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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco firefighters keep pressing for more personnel, equipment

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Pasco County’s professional firefighters are continuing to call attention to the need for more personnel and equipment to keep the county safe, and to meet its burgeoning emergency needs.

Jesus J.J. Martinez, vice president of Local 4420, appeared before the Pasco County Commission on April 19, to continue the quest to secure more resources. His remarks followed the appearances of two others representing firefighters who spoke at the April 5 meeting.

Martinez began by thanking the county and county board for what has been done so far.

“Pasco County is growing at an alarming rate,” he said. “We are being told that Rescue 230 will be in service by the first week of May, and Station 9 by the end of the summer.”

But, Martinez added: “Rescue 230 and the four new stations on the G.O. (General Obligation) Bond that the citizens voted on, were needed four years ago, when they were voted on.

“With that said, I’m asking you for help,” he said.

Additional fire stations and rescue vehicles are needed, as well as more personnel, he said.

“Our 37 new hires is now down to 32, as many of them have left for other departments, with better pay and better benefits.

“We lost seven experienced firefighters because they are simply burned out from the large call volume, and relief is nowhere in sight.

“The county will continue to grow and the amount of emergency calls is increasing faster than we have all expected,” Martinez said.

“We worked with our administration to do what we can to help with these issues,” he said.

He continued: “Pasco firefighters are a proud breed.

“We love our job. We love this county and we love the citizens in it.

“But we are human.

“Humans break.

“I got a call from a friend of mine, in the Wesley Chapel area. He was responding to a call. “They’d just pulled in the station. They came from a call, rescue was transporting.

“They got another call. They were in and out of the station in 30 seconds.

“The GPS said they were 18 minutes away. Within 17 minutes, the patient stopped breathing. It took 18 minutes to get there. Their ambulance, took 23 (minutes), from their station.

“All this firefighter could think of: ‘What if I got there sooner? What if I could make a difference?

“We have the tools. We have the knowledge. We just need to get there sooner.

“This is just one example of what is going on in our county.

“We are here today because this story haunts us.

“It’s time to do better, and our residents deserve better.

“We’re willing to work with you for our citizens,” Martinez said.

Board approves Fire Rescue items
Later in the meeting, Commissioner Mike Moore pulled three items from the board’s consent agenda to call attention to them.

“I think I’ll probably pull every item relating to Fire Rescue going forward because we have lots of questions,” Moore said.

“There’s questions from the team members that are out there. J.J. spoke today. So, I think for the best interest for the people who work for Fire Rescue, as well as our citizens, it’s important to talk about these things that are on the agenda.

“Normally, these are on consent because they are items we feel are not going to be deliberated. They get through with no problem and they’re not controversial. They’re for the good of all,” Moore said.

Because of questions raised recently, though, Moore said: “I think we need to pull these, discuss them, and discuss how they are going to assist them with their jobs and better call times.”

Moore asked Jeremy Sidlauskas, deputy chief of administration for Pasco County Fire Rescue, to provide some details on the agenda items.

One item relates to adding eight fire inspectors, who will conduct inspections of existing commercial uses.

The county plans to hire 11, the deputy chief said. “Once that (the first eight) becomes cost neutral based on fees and other things, we’ll hire the remaining three.”

Another item calls for using Penny for Pasco funds for a decontamination unit, to provide a  “premiere state-of-the-art, on-scene decontamination program, unlike anything that happens in the whole world,” Sidlauskas said.

Currently, a lot of gear must be sent out for cleaning, he said.

The Decon unit provides Pasco County firefighters with clean gear after every fire, Hazardous Materials incident and significant EMS incident, before returning to the station.

Another item related to replacing three ambulances and adding one new one.

Some vehicles that normally would be considered surplus are being kept for parts because of supply chain issues.

Part of the delay in putting an additional rescue has been related to staffing.

