The Drew Street corridor in Clearwater, Pinellas County, is set to undergo a significant repaving project between Osceola Avenue and US 19. This initiative aims to improve the roadway infrastructure and enhance safety for all users. Specifically, the section of Drew Street from Osceola Avenue to Keene Road will be redesigned to feature a two-lane configuration, accommodating wider sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes. This transformation is intended to create a more balanced and accessible streetscape for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.
Currently in the design phase, the Drew Street repaving project is anticipated to commence construction in the summer of 2026. This timeline allows for thorough planning and consideration of all aspects of the project, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum benefit to the community upon completion.
Project Evolution: Addressing Community Needs and Traffic Data
The Drew Street project has undergone a thorough review and adaptation process to best meet the evolving needs of Clearwater and its residents. In April 2023, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), responding to directives from the Legislature, initiated an update to the Drew Street Lane Repurposing project. This update was crucial to incorporate new traffic data and ensure the project aligned with current traffic patterns and future demands.
FDOT District 7 diligently conducted a re-evaluation in Spring 2024. This comprehensive assessment included updated traffic count data, advanced travel demand modeling, and in-depth analysis of potential impacts on alternative transportation routes. The re-evaluation also considered anticipated safety outcomes, ensuring that any modifications to the project would prioritize the well-being of all road users. The findings of this re-evaluation were subsequently shared with key stakeholders, including Forward Pinellas and the City of Clearwater staff, fostering transparency and collaborative decision-making.
City Council Engagement and Collaborative Compromise
On May 13, 2024, FDOT presented the results of their re-evaluation to the Clearwater City Council during a dedicated Council Work Session. The City Council members voiced concerns regarding the initial lane repurposing concept for Drew Street, particularly highlighting potential impacts on east-west traffic capacity within Clearwater. This feedback underscored the importance of maintaining efficient traffic flow while implementing safety and accessibility improvements.
Responding to these concerns, the Clearwater City Council convened on May 16, 2024, and voted to actively collaborate with FDOT and Forward Pinellas to develop a compromise solution. This collaborative approach aimed to address the City Council’s concerns while still achieving the project’s core objectives. The agenda item was continued to subsequent meetings to allow for the development of a mutually agreeable plan. In the weeks that followed, FDOT, Forward Pinellas, and the City of Clearwater worked in close coordination to formulate an alternative concept that balanced safety enhancements with traffic capacity considerations.
Amended Concept: Prioritizing Safety and Minimizing Capacity Impacts
FDOT presented a preliminary amended concept to the City Council during the June 3, 2024, Council Work Session. This revised plan focused on incorporating targeted safety improvements at critical locations along Drew Street, while strategically minimizing any adverse effects on overall corridor capacity. This approach demonstrated a commitment to addressing the City’s concerns and finding a balanced solution.
The Clearwater City Council reconvened on June 6, 2024, and unanimously voted to affirm this amended concept. This unanimous approval signaled strong support for the collaborative approach and the revised project direction. Furthermore, the Council authorized the City Manager to develop a capital funding plan to budget for any future city commitments related to the necessary relocation of utilities within the project area. This proactive step ensures that the City is prepared to support the project’s implementation and contribute to its success.
Ongoing Development and Future Coordination
Currently, FDOT is actively engaged in further vetting this amended concept. This process includes detailed project cost estimations and continued coordination with both Forward Pinellas and the City of Clearwater. This ongoing collaboration is essential to ensure that the Drew Street Repaving project remains responsive to community needs, fiscally responsible, and effectively enhances the transportation infrastructure in Clearwater. The project team is committed to maintaining open communication and collaboration as the project progresses through the concept development phase and moves towards construction in 2026.
Drew Street Project Timeline Recap:
- April 2023: Florida Legislature directs FDOT to update the Drew Street Lane Repurposing project based on new traffic data analysis.
- Spring 2024: FDOT District 7 completes re-evaluation, incorporating updated traffic counts, travel demand modeling, and alternative corridor/safety analysis. Results shared with Forward Pinellas and City of Clearwater.
- May 13, 2024: FDOT presents re-evaluation findings to Clearwater City Council Work Session. Council expresses concerns about east-west capacity impacts.
- May 16, 2024: Clearwater City Council votes to collaborate on a compromise solution maintaining Drew Street capacity and continues agenda item. FDOT, Forward Pinellas, and City of Clearwater begin developing an alternative concept.
- June 3, 2024: FDOT presents amended concept with safety improvements and minimized capacity impacts at City Council Work Session.
- June 6, 2024: Clearwater City Council unanimously approves the amended concept and authorizes City Manager to plan for utility relocation funding.
- Ongoing Efforts: FDOT vets amended concept, estimates project costs, and continues coordination with Forward Pinellas and City of Clearwater throughout project development.
