The Brief
- The city of St. Petersburg was awarded $1.3 million in federal funding for design plans aimed at reconnecting South St. Pete to downtown.
- Construction of I-75 began in the 1970s and caused a lot of division after it was built through the Gas Plant District, physically separating downtown from St. Pete’s historic African American community, as well as other neighborhoods from the city center.
- While it will likely be five to seven years before actual construction starts, officials describe this as a step in the right direction.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The city of St. Petersburg was awarded $1.3 million in federal funding for design plans aimed at reconnecting South St. Pete to downtown.
“We know we’ll have some new safer crossings for pedestrians to get across the street. We will have bicycle accommodation somewhere,” said the city of St. Petersburg Transportation & Parking Management Director Evan Mory.
Exact design details are still in the works, but they’re all aimed at trying to make getting around I-175 easier.
Construction of that interstate in the 1970s caused a lot of division after it was built right through the Gas Plant District, physically separating downtown from St. Pete’s historic African American community, as well as other neighborhoods.…