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City, supporters press to finish West Riverwalk as city seeks $10M CRA, federal earmarks and other funding
Summary
Supporters and city staff described progress on the West Riverwalk project and said the city has a $24 million federal BUILD grant, a proposed $10 million West Tampa CRA allocation and active requests for additional federal and state earmarks; staff said design is underway and construction could start later in 2025.
City officials and community groups urged the Tampa City Council on Jan. 9 to keep funding momentum for the West Riverwalk project as staff outlined what remains to complete design and pay for construction.
The project already has a $24 million BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency voted to recommend a $10 million allocation, Vic Bide, the city’s director of mobility, told council. Bide and public speakers said the administration and congressional offices are seeking additional federal and state earmarks to reduce the city’s borrowing need.
Why it matters: Proponents said the Riverwalk extension would connect West Tampa neighborhoods to downtown, improve multimodal safety and support both market-rate and affordable housing being planned in the corridor. Opponents have questioned the use of city borrowing and the timing of the investment amid other infrastructure needs.
What staff and supporters said: Bide said design is under way and the team expects to reach 60% design by the end of the month; construction is projected to begin in late 2025 if funding and easements proceed. He listed potential funding sources beyond the $24 million BUILD grant and the CRA recommendation: an active request for a $4 million congressional earmark from Rep. Kathy Castor’s office and a separate state earmark request being pursued by the city’s government-relations team. Bide said the project budget is in the mid‑$50 million range (he cited roughly $52 million plus contingency) and that additional outside funds would reduce how much the city must borrow.
Among public speakers, Anthony Derby of Friends of the Riverwalk urged the council to approve funding to finish the Riverwalk and said the path brings economic, health and environmental benefits. Mary Beth Williams, also with Friends of the Riverwalk, described the project as completing a 12.2‑mile multimodal path and said it would include separated bike/ped facilities, shoreline restoration and traffic‑calming measures in areas with high pedestrian crash rates.
Numbers and next steps: Bide said the CRA board’s recommendation to fund $10 million passed the CRA advisory vote 8‑2 with one abstention. The congresswoman’s office submitted a $4 million federal earmark request; a state earmark request is pending. Bide said the city was also reviewing surtax and other local funding streams that may be available for certain eligible mobility projects, but noted such funds come with restrictions tied to the surtax program.
What council asked for: Members asked for clearer breakdowns of cost, contingency and timetable; some members pressed staff to show how the city would limit borrowing and prioritize other pressing infrastructure needs. Several council members and public speakers highlighted equity and access in West Tampa as reasons to support the project.
Staff follow-up: Bide and city staff said they would return with a more detailed funding plan and schedule; the project team also said it would continue to pursue earmarks and to coordinate with the CRA and state partners.
Ending: Supporters said the Riverwalk would be a durable public amenity spanning neighborhoods that have received less investment in prior years. City staff emphasized the project remains phased and contingent on securing additional funds and easements.
