St. Petersburg’s 22nd Street South corridor, nicknamed The Deuces, will get $1 million to help transform the area to become safer and more walkable.

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Home to the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum and the historic Manhattan Casino, The Deuces in southern St. Pete was once the hub of Black businesses and homes during the time of segregation. Today, it is home to many businesses and continues to grow.

 

Forward Pinellas, the planning council and metropolitan planning organization for Pinellas County, unanimously approved a $1 million complete streets grant request for The Deuces during the board's Wednesday meeting. The project is derived from the Warehouse Arts District Deuces Live Joint Action Plan.

 

The grant covers 22nd Street South from 11th Avenue South to 18th Avenue South. The complete streets grant program provides federal funding to local governments for the development of concept plans and construction projects aimed to support redevelopment and economic opportunity by making roadways safer and more accessible for all users.

 

The project would create a two-lane road with widened and buffered sidewalks for pedestrians and bicyclists which connects with other roadway corridor and trail projects. 

 

Revitalizing The Deuces has been a big priority of St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman under his “Deuces Rising” plan. Changes for The Deuces also include a new bus stop location, local trail and bike lane connections, widened and buffered pathway, pedestrian crossings and bike lanes. 

 

During the meeting, the board also approved $100,000 for the 6th Street Bikeway-Complete Streets Concept Planning Study from the city of St. Pete. This proposal would identify the preferred roadway configuration for 6th Street between Roser Park and Mirror Lake through downtown St. Pete, according to the presentation.

 

Another approval was $100,000 for the city of Tarpon Springs, which applied for the concept planning award for a complete streets plan development along Disston Avenue. 

 

Forward Pinellas' program typically allows up to $100,000 to be awarded for concept plans and up to $1 million for construction plans on an annual basis. In the past four years, Forward Pinellas has awarded $4 million in construction grants and $400,000 in concept grants. 

 

The Manhattan Casino is located along 22nd Street South, a main corridor also known as "The Deuces."