“This class that is just finishing their orientation should be done right around the end of the month,” Sidlauskas said. That’s why Rescue 230 is expected to go into service on May 1, he added.

The board approved all three agenda items.

Moore also asked the deputy chief to verify some numbers: “From fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year  2022, there was a 31% increase in engine count; a 39% increase in rescue count. Is that correct?”

Sidlauskas responded: “Yes, sir, some of that includes spare vehicles that we have to keep for maintenance.”

After the deputy chief’s remarks, Commission Vice Chairman Jack Mariano addressed the county’s firefighters, paramedics and first responders.

“We greatly appreciate your service. We share the same passion you do, to serve the citizens out here, every step of the way.

“What you do in the field, with the resources you have, currently, is fantastic.

“We’re working to help you get it better, every step of the way, as fast as we can, we’re going to keep on working.”

“From all my years, the communication that we’ve had back and forth, has led to more and more improvement,” he said.

The county board wants to continue to work with the emergency responders.

“If that means we need to do a workshop, we want to do that as well,” Mariano said.

“But I encourage you, stay in communication with us. Let us work with you. Let us try to help you, so you can be in a situation where you’re proud of being where you’re at, and a sense of knowing all the resources that are going that way.

“We don’t want to see a situation where you show up a minute after, when needed,” he said.

“We want to make sure you have that job satisfaction. Keep working with us; we’ll keep working with you,” Mariano said.

Published April 27, 2022

Lutz filmmaker offers glimpse into nature’s secrets

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Alexis Yahre’s appreciation for nature began when she was young.

But she had no idea that her time in Future Farmers of America and at Nature’s Classroom would contribute to her becoming a talented documentary filmmaker.

Lutz native and local filmmaker Alexis Yahre has been hitting the festival scene hard. She premiered her documentary, ‘Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks,’ at the Gasparilla Film Festival at Tampa Theatre in March, and will be showing it at the Sunscreen Film Festival from April 28 through May 1 at the Sundial AMC 12 Theatres in St. Petersburg. (Mike Camunas)

The 21-year-old Lutz native has channeled her love for nature into a film project that is being screened at film festivals.

And that’s all before the mass communications and broadcast production student graduates from the University of South Florida (USF).

She wants her film to encourage people to take a closer look at nature’s beauty.

“It’s right in the tagline (of my film), ‘In our own backyards, there are hundreds of worlds to explore,’” Yahre said.

“My goal with this film is to share some of the beautiful parts of the community I grew up in, so that others can appreciate and help protect them, too,” she said.

Her film, “Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks,” focuses on the nature preserved in Florida’s state parks.

As a one-person film crew, she visited a dozen of the more than 100 parks in this state.

Then, she interviewed numerous people from the park system who devote themselves to conserving and protecting the parks, and helping others to develop an appreciation for Florida’s natural environments.

The film is already garnering attention on the festival circuit, including being nominated for “Best Student Film” at the Cannes World Film Festival. Additionally, Cannes awarded Yahre with “Best Young Director.”

The documentary had its first theatrical screening at the 2022 Gasparilla International Film Festival in March. That even came with a red carpet appearance for the young filmmaker, at Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa.

Next, on April 28, her film will be shown at the Sunscreen Film Festival at the Sundial AMC 12 Theatres in St. Petersburg. There will be showings there through May 1.

The young woman’s foray into filmmaking surprised her mother, Nicole Yahre.

“Honestly, I thought she would be a farmer,” Nicole said.

But she quickly recognized her daughter’s talent because even when she was young, she was landing editing jobs.

Her father, Adam, had a hand in helping her develop those editing skills.

“My dad is a software guy, so he got a computer and just put every professional program available on there,” said Alexis, a graduate of Steinbrenner High. “It really started with Adobe Premiere when I was 10 or 11 and took off from there.”

Learning software at such a young age led to editing opportunities for Alexis.

One of her jobs was creating content for the meat processing equipment company, Tipper Tie.

