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Freight Activity Centers

While freight generating activity is prevalent throughout the region, a large portion is concentrated in large and small industrial and mixed-use areas known as Freight Activity Centers (FACs). FACs are the “economic engines” of the region. They are major contributors to the region’s base employment and a key component of a regional economic development plan. Generally, they are major generators of truck trip activity, including long-haul shipments to areas outside of the region. The industry located within a FAC typically has significant ties to areas outside of the region.

The purpose of defining FACs is to establish their role and place in a community’s vision for economic growth. Growth in these areas should be compatible with the land use and growth vision for surrounding areas. Policies and strategies that preserve these areas and provide opportunities for industrial growth are major considerations of the Tampa Bay regional Goods Movement Study. FACs exhibit one or more of the following land use characteristics:

Conversely, FACs are not:

Typically, FACs are located in the industrial core of a city or near major intermodal transportation hubs such as ports, airports, and rail yards, or in outlying areas with industrial growth opportunities in close proximity to regional and strategic trade corridors.

In order to expand the regional economy, local land use and transportation planners and representatives of the private transportation industry should work together to finds and designate new areas for industrial growth that are in close proximity to the regional and statewide trade corridors and that have easy access to the port ad other intermodal facilities. By locating new FACs near the regional transportation system, congestion, air pollution, and transportation cost will be minimized.

A primary challenge for transportation planners is to improve access to the region’s existing FACs. Reduced access and urban traffic congestion places time and reliability impedances on intermodal and freight hub operations. The cost associated with locating a manufacturing or freight transport business within these FACs generally makes them less competitive than locating freight operations in areas with good access.

Existing and emerging FACs throughout the Tampa Bay Region were defined based on the following criteria:

Emerging FACs are those that are shifting from a local focus to a regional or national focus by attracting new businesses that reach beyond county borders. In some cases these areas have relatively few businesses in place, but are designated for industrial growth with available vacant land to grow consistent with long-range county vision.

While there are FACs throughout the region, the vast majority are located within Hillsborough County. This is primarily due to Hillsborough County’s traditional role as the industrial hub of the region. It will continue to serve as the regional industrial hub because of its vast port facilities that are currently undergoing modernization and expansion and major railroad intermodal facilities. An expanding air cargo operation at Tampa International Airport, the development of new industrial areas along the I-75 (Brandon) and I-4 (Plant City) corridors, and its location as the crossroads of three statewide Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) corridors will enable Hillsborough County to maintain its leadership as the industrial capital of Florida’s West Coast.

A secondary hub is located in central Pinellas County near the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and along Ulmerton Road. This area contains several large DRIs dedicated to industrial and office uses. It is a major employment center within the region and there are opportunities for expansion within the area. Like Tampa International Airport, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is poised to expand its air cargo business and become a major regional air intermodal facility. Also within the area are large tracts of undeveloped land adjacent to the current industrial areas that are prime locations for expansion.

While industrial growth in the northern three counties has not kept pace with the increase in population, there are opportunities for expanded industrial activity. The area surrounding the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport in southeastern Pasco County is emerging as an industrial activity center with outstanding expansion potential. Pasco County also has three other emerging areas: one alongside SR 54 on the west side of the county and one near the intersection of I-75 and SR 52 known as One Pasco Center. The third center is in the early stages of development as a Verizon Technology Park and is located along SR 54 near I-75.

In Hernando County, the area between Kettering Road and Lockhart Road south of Cortez Boulevard (SR 50) is the home of a major Wal-Mart distribution center. The area has prime access to I-75 making it an ideal location for other distribution and manufacturing activities. The Hernando County Airport, southwest of Brooksville alongside US 41 and the Suncoast Parkway, has expanded its industrial park on the west, south, and along US 41. The airport is positioning to become the air cargo intermodal hub for the northern counties. Additionally, there are several significant mining operations located northwest of Brooksville.

Citrus County has plans for a future business park at Inverness Airport, a general aviation airport. The Citrus County Comprehensive Plan indicates both extractive and industrial growth along the US 19 corridor north of Crystal River between the Withlachoochee River and the Progress Energy Complex. Additional extractive and industrial growth is expected along the CR-491 corridor south of Lecanto in conjunction with existing mining and manufacturing operations.

In addition to the existing and emerging FACs, there are other areas that have potential to develop into new FACs in the future. Many of these areas are designated for economic or industrial redevelopment or are planned for future industrial use. Most are also located along or near regional freight corridors and rail lines providing excellent transportation access. Future economic and market conditions will play an important role in their development. Once these areas meet the criteria for FACs, their status will be upgraded and they will become an essential part of the Regional Goods Movement System.

The Table below lists the existing and emerging FACs. It provides the available mode of transport, the transportation accessibility for each FAC, and the general character of the area. In order to see an aerial view of the individual FACs in a new window, click on its name in the table. To return to this section, close the aerial window. -- Coming Soon!

FREIGHT ACTIVITY CENTER PROFILES