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Council accepts Fort Pinellas grant to study expansion of micromobility outside downtown
Summary
Council approved acceptance of a Fort Pinellas grant to fund a citywide micromobility expansion feasibility study and a professional services agreement with Benish for planning work, with $120,000 from Fort Pinellas and $30,000 local match for a $150,000 contract.
The City Council on May 15 approved a resolution to accept a Fort Pinellas planning grant and to execute a professional services agreement to study citywide micromobility expansion, including scooters and bike share outside the downtown core.
Cheryl Stacks, Transportation and Parking Management, described the scope: a feasibility analysis of up to five geographic areas, a review of existing infrastructure and regulations, market analysis, community engagement and recommended regulatory updates. Fort Pinellas made $120,000 available for planning; the proposed professional services agreement with consultant Benish would not exceed $150,000, with $30,000 of city funds allocated from FY25 Transportation and Parking Management.
Stacks said the study will account for recent state-level changes to micro-mobility definitions, current city regulations (the micro-mobility ordinance adopted in 2019 and an older bike ordinance from 2009), average trip lengths for scooters (about 1.12 miles) and bikes (about 1.8 miles), and operator business models; staff recommended including providers in the planning process so recommendations do not undercut the financial model of private operators. She noted recent bike-share hubs along the Pinellas Trail that have produced early trips and said the study should take about 10 months once a notice to proceed is issued.
Council approved the funding agreement and the professional services agreement; the clerk announced the vote passed unanimously with Councilmember Gabbard absent.
