city said the project is a high priority and will spur economic growth and lead to new business opportunities, jobs, affordable housing options, and recreational opportunities.

"This is a transformative project for the city of Tampa that will lead to significant investments in West Tampa and the West River," City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a statement. "Not only will the continuation of the Riverwalk on the West side of the river provide safe multimodal transportation choices for pedestrians and commuting cyclists, but it will create a world-class destination for the surrounding new and existing neighborhoods."

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded the grant for $24 million in 2020 as part of its Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) program.

The public can comment on the amendment through Sept. 13 via email to tpo@plancom.org; mail to Hillsborough TPO, Attn: Cheryl Wilkening, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 18th Floor, Tampa 33602; voicemail one week in advance of the meeting to 813-272-5940 (press 9); or social media by posting on the TPO Facebook page.