The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is planning an improvement in the U.S. 301/U.S. 98 corridor that’s intended to accommodate increased truck traffic and to improve the road’s safety.
Details of the plan were discussed during the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization on June 10, and a public hearing is set for June 24 to give interested stakeholders a chance to learn more and comment on the plans.
“This project is along U.S. 301, from south of U.S. 98 to State Road 50, in both Pasco and Hernando counties,” Ashley Henzel, the FDOT project manager, told Pasco MPO board members.
“It’s a distance of approximately 4 miles.
“The existing right of way varies throughout the corridor, with a minimum width of 100 feet. We will need additional right of way to accommodate roadway improvements, as well as flood plain compensation sites and stormwater management facilities,” Henzel said.
“U.S. 301 is a main north-south arterial highway in Pasco and Hernando counties. It connects to a number of regionally significant corridors, including State Road 50 and U.S. 98.
“The purpose of this project is to widen U.S. 301 from a two-lane undivided facility to a multilane divided facility to address existing safety issues and to accommodate future traffic growth.
“This particular segment has a high crash rate, that ranges from two to five times the statewide average for a similar facility,” Henzel added.
She also noted: “U.S. 301 is an important freight route that spans all of the way from Sarasota to Delaware.
“This particular route serves as an alternative route to I-75 (Interstate 75), and has a potential to safely accommodate higher truck volumes.”
The planned improvements include roadway widenings, stormwater management facilities, flood plain compensation sites, as well as various intersection improvements, median modifications and multimodal facilities, she said.
The current existing roadway section is a two-lane road with 4-foot paved shoulders in Pasco County and a two-lane paved road with 6-foot paved shoulders in Hernando County.
For more details, check the project’s website page, attend the June 24 public meeting, or reach out to Henzel.
Public hearing on improvements to U.S. 98/301 corridor
What: Hybrid virtual and in-person public meeting for U.S. 98/U.S. 301 project
When: June 24, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with formal portion of the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Ridge Manor Community Center, 34240 Cortez Blvd., Ridge Manor
Attend Virtually: Via GoTo Meeting. Preregistration is required, on the project website, https://www.fdotd7studies.com/projects/us301-us98-to-sr50/.
Details: The public can view and comment on proposed plans for improvements to a 4-mile stretch of the U.S. 98/U.S. 301 corridor, through portions of Pasco and Hernando counties.
Info: Contact Ashley Henzel, project manager, at or 813-975-6433.
Published June 23, 2021
