Q. Where can I obtain a map showing the Suncoast Parkway and the Veterans Expressway? A. Suncoast Parkway and Veterans Expressway maps are here! Q. How does the Suncoast Parkway Project I benefit our communities? A. The Parkway provides motorists with a vital north-south link between the rapidly growing communities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus Counties. It helps to relieve traffic on U.S. 19 and U.S. 41. Q. What is the Suncoast Trail? A. The Suncoast Parkway Trail was scheduled for construction, simultaneously with the roadway, as part of the statewide bicycle trail system. It is a 29-mile paved recreational trail paralleling the Suncoast Parkway from Lutz-Lake Fern Road in Hillsborough County to S.R. 50 in Hernando County. The trail is twelve feet wide and runs along the west of the Parkway. The 400’ right-of-way for the Suncoast Parkway I project assures that there is ample space to separate the trail from the roadway with fencing and vegetational buffers. This trail crosses several rivers and wildlife crossings on specially designed bridge extensions. Trailheads may provide amenities of rest areas, interpretive areas, picnic tables/shelters, benches, bicycle racks, and restrooms. Q. How do I access the Suncoast Trail and where does it go? A. Access to the Suncoast Trail is possible from all local, county and state roads intersecting with the Suncoast Parkway/Toll Road 589. The Trail is open to the public from dawn to dusk. Public parking is available at some intersections. Map of the Suncoast Trail path Lutz Lake Fern Road: Public parking is available at the Trailhead. State Road 54: Public parking is available at the Trailhead. State Road 52: Public parking is available ½ mile west of the Parkway on the north side of State Road 52, at the entrance to Safety Town. Parking is also available at Crews Lake Park. Go north of Shady Hills Road to Crews Lakes Park. Access the Suncoast Trail via the sidewalk outside the park entrance. Pasco-Hernando County Line Road: There is no public parking near the trail on County Line Road. The closest parking area is at Anderson Snow Park on Anderson Snow Road, just north of County Line Road. Spring Hill Drive: There is no public parking area near this section of the trail. State Road 50: Trailhead is complete and open to the public. To access the Trailhead take the first street south from State Road 50 on the west side of the Suncoast Parkway. A pedestrian/bicycle bridge over state Road 50 is now complete and open to the public.US 98: Public parking is available at the Trailhead. Q. When will the Suncoast Trail (the bicycle/pedestrian trail) be open to the public? A. The trail is complete and open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Per Florida Statute, no bicycles, mopeds, or pedestrians will be permitted to travel on the Suncoast Parkway roadway. Q. How do we access the Suncoast Parkway? A. The traveling public now has an opportunity to use a scenic, environmentally friendly, limited-access facility from Tampa International Airport through Hillsborough, Pasco, and Hernando Counties. Interchanges are located at Van Dyke Road, S.R. 54, S.R. 52, Pasco/Hernando County Line Road, Spring Hill Drive, and S.R. 50. Q. Where are the toll plazas? A. Three mainline toll plazas are constructed. The southern plaza is located north of S.R. 54 Interchange and the Anclote River. The central plaza is located north of S.R. 52 Interchange and the northern plaza is located south of the U.S. 98 Interchange. Ramp toll plazas are open at Van Dyke Road, Lutz-Lake Fern Road (future), S.R. 54, Ridge Road (future), S.R. 52, County Line Road, Spring Hill Drive and S.R. 50. Q. How can I apply for a job collecting tolls? A. Toll collectors are hired through Barton Protective Services. Barton can be contacted by calling 727-697-2900, or by visiting their office located at the intersection of Little Road and State Road 52, next to the Blue Dolphin Restaurant. Q. Will motorists' call boxes be provided along the Suncoast Parkway? A. Installation of a cellular-based, solar powered, motorist aid call box system provides emergency assistance to patrons traveling the Suncoast Parkway. New to Florida's Turnpike, the cellular-based system promises a lower initial cost and lower maintenance costs than systems previously utilized. Call boxes provide patrons with timely assistance, and increased safety and convenience. On the Suncoast Parkway the user-friendly call boxes are located on both sides of the mainline roadway, approximately one mile apart. Q. What is the posted speed limit on the Suncoast Parkway? A. The speed limit for the Suncoast Parkway is posted at 70 miles per hour. However, the short section of roadway from the Pasco/Hillsborough County Line to Van Dyke Road is a transition area to the Veterans Expressway. This will be posted at 60 miles per hour. Q. Is electronic toll collection available on the Suncoast Parkway? A. The Suncoast Parkway has SunPass, Florida's electronic toll collection system. The SunPass system utilizes small, pocket-sized transponders that attach on the inside of vehicle windshields. Communication between the transponders and plazas takes place as vehicles proceed through SunPass lanes. Account balances are updated as tolls are deducted from the customers prepaid account and are displayed on the transponders instantaneously. ** To obtain additional information and purchase a SunPass transponder, call toll free at 1-888-TOLL-FLA (888-865-5352). As of May 21, SunPass and E-Pass can be used on all Turnpike roads, as well as OOCEA (Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority) roads. If you choose to purchase a Turnpike SunPass, you can also use it on the Selmon in Tampa, the Osceola Parkway, the Panhandle bridges and Miami-Dade Expressway Authority roads. Florida's Turnpike roads include the Beeline Expressway, the Suncoast Parkway/ Veterans Expressway, the Polk Parkway, the Sawgrass Expressway and the future Seminole Expressway. Please visit the SunPass on the internet at www.sunpass.com. Do you have any other questions that you need answered about the Suncoast Parkway Project? Let us know! For information on the connecting Veterans Expressway click here! FAQ * Suncoast Parkway Facts * Construction Notes * Maps * Contact Us * Suncoast Parkway 2
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