PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Transportation officials in Pinellas County are making a plan of what projects should be funded over the next 25 years and now they want input from the public.

On Thursday, Forward Pinellas announced the kickoff of their new Long Range Transportation Plan.

While a list of projects that local governments and residents have said are much-needed have been included on the preliminary plan, officials want more opinions before creating the final draft.

What You Need To Know

  • FULL PLAN: Projects up for consideration 

  • Top priorities include improvements on I-275, U.S. 19 north of Tampa Road

  • Project must make the Forward Pinellas Long Range Transportation Plan to get state, federal funding 

  • Feedback period begins this week 

For any transportation project to receive state and federal funding, it must be included in the Long Range Transportation Plan.

“This is really our opportunity to look at how we prioritize transportation projects and what projects we’re going to spend money on,” said Chelsea Favero with Forward Pinellas.

The team with Forward Pinellas plans to gather feedback from residents through online surveys and outreach at local events like farmers markets throughout the next year.

The feedback period will run through next summer when Forward Pinellas creates the final list of projects that should be considered for state and federal funding. The Forward Pinellas board of directors will then vote on the plan in fall 2024.

“We’re not just going to come up with plans for projects in our cubicles. We really want the public's input for what they want to see in their communities,” Favero said.

Projects surfacing high on the priority list include lane changes on I-275, improvements to U.S. 19 north of Tampa Road, replacing the Gandy Bridge and finishing the 75-mile loop of the Pinellas Trail.

Dozens of additional projects are also up for consideration.

Favero said the feedback portal has not formally launched yet, but will in the coming week.