The work included producing videos for the Fresh-N-Ready salad bowl, the Herb Shooter and other products.

The job also inspired the name for Pepperoni Studios, the production company she founded, which produces her freelance work and personal projects.

Her technical skills and her eye for nature have impressed her professors at USF.

In fact, Kristofer Atkinson already has agreed to produce her next film. It will focus on college students taking a “gap year.”

“Most of my students are prolific filmmakers,” said Atkinson, Alexis’ mentor, who helped her navigate producing the film and getting into festivals.

“I do everything in my power to help them,” Atkinson said. “Maybe 15 become filmmakers, but two or three of them are excellent filmmakers, and she will be one of those.

“She has real directorial prowess, a real eye behind the camera and does a great job interviewing. I was duly impressed just how laser-focused her vision was from beginning to end.

“So, I’m hoping one day she will be thanking me at the Oscars,” he said, with a laugh.

Alexis graduates from USF in May and already works as an educator in Hillsborough County.

She feels her true place, however, is behind a camera — and then in the editing room.

At the same time, she’s at one with nature and she hopes her film will inspire others to explore the great outdoors.

“I just want people to know they live super close to all these parks,” she said.

“I just think it’s a huge untapped resource,” she said, adding, many don’t realize the treasures that are right in their own backyard.

She also is thrilled with the favorable reception enjoyed by “Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks.”

“Considering that I made this (film) without a budget or experience, I didn’t expect to see this kind of success,” she said. “I’m overjoyed that I can be a part of the festival and share a topic that I’m passionate about with the world.”

Her parents are delighted by her success.

“(Her father and I) are so proud of her and love that she’s being able to do what she loves doing,” her mom said.

Nature’s Secrets: Florida State Parks
Director: Alexis Yahre
Runtime: 10 minutes 30 seconds
Synopsis: Alexis Yahre invites viewers on a journey through the Florida State Park system to capture the sights of whimsical animals, and hear the stories of some the unsung heroes who labor to conserve their habitats. Along the way, she uncovers secrets about the parks and highlights some of Florida’s best lesser-known places.
Film includes: Hillsborough River State Park, in Hillsborough County; Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, in Port Richey; and, Honeymoon Island State Park, in Dunedin.
To view a trailer of the film, log onto YouTube.com/watch?v=WZTRdnxDHL0.

Published April 27, 2022

Audit approved, as Pasco prepares to shift jail operations

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The Pasco County Commission has approved spending $150,000 on a transition audit, as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office prepares to shift operation of the county’s jail to the county’s administration.

The county will assume financial and administrative responsibility for operating the jail as of Oct. 1.

As it prepares for the conversion, a transition audit will be performed by an external auditor to review assets and liabilities.

The audit was recommended by Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, during the board’s April 5 meeting.

The clerk’s office will negotiate contract terms and sign the contract once the terms are finalized and a vendor is selected, according to backup materials in the county board’s April 19 agenda packet.

When Alvarez-Sowles suggested the transition audit, she told the board: “You want to know, as a county board, what you’re getting with that transfer of a major function for the county.

“It’s important to know what we’re getting, as a county, from the sheriff, from Day One.”

County Administrator Dan Biles also touched on the topic of shifting jail operations to the county’s control.

Biles said there have been several meetings over the last few weeks between the county’s team and the sheriff’s team.

He said he wasn’t ready to provide an update yet, but expected to be able to provide some timelines soon.

Biles said the county attorney has provided a couple of attorneys to work on the issue and that the clerk has been involved in those meetings.

“There’s a lot that’s been happening behind the scenes. HR (Human Resources) has been in the jail several times to talk to all of the existing employees about working for the county and what that means to them.

“We’re working through it, we just don’t have a whole lot to report today,” Biles said.

The clerk thanked the county board for approving the budget amendment to pay for the audit.

“My inspector general is reaching out to various auditing firms to help us with the transition audit,” she said.

