The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization

Pasco transportation planning board talks priorities

By

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

State studying widening project on U.S. 301

By

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is studying a widening project, which would add capacity to U.S. 301, from Fowler Avenue in Hillsborough County to State Road 56 in Pasco County.

Amber Russo, a project manager for FDOT, provided an update to members of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization, at its April 14 meeting.

The project’s purpose it to improve safety for motorists, and to improve mobility for pedestrians and bicycles, Russo said.

“Safety is a key element for this project,” Russo said.

“During the five-year period that we studied, from 2015 to 2019, there were 464 crashes, which involved 16 fatalities, 338 injuries, 24 head-on collisions, and five crashes involving a pedestrian.

“A portion of this project, the southern end, the crash rate is almost double the state average,” she said.

She also noted that based on the 2040 projection — which puts the volumes at 29,000 to 48,000 — the road would be operating at a Level of Service F in both directions, during peak hours.

Justin Hall, also from FDOT, noted the current volumes on the road are 12,000 to 14,000.

Presently, this stretch of U.S. 301 is a two-lane, undivided roadway, with a posted speed varying from 50 mph to 60 mph, through the corridor, Russo said. The existing right of way varies from 100 feet to 200 feet wide.

“U.S. 301 is an important north-south corridor,” Russo said. It connects regionally significant corridors, such as I-75, I-4 and state road 56, 54 and 52.

“It also connects regional centers in Zephyrhills and Temple Terrace to the Tampa Bay area,” Russo said.

The proposed project, which would cost an estimated $200 million, has not yet been funded.

Proposed improvements are divided into two segments.

The southern portion would be from Fowler Avenue to Stacy Road.

“This is a suburban, typical section: with widening to four lanes, divided with a raised 30-foot median. We also have paved 5-foot outside shoulders, a 6-foot sidewalk on the east side, and 12-foot shared-use path along the west side,” Russo said.

The design speed for that segment is 55 mph. The total right of way varies from 169 feet to 200 feet wide.

The north portion of the project would be Stacy Road to State Road 56.

This would be a more-rural section of the road. It would be a four-lane divided road, with a 40-foot depressed median.

It would have 5-foot paved shoulders and a 12-foot shared-use path on the west side.

The design speed would be 65 mph. The total right of way width would be 235 feet.

Russo told the Pasco MPO board that some changes are expected, based on public comments.

Hall said those issues essentially fall into three categories: environmental concerns, concerns about widening the road beyond Hillsborough’s urban service area, and questions about increasing capacity on a rural highway.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said apparently Hillsborough is not aware of the planned projects near U.S. 301 and State Road 56, on both sides of the county line.

Moore noted that he used to frequently travel U.S. 301, when he had a private business.

“Wow, that was scary,” Moore said. “If you go off the shoulder, you’re in a ditch and you definitely don’t want to cross the center line.”

He thinks it makes perfect sense to widen U.S. 301.

“We’re at the point in this region where we need to get ahead. All we hear from our citizens is, ‘Why didn’t you do this before?

“Well, here’s that perfect opportunity. Let’s get ahead of the game, because it’s coming. It’s already coming.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley agreed.

“I’ve already gotten emails from people about congestion, when they go to (U.S.) 301, from (State Road) 56. It’s crowded. It’s terrible.

“If this road had already been done … a person would not have died this morning at 2:45, when they had a head-on collision and they closed 301.”

Hall said there were actually two fatalities in that crash. He also told the MPO board that the state roads department plans to proactively address some intersection signaling needs along U.S. 301.

Published April 20, 2022

Progress continues on U.S. 98/U.S. 301 project

By

The board of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has approved a request by the Florida Department of Transportation aimed at making progress on a widening project on U.S. 98.

The Florida Department of Transportation asked the local MPO to amend its Transportation Improvement Plan to include right of way and design funding for the widening of U.S. 98, from U.S. 301 South to U.S. 301 North, from a two-lane road to a four-lane road.

Funding for the work will not affect the Pasco County MPO, but would come from state and federal sources, according to background materials in the MPO board’s Feb. 10 agenda packet.

The FDOT notified the Pasco MPO staff on Jan. 10, 2021, regarding additional funding to advance the project.

The project is designed to support economic development by improving access for movement of goods, connections to transportation facilities and major activity centers.

