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Forward Pinellas planner details competitive grants and a potential MPO merger affecting the Tampa Bay region
Summary
A Forward Pinellas principal planner briefed the Oldsmar council on planning and construction grant pools (planning grants: $150,000; construction/capital: $3 million), a summer call for projects with applications due in fall 2026, and an in‑progress exploration of merging three metropolitan planning organizations.
A planner from Forward Pinellas told the Oldsmar City Council the regional agency is offering two grant buckets for local governments: a $150,000 planning-grant pool (minimum award $35,000) for concept plans, walking audits, safety analyses and other studies, and a separate $3 million construction/capital pool for infrastructure and smaller capital projects. The planner said planning grants would be available in fiscal year 2027 and construction funds would be available in the fifth year of the agency’s program (projects funded in 2032 under the current schedule). Applications will be accepted in the agency’s call for projects this summer with applications due in fall 2026.
The presentation also explained Forward Pinellas’ dual role integrating land use and transportation priorities and highlighted a technical assistance roster available to cities, which can reduce procurement time by allowing use of prequalified consultants. The planner cited prior examples (Skinner Boulevard in Dunedin) where planning grants led to later construction grants and project completion.
On governance, the planner said Forward Pinellas is in an exploratory phase responding to a state-directed requirement to consider merging regional MPOs across Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The agency is evaluating board apportionment, bylaws and operational structure. One option under consideration would create a 25-member board apportioned by county population (Pinellas: eight seats, Hillsborough: ten, Pasco: five) plus advisory, nonvoting seats for FDOT and transit agencies; the planner said more work remains before a formal recommendation to the legislature.
The planner invited staff and elected officials to a forthcoming Forward Pinellas board meeting and offered pre-application assistance for local projects.
Why it matters: The grants provide a modest but useful match source for local planning and smaller capital improvements and could leverage local matches to stretch city investments. The MPO-merger discussion could change regional representation and decision-making on transportation priorities if it advances to the Legislature.