The clerk said the audit is intended to “look at what assets they have, to verify those assets and also to do a reconciliation of the assets, as well as any liabilities.”

She told the board she would let them know when a contract has been signed.

Published April 27, 2022

AdventHealth focuses on growth, expansion

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When looking at AdventHealth Dade City’s chart, there’s a vast improvement.

Formerly known as Florida Hospital Dade City, AdventHealth took over four years ago and has spent $22 million on a major makeover.

AdventHealth Dade City, at 13100 Fort King Road, was purchased by the national health care system four years ago. It has undergone $22 million in renovations. (Mike Camunas)

The upgrade includes a $2 million expansion now being done to double the capacity of the pre-op and post-op ward, bringing the total to eight bays. That work is expected to be done by the end of the year.

When AdventHealth took over, the former hospital was fading.

Now, the 100-plus bed hospital, at 13100 Fort King Road, has been reinvigorated.

“Over the last four years, what we’ve done at Dade City has been a remarkable accomplishment and certainly transformative,” COO Shade Bedward said.

“When AdventHealth took over four years ago, it certainly was not performing financially, and only had six patients.

“Now, we have over 100 (patients) in house and see over 100 patients a day. The confidence and trust that the community has in us now is a tremendous achievement,” the hospital executive said.

Bedward was promoted on Feb. 27 to chief operating officer of AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills. The latter is now considered a synergized-system sister hospital, a mere 7 ½ miles away, at 7050 Gall Blvd.

Bedward will serve in leadership and director roles at Zephyrhills and will serve as hospital administrator at Dade City.

In Dade City, he will oversee the day-to-day and strategic operations, and report directly to Amanda Maggard, AdventHealth president and CEO.

“Of course there have been a lot of challenges in the past 3 ½ years I’ve been here, but it’s also been a lot of fun work that benefits the community,” Bedward said.

AdventHealth, a faith-based, nonprofit health care system headquartered in Altamonte Springs, operates facilities in nine states.

It hit the ground running once taking over the Dade City location, Bedward said. The hospital was considered as being on its last leg, receiving a C grade from Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.

Leapfrog is an annual voluntary survey in which hospitals report quality and safety data. It uses 22 evidence-based measures of patient safety, including how well hospitals protect patients from preventable errors, injuries and infections. Leapfrog then calculates a numerical score for all eligible hospitals in the United States, whether or not the hospital reports its data.

Over time, Dade City improved nearly every aspect of its facility, including transition care, which is people staying in the hospital for seven days to 14 days. That is now a five-star ranked unit and the only one ranked that high in East Pasco, Bedward said.

“We’re seeing top-notch quality. Across the board,” he said.

Moving forward, AdventHealth is working on recruiting an improved workforce and also on employee retention.

Those efforts include adequate market pay and benefits, student loans and tuition reimbursements, and company cultural celebrations to show appreciation.

Bedward hopes this inspires employees to stay in Dade City.

AdventHealth Dade City has evidence of its transformative rejuvenation.

It now has an A grade from LeapFrog.

“We focused on quality of care and culture company-wide,” Bedward said. “Guests walk in, and it feels warm and welcoming, and they get a very nice experience,” he said.

While gratified by the hospital’s accomplishments so far, efforts are ongoing, he said.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done. The growth is fast-paced and we plan to continue to keep growing,” Bedward said.

Published April 27, 2022

Plans moving forward in Angeline community

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Pasco County Schools has begun construction on a $52.7 million magnet school in the Angeline community, which is expected to offer an array of new opportunities for students in grades six through 12.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, offered a brief update on the project during the Pasco County School Board’s April 19 meeting.

Work has begun on putting up the stem walls on the project, Gadd said. “We’re on time, despite supply chain issues,” he said.

“It’s going to be another great facility in Pasco County,” the deputy superintendent added.