It also aims to improve safety by reducing fatal and serious crashes.

This proposed amendment will be posted on the MPO’s website, PascoMPO.net, where the public is welcome to submit comments.

In another action, the Pasco MPO board approved a new way to add and rank projects on its priority list.

The Pasco MPO is the lead agency in transportation planning, and its board is made up of elected officials from Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

Under the new system, there will be a separate priority list for bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

The new method also assigns numerical scores to rank the projects, based on points received in specific categories.

Proposed bicycle and pedestrian projects will be ranked based on the total number of points they receive in the following categories: safety and security; mobility and connectivity; economic development; project readiness and project longevity.

Proposed road improvements will be ranked upon the total of points they receive in these categories: safety and security; mobility and connectivity; freight movement and economic development; project readiness and project longevity.

In other action, the board:

• Moved forward $600,000 in funds that will be unspent by the end of fiscal year 2022, so it can be spent in fiscal year 2023.

• Reappointed Lance Smith as chairman of the MPO board and appointed Matt Murphy as vice chairman. Each will serve a one-year term.

Published February 23, 2022

Pasco asking for state’s help to combat speeding

By

The board of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is sending a letter to the Pasco County legislative delegation and to Gov. Ron DeSantis seeking additional funding for the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), to support traffic enforcement on the county’s state roads.

The action came at the MPO board’s Feb. 10 meeting, during a discussion of speeding problems within the county.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore raised the issue, noting a recent crash involving two students who were racing — that resulted in two fatalities.

“This is more and more common,” said Moore, who serves on the MPO board.

“I hear it where I live. I hear them racing in the middle of the night,” Moore said.

He also noted that he drives to Tampa once or twice a week and always sees troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol on the interstate.

By contrast, Moore said. “I’ve not seen them ever on the state roads in Pasco County, e.g., (State Road) 54, (State Road) 56, (State Road) 52, (U.S.) 41.

“We just had a fatality on (U.S.) 41 last week, as well,” Moore said.

He wants to work with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Highway Patrol to have FHP redirect resources to beef up enforcement on state roads within Pasco.

Moore noted that Pasco residents are concerned, too.

“I’m getting a lot of emails from constituents, around the Wesley Chapel area, because of this,” Moore said.

If FHP beefed up its speeding enforcement on State Roads 52, 54 and 56, as well as U.S. 41, the number of citations it issues would go through the roof, Moore said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Kathryn Starkey, who also serves on the MPO board, said the speeding problem came up during  a meeting she’d had the prior day with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and with County Administrator Dan Biles.

Starkey said she subsequently discussed the problem with David Gwynn, secretary of FDOT’s District Seven, which includes Pasco County.

A meeting on the speeding issue is being organized, Starkey said.

She told her MPO colleagues that during those discussions she learned that the troopers working the interstate are different from the ones who work within Pasco County.

Gina Torres, a transportation planner for the MPO, told the board that she knows that the FHP office working in Pasco is stretched thin.

She said she did a ride-along for an entire day and, essentially, the trooper went from crash to crash to crash.

Starkey urged her MPO board colleagues to support Moore’s motion for additional funding to increase FHP enforcement.

To put it simply, Starkey said: “This would save lives.”

The Pasco County MPO is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County that serves the following municipalities in Pasco: Zephyrhills, San Antonio, St. Leo, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Dade City.

Its board is made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

Published February 16, 2022

Pasco plans to take a look at its transit services

By

GoPasco — Pasco County’s public transit agency — is planning to take a look at the services it provides and whether it needs to change them.

Kurt Scheible, the county’s director of public transportation, discussed the upcoming study with the board of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The Pasco MPO board — made up of elected leaders of Pasco County, Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey — is the transportation planning agency for the county.

Scheible said a study, which will be awarded based on a request for proposals, will aim at helping the county deliver the services based on customer needs and demand.

Essentially, he said, the question is: “What can I do to make it better for people in Pasco County go get to where they want to — easy? How do I help them overcome transportation barriers to get to where they need to go?

“I don’t care what the destination is. That’s what we’re looking for. Nothing is off the table,” Scheible said.”

Some ideas he would like to explore, include:

  • Can we get to some of the beautiful sporting complexes?
  • Is there a way we can serve Saint Leo University better?
  • What about providing a shuttle during the holidays between The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets? That way, motorists could park at one place, and go back and forth to shop and dine.

