Subject:
Title
Fiscal Year 2026 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant application for the redesign of East Lake Road from South of Curlew Road to North of Trinity Boulevard.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant application for redesign of East Lake Road from South of Curlew Road to North of Trinity Boulevard.
• Grant request is $7,990,400 for 80% of project design costs.
• The required match of $1,997,600.00 for 20% of project design costs is available from Penny for Pinellas and will bring the total design project to $9,988,000.00.
• Authorize the Chair to execute the grant application within the scope and amount outlined herein.
• The grant application is an electronic submission with submittal deadline of February 24, 2026.
• If awarded, any changes to the application will be shared with the Board prior to the approval of the grant agreement.
• The required match of $1,997,600.00 is budgeted under the East Lake Road (CR 611) from south of Curlew Road to north of Trinity Boulevard (CR 966) Project 003879A, to be funded by the Penny for Pinellas.
PID 003879A; Total project design cost of $9,988,000.00; Anticipated grant funding request $7,990,400.00 with a required $1,997,600.00 County match.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.1 Improve traffic flow efficiency.
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance Community Safety.
Summary:
Summary
The FY 2026 BUILD Grant application, if awarded, will provide $7,990,400.00 (80%) funding for design improvements to East Lake Road from South of Curlew Road to North of Trinity Boulevard. Project costs are expected to be $9,988,000.00 with Penny for Pinellas funds supporting the required match of $1,997,600.00 (20%).
Pinellas County will seek innovative intersection configurations to vastly improve traffic flow, along with increasing capacity, by widening the road to the inside of the footprint to reduce or eliminate right of way impacts. The preliminary engineering study indicates that the proposed improvements will significantly improve the traffic level of service during peak period and reduce the number and severity of crashes.
Due to time constraints for Board approval and grant submittal deadlines, staff are seeking approval and execution of a grant application by providing the executive summary. Board ratification of the final submitted grant application will be requested at a future board meeting.
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Background Information:
The FY 2026 BUILD Grant opportunity provides up to 80% federal funds for planning projects which will provide funding for planning, preparation, design, or engineering of eligible surface transportation capital projects. The BUILD program was previously known as the RAISE and TIGER discretionary grants. The goal of the BUILD program is to fund eligible surface transportations projects that will have a significant local or regional impact.
The East Lake Road project, from South of Curlew Road to North of Trinity Boulevard, aligns with the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) merit criteria of safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness and opportunity, state of good repair, partnership and collaboration, and innovation.
East Lake Road was originally constructed with a wide median to accommodate future capacity improvements north of Tampa Road. As proposed through the Preliminary Corridor Analysis and Alternative Development Study Report prepared for the project corridor by Pinellas County in September 2022, one additional 12-foot travel lane could be included in each direction along the inside of East Lake Road within the median to widen the facility from four (4) lanes to six (6) lanes. This inside widening option could reduce the need to expand the roadway to the outside and potentially impact adjacent properties.
Fiscal Impact:
The grant application is for $7,990,400.00 with a required match of $1,997,600.00. Funding for this project is budgeted under the East Lake Rd (CR 611) from South of Curlew Road to North of Trinity Blvd. (CR 966) Project 003879A, included in the Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Penny for Pinellas.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
SF-424
SF-LLL
Grant Application Executive Summary with location map
OMB Intent to Apply
PW Director Memo