HOW TO BEST INTEGRATE DOWNTOWN WITH BEACH AREAS OF A PREMIER FLORIDA CITY DESTINATION - CASE STUDY

摘要

The City of Clearwater and the State of Florida are exploring how best to integrate downtown Clearwater with the beach area (both designated for redevelopment) though the construction of an innovative Automated People Mover link. By providing alternative transportation for residents and tourists, the system will attract and retain income-producing industries, thus enhancing the economic growth and competitiveness of the City of Clearwater, Tampa Bay region, and the state of Florida. To achieve beach-city integration, enhance tourist facilities and spur economic growth, a large portion of travel needs to be shifted from private automobiles along the heavily congested Memorial Causeway to a more efficient transit mode. This will help achieve a variety of objectives including higher occupancy of existing and future beach and downtown hotels and better utilization of other tourist facilities, particularly helping to alleviate the parking shortage that currently complicates expansion and redevelopment plans.