He told MPO board members that he wants a robust public participation process and told the board that its members will have the chance to weigh in on the issues.

Pasco County plans to study its transit services, with the aim of finding ways to get as many people as possible to where they need or want to go. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

“We’re looking at every aspect of the county,” he said, and the goal is to let the citizens and the MPO board have a significant impact on where the transit agency is going.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez welcomes the opportunity.

“I’m happy that we’re having this conversation,” she said. “I look forward to being included.”

Scheible said possible approaches could include a “mobility system on demand.”

He said he may be unfamiliar with such systems, but a consultant with experience of seeing transportation systems across the nation might be knowledgeable.

“I may have read about it in an article or heard about it from somebody, but they have actually helped design it somewhere across the country,” he said. “Maybe they can put something in place like that.”

Scheible made it clear: “I’m not saying what needs to be done. The citizens, the stakeholders, are telling me what needs to be done.”

The study should reveal the centers where people are traveling to, he said.

“We won’t be able to meet everybody’s needs, but we’ll come up with the best solution that we can do and move forward,” Scheible said.

Zephyrhills Councilman Lance Smith said that transit is likely to play a larger role, as increased traffic continues to slow movement for motorists across the county.

“It takes 20 or 30 minutes to get to a place where I used to be able to go to in 10 minutes,” Smith said.

“Every one of you knows how bad the traffic is, and it’s not going to get any better,” Smith said.

“So, I think people may be willing to ride public transport.

“I think we all need to work together on it.

“Thanks, Kurt, we’ll put on our thinking caps.” Smith added.

Bus shelters
On another issue, Scheible updated the board on the status of pursuing some new bus shelters across the county.

Jacksonville’s transit agency has a bus shelter contract that Pasco can use to speed up the process, Scheible said.

“The good news about this is that the company will actually be able to design what we would like to have done and they’ll tell us what the price is, and we can move forward from there,” Scheible said.

“So, we’ll be able to present some options to you and you’ll have some input on which shelters you’d like in your area.

“The other good news is that we actually got the concrete and the civil engineering contracts in place to be able to put the bus shelters in.

“We’ll pour the concrete and make sure that we meet all of the codes, and so forth,” Scheible said.

Published January 19, 2022

MPO advisory committee adds two members

By

The board of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization has appointed Christie Zimmer and Jim Engelmann to serve on the organization’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).

The Pasco MPO is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County that serves unincorporated Pasco and the municipalities of Zephyrhills, San Antonio, St. Leo, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Dade City.

The board took the action at its October meeting.

The CAC advises the Pasco MPO board on various issues coming before the board.

Under state and federal laws, the Pasco County MPO is responsible for establishing a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process for Pasco County. Key responsibilities are the creation of the 20-year Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the five-year Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and the five-year Transportation Improvement program.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

Busy intersection subject of public meeting

By

Those interested in the future of the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 are invited to attend a public meeting this week to discuss possible options for improvement.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s District Seven is hosting the meeting, which is set for Sept. 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54, in Lutz.

Virtual attendance also is available, but registration is required to participate online.

To register, visit the project’s website: https://active.fdotd7studies.com/sr54/us41-at-sr54/.

This aerial view shows the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54. During morning and afternoon rush hours, there are significant backups at the busy intersection in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

The FDOT is holding the workshop to give people who are interested the opportunity to provide comments concerning the traffic patterns, design, and social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed improvements.

In addition to the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41, the project study will include areas adjacent to the intersection along the two major roads, according to FDOT materials.

State Road 54 is one of two existing major east-west arterials connecting eastern Pasco County to western Pasco County.

The need for this project has been established based on future traffic demands, future population and employment growth in the area, according to FDOT materials.

Improvements at the U.S. 41/State Road 54 intersection are included in the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 2035 Cost Affordable Long Range Transportation Plan, as well as the 2035 Regional Long Range Transportation Plan Needs Assessment, which was developed by the West Central Florida MPO’s Chairs Coordinating Committee.

The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate various alternatives for the U.S. 41/State Road 54 intersection, which will improve the flow of people and goods through the project area by increasing roadway capacity and reducing traffic congestion.

The study will compare the effects each alternative may have on the environment and the surrounding communities, as well as the traveling public, according to FDOT materials.