The school board approved a contract in November with Ajax Building Company, to construct the building on an 18.8-acre site in the new Land O’ Lakes development, which is being billed as a wellness community.

Angeline will emerge on thousands of acres of land, east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52. The area includes Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus.

County Administrator Dan Biles anticipates the cancer center’s presence in Pasco to spur what he has described as “generational change.”

The project is expected to include a massive research and corporate innovation district.

It has site entitlements that encompass 24 million square feet, and include plans for a hospital, research and development space, office, manufacturing, laboratories, pharmacies, educational facility/university, hotel, and commercial space. The multiyear, multiphase project is expected to create 14,500 jobs.

At previous school board meetings, Gadd has reported that the school district, Moffitt and Pasco-Hernando State College are collaborating to create a magnet school, featuring unique offerings and opportunities for students.

The school is designed for 1,700 students. Its plans call for a facility with 186,882 gross square feet.

The project is expected to be substantially completed in April 2023, with final completion in June 2023.

In an unrelated action, the Pasco County Commission has approved earmarking $50,000 for a park project in Angeline.

County board members approved the expenditure during their April 19 meeting, allocating the money to be used for a stormwater and flood plain engineering analysis related to a future park.

Published April 27, 2022

Operation Stand Down offers a hand to homeless veterans

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Operation Stand Down offers an opportunity for veterans to take advantage of safe harbor from “combat on the streets” for one weekend a year.

Operation Stand Down refers to a grassroots, community-based intervention program designed to help the nation’s estimated 38,000 homeless veterans, according to Operation Stand Down’s web page.

The event provides a time for the community to connect with our homeless veterans and to begin to break down the barriers that are keeping these heroes on the streets.

The “hand up, not a handout” philosophy of Operation Stand Down requires the work of volunteers, businesses, and local, state and national organizations.

Organizations will be available to provide direct services; veterans will have access to benefits they are entitled to receive; and referrals will be offered for those struggling with mental health, job, housing and addiction issues.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles shared news of the event during the Pasco County Commission’s April 19 meeting.

This year’s event is set for April 29 and April 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on both days, at The Concourse Rotary Pavilion, 111919 Alric Pottberg Road, in Shady Hills, off State Road 52, just west of the Suncoast Parkway.

Online registration for the event is open and walk-up registration begins on April 29 at 10 a.m.

Veterans taking part will have access to:

  • Free public bus transportation, to those who preregister
  • Free sleeping area
  • Free hot meals
  • Free notary services
  • A job fair
  • AA, NA and Celebrate Recovery support groups
  • Haircuts, showers and clothing
  • Medical and dental services
  • Behavioral and mental health services
  • Housing resources
  • State photo identification cards
  • Jobs and employment counseling
  • Personal hygiene kits
  • Women and children services
  • Recreation, such as cornhole, card games and other activities

For more information, visit OCNStandDown.org.

Want to help?
Here are some ways you can help with this year’s Operation Stand Down, according to the organization’s web page:

  • Donate goods: Reading glasses, boots, backpacks, personal hygiene items and more
  • Donate time: Volunteers are needed to cut hair, serve meals, set-up, clean up, sort donations, provide medical and dental services, massages, therapy, and so on.
  • Provide needed goods and services for veterans and their families
  • Be a corporate sponsor
  • Donate funds to help purchase food, personal hygiene items, tents, port-o-lets, sleeping cots and other necessary supplies

For more information, visit OCNStandDown.org.

Published April 27, 2022

Eliminate the ‘itch,’ with mosquito fish

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Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services’ popular Mosquito Fish Giveaways will begin in May, with a kickoff event in Odessa, and will continue throughout the summer across the county, according to a news release.

(Courtesy of HillsboroughCounty.org)

Mosquito fish fight mosquitoes before the insects can bite, by eating mosquito larvae.

The free fish are to be placed in intentional standing water like koi ponds, horse troughs, or rain barrels. The fish are small enough to hide from predators, and their favorite food is mosquito larvae.

