Subject:
Title
Ratification of County Administrator approval and execution of the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation grant application to the United States Department of Transportation for the San Martin Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Ratification of County Administrator approval and execution of the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation Program (PROTECT) grant application to the United States Department of Transportation for the San Martin Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project.
• Requested grant funding is $24,236,400.00 (77%); anticipated County match is $6,271,600.00 (20%). County match will be funded through the Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Program.
• Total federal funds for PROTECT grant program cannot exceed 80% of total cost. San Martin Bridge Replacement has received $850,000.00 (3%) in federal earmarks. If awarded, total federal funding on project will be $25,086,400.00 (80%).
• County Administrator approved submission of the application through Legistar Item 26-0804D because of the submittal deadline. This action by the Board of County Commissioners ratifies that process.
• Application deadline for submission was October 9, 2026.
• If awarded, the PROTECT grant will offset Penny for Pinellas funds.
• Funding for this project is budgeted under the San Martin Boulevard over Riviera Bay Bridge Replacement PID 001036A, included in the Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Penny for Pinellas and a federal earmark.
County PID: 001036A; Total project construction cost is approximately $31,358,000.00, with anticipated grant funding being $24,236,400.00; County match is $6,271,600.00; Authorize the Board to ratify the County Administrator’s signature, approval, and submission of the grant application due to submittal deadline.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Smart Service Delivery
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement.
Summary:
Summary
By this action, the Board is authorizing the County Administrator to approve, sign, and submit the Grant Application for the San Martin Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project due to time constraints. The Application was prepared by the County’s consultant. The final completed Grant Application must be submitted no later than October 9, 2026.
The San Martin Boulevard Bridge was constructed in 1962 and is nearing the end of its service life, which refers to the period during which a bridge can safely and reliably function. Additionally, the Bridge does not have bike lanes or sidewalks, and it no longer meets current design standards or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Replacing the Bridge is necessary to address these deficiencies. The new Bridge will have a similar design and will be constructed just east of the existing one.
Body
Background Information:
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act established the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant program to help make surface transportation more resilient to natural hazards, including flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters through support of planning activities, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk coastal infrastructure.
Fiscal Impact:
Total construction cost of the project is approximately $31,358,000.00. Requested PROTECT funding is $24,236,400.00 (77%). Anticipated County match is $6,271,600.00 (20%). Additionally, the County has received a federal earmark of $850,000.00 (3%).
Funding for this project is budgeted under the San Martin Blvd. over Riviera Bay Bridge Replacement PID 001036A, included in the Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Penny for Pinellas and a federal earmark. Total available funding is the amount of the project allocation as represented in the FY27-FY32 Capital Improvements Program. Available funding in excess of the recommended not-to-exceed amount is available for other project costs.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
USDOT
Attachments:
Grant Application
OMB Intent to Apply
Project Location Map