Across Pasco County, State Road 54 provides connections to several regional north-south routes including U.S. 19, the Suncoast Parkway, U.S. 41, Interstate 75, U.S. 301 and U.S. 98, the FDOT materials note.

“The proposed improvements at the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 will enhance the overall transportation network linking Pasco County with the Tampa Bay region,” according to FDOT materials.

The options being considered are:

  • Alternative 1: A single-point urban intersection (SPUI), providing an interchange with State Road 54, elevated over U.S. 41.
  • Alternative 2: A parallel flow intersection (PFI), providing displaced left-turns, in all four approaches at grade.
  • Alternative 3: A continuous flow intersection (CFI), with elevated lanes of State Road 54 over U.S. 41, providing displaced left-turns in all four approaches.

There also is a no-build alternative.

Department representatives will be available at the in-person public workshop beginning at 5:30 p.m., to answer questions and discuss the project informally.

Draft project documents and other project-related materials also will be displayed, and a PowerPoint video presentation will run continuously during the workshop.

State Road 54 runs east-west, and had an average daily traffic count of 63,000 in 2019, according to FDOT figures; U.S. 41 runs north-south, and had average daily traffic counts of 69,000 in 2019.

In addition to existing traffic, there’s significant growth underway in Central Pasco, with more on the way. Plus, State Road 54 is an evacuation route when hurricanes threaten.

In evaluating alternatives, the state looks at the improvements based on such issues as traffic operations, safety, right of way needs and environmental impacts, among others.

Once a build alternative is selected, the next phase is the Project Design & Environmental (PD&E) Study phase, and then the design phase.

The PD&E would be conducted in 2021 to 2022; design, from 2022 to 2024; right of way acquisition from 2025 to 2026.

Construction of this project is not yet funded, according to the project web page.

For more information or to comment, please contact Kirk Bogen, an environmental management engineer for FDOT, at 813-975-6448, 800-226-7220 or .

Published September 15, 2021

Pasco MPO plans to launch to three planning studies

By

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization plans to embark on three studies aimed at improving opportunities for the county to attract state and federal funding.

One will focus on Pasco County’s Freight Transportation Plan, a second will zero in on d the Zephyrhills Multiuse Path and the third will focus on the U.S. 19 corridor in West Pasco.

Carl Mikyska, executive director of Pasco MPO, described the importance of the freight study this way: “We are a county that has a number of great opportunities. I want to use that freight plan to not only improve freight access and mobility, while preserving the quality of life for our residents, I want to use it as an economic attractor tool — to grow, to develop in a manner that’s careful, but increases our tax base.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano also seized on the potential: “That spur up in Lacoochee should be a part of that study.”

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley also reiterated comments he’d made previously about the potential for the Lacoochee area.

Mikyska also talked about the need — when conducting corridor studies — to consider a variety of perspectives.

When looking at the U.S. 19 corridor, for instance, the examination must go beyond traffic and congestion, he said.

Corridor studies define the conditions of the route, what options may be available to address safety, congestion, or other mobility needs and what limitations may be present, according to the MPO board’s Aug. 12 backup materials. Examples of limitations might include environmental conditions that should be avoided and/or the need to purchase right-of-way.

Planning studies are used to determine which transportation alternatives may be advanced and which alternatives may be eliminated from further consideration. Planning-level studies of corridors also help to more carefully define anticipated improvement project costs, the backup materials say.

Besides approving the proposed corridor studies, the transportation planning board also agreed with Mikyska’s suggestion to join MetroPlan Orlando in its efforts to extend its Transportation System Management & Operations (TSM&O) system.

MetroPlan, which is the MPO organization for Orlando, has been working on its system for years and seeks to extend it from Daytona Beach, on the Atlantic Coast over to the Tampa metro region on the Gulf Coast.

The TSM&O approach involves using technology to improve the performance of the transportation system rather than through more expensive options, such as roadway widening, according to agenda backup materials.

Examples of TSM&O include dynamic message signs on the interstate warning of traffic congestion ahead, traveling in a corridor at the speed limit with consistent green signals, and cable infrastructure to assist with broadband connectivity, the agenda materials say.

The idea is to use those strategies, in a coordinated fashion, to keep traffic flowing.