Last year, Hillsborough launched a new mosquito fish hatchery to breed healthy fish for the giveaways.

To receive a fish, you must have a photo ID that shows you live in Hillsborough County.

Quantities are limited, and the fish will be available while supplies last.

Mosquito Management also will have an educational trailer on-site at each event, to help residents learn about eliminating mosquitoes, and to illustrate the work the county does to keep residents healthy and safe. The trailer will be on-site from 8 a.m. to noon, at each of the giveaways.

The Keystone Recreation Center, 17928 Gunn Highway in Odessa, will host the kickoff fish giveaway on May 7.

For a list of upcoming events and locations, visit tinyurl.com/5eymzmpy.

Published April 27, 2022

Hillsborough boards need volunteers

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Hillsborough County has a number of advisory boards and councils that have openings for volunteers.

Those interested in serving on these boards must live in Hillsborough County and be registered to vote there.

Applicants may apply to more than one board, but can only serve on one board at the same time, unless otherwise specifically approved by the Hillsborough County Commission.

Applicants must submit a completed Questionnaire for County Appointments and a Standards of Conduct form.

Forms are available on the County’s website at HCFLGov.net. Click on the “Government” link on the top of the page, then the “Boards and Committees” link. The forms can be filled out and printed, then scanned and emailed, faxed or mailed.

All forms must be signed and dated, and all questions must be answered in entirety to be eligible. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Those applying to a board that requires a background check will be contacted by Hillsborough County’s Human Resources Department and/or First Choice with a link to complete the online background check. A response within 48 hours is required, at which time the link will expire.

Applications are due by the close of business on May 5.

Appointments will be scheduled for a meeting of the Hillsborough County Commission in May or June.

Forms can be mailed to P. O. Box 1110, Tampa, FL 33601.

Or, they can be emailed to , or faxed to 813-239-3916.

They also may be delivered to 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 2nd Floor, Tampa, 33602.

Here are the boards with openings:

  • Anti-Bullying Advisory Committee
  • Building Board of Adjustment, Appeals and Examiners
  • CareerSource Tampa Bay
  • Child Care Licensing Advisory Board
  • Child Care Licensing Hearing Officer
  • Code Enforcement Board
  • Council on Aging
  • County Internal Audit Committee
  • Cross Connection and Backflow Control Board
  • Cultural Assets Commission
  • Electrical Board of Adjustment, Appeals and Examiners
  • Health Care Advisory Board
  • Health Council of West Central Florida Inc.
  • Historic Preservation Challenge Grant Program Review Committee
  • Historic Resources Review Board
  • Historical Advisory Council
  • Hospital Authority
  • Human Relations Board
  • Land Use Appeals Board
  • Mechanical Board of Adjustment, Appeals and Examiners
  • Plumbing & Gas Board of Adjustment, Appeals and Examiners
  • Public Art Committee
  • Value Adjustment Board

For any questions or more specific information on any of these boards, email  .

Published April 27, 2022

Name that mural

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Main Street Zephyrhills and the City of Zephyrhills are seeking help to name the mural shown here.

(Courtesy of Main Street Zephyrhills)Main 

The mural is part of the “Elements on 5th” public art series.

It’s in Transplant Park, a park that covers 0.2-acres, at Fifth Avenue and 12th Street.

The mural was inspired by a water drop landing in water.

It was designed by Main Street board member Christine Bennett.

Volunteers from the Design Committee chalked the outline and painted the mural earlier this year.

This is one of five murals located around town as part of the transformation strategy to revitalize and strengthen downtown Zephyrhills, through four aspects: Economic Vitality, Design, Organization and Promotion.

To learn more about the murals, log onto MainStreetZephyrhills.org/murals.

To submit your name suggestion for the new mural, visit log onto Form.jotform.com/220933714975059.

