The East-West Green Spine Phase 2 and 3 extensions consist of an urban cycle track along Cass Street, Nuccio Parkway and 15th Street. This connects North Hyde Park from Howard and Armenia Avenues as well as connecting to Tampa Heights, Cuscaden Park, and the Hillsborough River. The cycle track begins at Howard Avenue and Cass Street near the Armory, following Cass Street into Downtown. It meets the existing western terminus of the Downtown Phase I East Cass Street and East Tyler Street Two-Way Conversion project. At Nebraska Avenue, the existing eastern terminus of the Downtown Phase I project, the cycle track follows Nuccio Parkway into Ybor City, then traverses 15th Street to Cuscaden Park at 21st Avenue.
This project includes the development of a conceptual plan for the East-West Green Spine Concept as described in the City’s InVision Center City Plan. The InVision Plan, developed in 2011 for Center City Tampa, proposed a community of livable places, connected people and collaborative progress that embraces and celebrates its river and waterfront. The InVision Center City blueprint incorporated neighborhood charettes to gain shareholder input which included a strong pedestrian and bicycle environment, linking neighborhoods and downtown, an urban planning pattern that supports transit, and accessible, safe, highly active concepts.
The Downtown Phase I segment from east of the Cass Street Bridge to Nebraska Avenue, is being completed as part of the ongoing Tyler Street and Cass Street Two-Way Conversion project. The final segment between the Cass Street Bridge and Ashley Drive will be constructed by the developer of the AER in the Arts District project. The total length of the project is approximately 3.4 miles.