The Pasco MPO board approved Mikyska’s request to participate, with the only expected cost to be the expenditure of staff time.

On another item, the MPO board approved a scope of work for a study at the intersection of State Road 52 and Adair Road.

The Pasco MPO, in cooperation with the City of Dade City and the Florida Department of Transportation has identified the need to evaluate implementation of traffic control measures at the intersection, where additional traffic is expected because of increased residential development nearby.

Federal Transportation Planning Grant Funds will be used to pay for the $29,345.01 study.

Published September 01, 2021

State roads department offers update on halted Pasco projects

By

Florida Department of Transportation District Seven Secretary David Gwynn recently gave an update on the status of state road projects that recently halted operations.

Gwynn gave the update during the Aug. 12 board meeting of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The Pasco MPO — made up of representatives of Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Port Richey and New Port Richey — is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County.

Work has stopped on a diverging diamond project that is being done in Wesley Chapel, which is expected to ease traffic at State Road 56 and Interstate 75, once the work is finished. An estimated completion date on the project has not been determined. (File)

Gwynn told the MPO board members: “We had seven projects in our district, three of them in Pasco County, that DAB Contractors either were defaulted on — which was the DDI (Diverging Diamond Interchange) — or self-defaulted, which included State Road 52 and State Road 54.

“After that occurred, we met with our surety company — more or less the bondholder.

“I can tell you the surety has been very responsive so far,” he said.

He expressed confidence that once the surety company awards a bid on the contract, the contractor will “try to get this project not only going, but accelerating as quickly as possible.”

Gwynn also noted: “We’re also working with our maintenance contractor to ensure that the project sites are secured. I’ve noticed recently that some of the vegetation in some of the areas is starting to grow pretty high, so we’re out there with our forces, mowing them. In fact, we’re doing (State Road) 54, I think, today.

“The surety has let me know the direction they’ve given their people is that they need to get these contracts going as soon as possible because they’re also held to the same penalties as DAB would have been held to for being late. In other words, the end date of the contract doesn’t change. They’ll get penalized for every day they don’t meet, based on that original contract.

“I’m very optimistic that very soon we’ll have contractors on board working on those projects.

“When you look at some of the other construction projects we have around in Pasco County and around the district, a lot of the contractors are ahead of schedule. The State Road 52 realignment project is almost a year ahead of schedule, with Superior Construction.

“The Overpass Road Interchange is ahead of construction, so I think there’s capacity out there to get other good contractors and get these jobs moving forward.”

Kris Carson, spokeswoman for the FDOT District Seven Office, provided an Aug. 13 update regarding the status of the projects.

The surety company and the FDOT have executed a takeover agreement regarding the diverging diamond project, as of Aug. 12, according to Carson’s update.

The receipt of bids for the project had been scheduled for Aug. 12, but was moved back to Aug. 18, to provide more information and give more contractors an opportunity to compete for the work.

Mowing and general maintenance has been completed throughout the project limits.

Also, the number of temporary traffic control devices have been reduced to the minimum required to maintain a safe work zone, the update adds.

Regarding the State Road 52 project, from Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41: A representative with the surety met with an FDOT representative onside to assess the status of the project, on Aug. 11. The FDOT has completed uploading all of the documentation requested by the surety and the takeover documents are with the surety, for its execution.

Regarding the widening of State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road: A representative with the surety met with a FDOT representative onsite to assess the status of the project, on Aug. 11. The FDOT has completed uploading all of the project documentation requested by the surety. The takeover documents are currently with the surety for its execution.

The FDOT has completed mowing throughout the project area. Additional maintenance of driveway access to business on the west side of Eiland/State Road 54 is planned to be completed within the next two weeks, according to the Aug. 13 update.

The surety will be responsible for meeting the original contract requirements, and the FDOT retains the responsibility to ensure the surety meets its obligations, the FDOT document adds.

Published August 18, 2021

Pasco board considers road priorities

By

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will be identifying its list of priority projects at its June 10 meeting.

The list includes projects that are included on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) from 2022 to 2027, which includes projects that are funded and those not yet funded.

The list also includes projects that are not part of the TIP, but are considered to be priorities by the MPO, which is responsible for updating the priority list, which in turns provides guidance to the Florida Department of Transportation, in developing its developing its tentative work program.