Published April 27, 2022

Pasco transportation planning board talks priorities

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The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has adopted a draft of its transportation improvement plan for fiscal years 2023 to 2027.

The board, which is made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Port Richey, New Port Richey, Dade City and Zephyrhills, gave preliminary approval to a draft brought to them at their April 14 meeting, by the MPO staff.

Scott Ferry, a transportation planner for the MPO, outlined some of the major improvements included in the draft TIP. They are:

  • The widening of State Road 52, from east of U.S. 41 to Bellamy Brothers Boulevard: $121.5 million
  • Interstate 75 to Interstate 275 corridor improvements, from County Line Road to State Road 56: $57.6 million
  • U.S. 98 Bypass, around Dade City: $35.8 million
  • U.S. 41/State Road 54 interchange design and right of way acquisition: $33.6 million
  • Pedestrian overpasses over the Suncoast Parkway, at State Road 54 and State Road 52: $18.7 million
  • Roadway lighting projects on State Road 52, State Road 54 and U.S. 301: $4.7 million

A final approval is not expected until the board’s meeting in June. Once adopted, the TIP, as it’s known, will become effective July 1.

Ferry also told the board that Pasco has been faring extremely well, in terms of funding from the Florida Department of Transportation.

“Comparing funding levels with the current TIP, with the draft TIP, we see that funding is increasing by 68% in fiscal year 2023; 9% in (fiscal year) 2024; 145% in fiscal year 2025; and, 56% in (fiscal) year 2026.

“Comparing current total funding, with the draft TIP funding, spending is projected to increase by an overall amount of $154 million, for an increase of funding of almost 50% over a five-year period.

“This very large increase reflects the Florida DOT’s commitment to Pasco County and the recognition of the many transportation improvements that exist in the county. The MPO and the county are very grateful to the Florida DOT, for their strong commitment to their partnership with the county.

“It goes without saying, it’s very significant to the county and it’s going to go a long way toward addressing a great many unmet needs,” Ferry said.

Before he shared some of the high points, Ferry provided an overview regarding why adopting the TIP is both significant, and essential.

Without it, Ferry said, federal funds could not be spent on projects within the county.

“The TIP is a five-year schedule and program of federal, state and locally funded transportation projects in Pasco County. It reflects the Pasco MPO’s short-term transportation programming priorities,” Ferry said.

Developing the TIP is required by federal law and it must be updated annually, under state law, he said.

“The TIP is required to be fiscally constrained, which means the amount that is planned to be spent on the projects in the TIP cannot exceed the estimated amount of funding that’s available during the five-year period.”

It includes a list of all transportation programs and projects funded by federal and state funds, and includes all regionally significant projects, regardless of the funding source.

“That includes any projects that are county funded or privately funded, that are deemed to be regionally significant.”

Categories that are included among the priorities in the TIP include:

  • MPO planning efforts
  • Traffic operations and safety improvements
  • Intelligent Transportation projects
  • Additional roadway capacity improvements
  • Resurfacing projects
  • Bicycle and pedestrian improvements
  • Transit projects

It also includes funding for improvements to the Suncoast Parkway.

The agenda backup materials also included maps for:

  • Proposed highway capacity improvement projects
  • Bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects locations
  • Safety improvement projects
  • County capital project locations

On another note, Commission Kathryn Starkey offered a shorter-term solution, to address congestion on State Road 52, before the final segment of that roadway is widened in Pasco.

“I drive it all of the time to get here (to Dade City), Starkey said.

“I was wondering if it is possible to at least get a passing lane, because it is full of construction trucks, pulling in and off.

“And, if we could get some passing lanes here and there, that would make a huge difference in that five years.”

“A few passing lanes in the meantime would make a huge difference to commuters on that road, especially as more and more construction trucks, with Angeline and other projects coming on there.

“It’s going to be stop-and-go, and someone is going to get hurt, like me, trying to zip around those cars and trucks.”

Published April 20, 2022