During a workshop session, MPO Executive Director Carl Mikyska explained: “The first year of the TIP is actually part of the proposed budget. That means the Legislature has actually adopted the list of projects.

“At this point, the budget has been passed by the Legislature. I do not believe it has been signed by the governor.

“While years two through five are considered for planning purposes, you can consider them to be fairly solid planning. A project in year two is likely to then advance next year into the first year and be part of the proposed budget. DOT has to work on a cash flow basis. If their cash flow rises or falls, due to fluctuations in the economy, you may see minor changes to it.

“DOT does not put projects in year two, year three, etc., that they do not intend to advance forward,” he said.

“Projects in the TIP include Florida DOT projects, as well as our local projects, and this is a federal requirement.

“The projects cover the whole gamut from safety, all of the way down to capacity improvements,” Mikyska said.

“Those projects are based on our priorities here at the MPO, as well as the ones for the region,” he said.

Mikyska identified some of the significant projects that are included in the five-year plan.

Within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, these include:

Significant projects

  • State Road 52, from east of U.S. 41 to Ehren Cutoff

“Construction is scheduled in 2026. Right of way is in there from Ehren Cutoff to Bellamy Brothers Road, and while we do note that construction is not funded, I do note for our board that the DOT does not purchase right of way for projects they have no intention of building.

“I would anticipate that that would appear as a construction project in one of future TIPs.

  • State Road 52, at North 21st Street, from Church Avenue to Suwannee, in Dade City

A roundabout is scheduled for construction in 2026.

  • State Road 52, at College Avenue/Pompanic

A roundabout is scheduled for design/build in 2023.

Resurfacing projects

  • State Road 52 from Meridian Avenue, from west of Storch Lane to U.S. 98/U.S. 301, in 2022
  • U.S. 301 to Hillsborough County line, south of State Road 39, in 2023
  • State Road 54, from U.S. 41 to Knights Road, in 2023.
  • U.S. 41, from the Hillsborough County line to Bell Lake Road, in 2023

Lighting projects

  • U.S. 301, from Tucker Road to Pretty Pond Road, in 2024
  • State Road 56, Willow Oak Drive to The Shops at Wiregrass mall entrance, 2023
  • State Road 56, at The Shops at Wiregrass entrance to Meadow Pointe Boulevard, 2023

Pedestrian and bicycle projects

  • State Road 54, from west of Mitchell Place Plaza entrance to Marathon Drive — a complete streets project, in 2023
  • School Road, from Community Center to U.S. 41 — a multi-use path, 2026
  • Orange Belt, in 2025

Those were just some of the highlights, Mikyska said, noting the projects range from aviation to planning.

MPO board members raised some questions about projects that are part of the list, but not necessarily in the order they’d like to see them in.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said she’s disappointed that the roundabout planned in Dade City is not expected to be constructed until 2026.

“We were told, not too long ago, that we were looking at a 2024 date.

“I just found out from staff yesterday that it was moved from 2024 to 2026 for construction,” Hernandez said.

The planned roundabout in St. Leo/San Antonio is equally needed, Hernandez said; she just wishes the one in her community had not been pushed back.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey asked if it would make sense to do the Meridian roundabout sooner than the one at College Avenue and Pompanic, which is slated for 2023.

However, a staff member of the DOT told the MPO that the shift to 2026 was related to design and right of way issues.

Starkey offered an optimistic thought: “When the Clinton Avenue extension opens, maybe we’ll see a drop in the traffic there. So, maybe that will help a little bit.”

Starkey also asked: “Did you show the 54/41 (State Road 54/U.S. 41) fix anywhere on here?”

Jensen Hackett, of FDOT, told Starkey the project is partially funded for right of way through 2025.

It is not yet clear how FDOT will proceed at that intersection, he added.

“I believe that they’re waiting for a couple of the traffic data to come in,” he said.

Starkey said that intersection needs to be addressed.

“That’s of great interest to everybody in the county,” she said.

Starkey added: “Of course, we think that when Ridge Road opens up, that will eliminate some of the suffering down there.”

Starkey also asked about the status of the design for an overpass that is planned at State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway.

Tina Russo, of the MPO’s staff, told Starkey: “We’re finishing up the preliminary design.”

In addition to the TIP, there’s also a long list of priority projects that do not yet have an identified source of funding.

Published May 19, 2021