The Laker/Lutz News

Pond Avenue

Dade City seeks feedback on design plans for Seventh Street

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Dade City leaders are inviting the public to an open house to discuss conceptual design plans for the Seventh Street streetscaping improvement project.

The meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Dade City Hall Commission Chambers, 38030 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.

The city hopes to make improvements to help create a downtown area that’s attractive, walkable and bikeable — essentially appealing to everyone who visits the area.

And, the city wants to hear the community’s reaction to possible improvements.

The city is considering the reconfiguration of street sections for traffic calming, and to accommodate sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping and lighting.

The city has hired Johnson Engineering to develop a streetscape improvement conceptual plan along Seventh Street, from Pond Avenue to Florida Avenue.

Johnson Engineering has prepared first-draft renderings of the possible configurations of each typical section of the corridor.

The sections are:

  • Florida Avenue to Church Avenue
  • Church Avenue to Meridian Avenue
  • Meridian Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard
  • Martin Luther King Boulevard to Pond Avenue

The open house is intended to be an opportunity for members of the public to express what’s important to them.

“There’ll be information for people to see, people can come in and ask questions, (and) make comments,” Dade City Manager Leslie Porter said, during a Nov. 9 city commission meeting.

The feedback is important, she added, noting the engineering firm already is making some changes based on initial feedback received from residents and citizens. The city held a similar exercise for the Morningside Drive extension route study.

For information, visit tinyurl.com/j6ekbntz, or call 352-523-5050, ext. 420.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

Dade City seeks public feedback on Seventh Street improvements

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The City of Dade City is accepting public comments and ideas for conceptual traffic and beautification improvement plans for Seventh Street.

The City of Dade City is seeking public feedback on traffic and beautification improvements along Seventh Street. Shown here is a rendering of alternatives for a section on Seventh Street from Church Avenue to Meridian Avenue. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

City officials seek to create a downtown area that’s attractive, walkable and bikeable, and will appeal to everyone visiting it.

To that end, the municipality has obtained the professional services of Johnson Engineering to develop a streetscape improvement conceptual plan along Seventh Street, from Pond Avenue to Florida Avenue. The type of improvements being considered along the corridor involve a complete street concept — including reconfiguring the sections for traffic calming, and to accommodate sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping and lighting.

Johnson Engineering has prepared first-draft renderings of the possible configurations of each typical section of the corridor.

They have been broken down into four sections:

  • Florida Avenue to Church Avenue
  • Church Avenue to Meridian Avenue
  • Meridian Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard
  • Martin Luther King Boulevard to Pond Avenue

To provide feedback on the streetscape strategy and view renderings, visit DadeCityFl.com/news_detail_T1_R37.php.

For more information, call project manager Tina Mauriello at 352-523-5050, ext. 420.

Published October 13, 2021

Construction crews busy on roadwork in Pasco County

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When it comes to construction activity on Pasco County roads, State Road 52 is a hotspot.

At least that was the message that David Gwynn, secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation’s District Seven, delivered during the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s breakfast meeting.

Gwynn briefed the audience on the state transportation department’s current and upcoming projects in Pasco, during the June 4 session at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

Construction barrels, like these, have been a familiar sight on State Road 52, as work has been done to widen the road. (File)

“We’re trying to address some of our major issues we have in the transportation system in the region,” the transportation secretary told the crowd. “The State Road 52 Corridor is one that we’ve really put a lot of money into in the last few years, and we’re going to continue to do that in the near future.”

Among the projects, the state DOT is widening State Road 52, from the Suncoast Parkway to the east of U.S. 41.

That stretch will be expanded to six divided lanes.

It is currently under design, with construction expected to begin later this year, Gwynn said.

Heading from east of U.S. 41 to west of County Road 581 (Bellamy Brothers Boulevard), State Road 52 will be expanded to four divided lanes.

State Road 52 also will be expanded to four divided lanes from County Road 581 to Old Pasco Road, with that project expected to be completed this year.

In 2020, the state DOT expects to widen U.S. 41 to a four-lane road, from just south of State Road 52 to Connerton Boulevard.

The biggest project, Gwynn said, will introduce a new State Road 52 route to U.S. 301.

That project involves widening the road to four lanes, beginning at the intersection of State Road 52 and Uradco Place, extending to the Bayou Branch Canal.

East of the canal, a brand new four-lane State Road 52 will branch off (south of existing State Road 52) and eventually will merge with Clinton Avenue.

This new alignment, expected to begin this fall, will provide an additional route from Interstate 75 to U.S. 301.

When that project is completed, the existing State Road 52 will be turned over to Pasco County to become County Road 52.

U.S. 301 is scheduled for several improvements, too.

There are plans to repave U.S. 301 from Pond Avenue to the north of Long Avenue. And, another project will widen the stretch from County Road 54 (Eiland Boulevard) to north of Kossik Road into six lanes.

David Gwynn is the secretary of District Seven for the Florida Department of Transportation. On June 4, at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel, he informed an audience about Pasco County’s new road projects. (Brian Fernandes)

Another project would expand U.S. 301 to four lanes south of State Road 56 to south of State Road 39. That two-mile project is expected to include a median, as well as a bike lane, sidewalk and a shared-use path.

Another two-fold project is under evaluation on U.S. 301, Gwynn said.

That project would expand the stretch from State Road 39 to Corey Street in Downtown Zephyrhills. Then, branching out from the Corey Street intersection would be two newly built one-way roads.

Each road would hold three lanes, run parallel to U.S. 301 and end just south of County Road 54.

Gwynn also mentioned the plans to add another entrance in Wesley Chapel from Interstate 75.

The new diamond interchange would connect Overpass Road to the interstate by way of a flyover ramp.

Overpass Road would be accommodated with two additional lanes from its intersection with Old Pasco Road to the exit ramp getting off the interstate.

From the ramp, to the intersection with Boyette Road, Overpass Road would be widened to six lanes. No start date has been determined yet, Gwynn said.

The director also revealed that Wesley Chapel is one of five areas being studied as a possible public transportation hub for traveling cross-county.

It would afford commuters traveling out of Pasco County to neighboring Hillsborough County an alternative from personal transportation.

And, Gwynn informed attendees of the new Florida legislation to build three multi-use corridors, adding new toll roads as well.

“The main purpose of them is to revitalize some of the rural communities that may have been left behind as Florida has prospered – to encourage job creation in these areas,” the director said.

One local corridor will be the Northern Turnpike Connector, which will bridge the Florida Turnpike northwest to the Suncoast Parkway.

Construction on the corridors is set for late 2022.

Gwynn also mentioned that the construction of the long-awaited diverging diamond in Wesley Chapel is still progressing.

The project, which is reconfiguring the State Road 56 bridge overpassing Interstate 75, will crisscross eastbound and westbound lanes upon reaching the bridge.

Four through lanes and two left-turn lanes will make up the westbound road on the south end of the bridge, to better accommodate heavier traffic flow. The eastbound road will hold only three lanes on the north end.

The project is still set to be completed in late 2021, Gwynn said.

Published June 12, 2019

Pace of Pasco’s road construction picking up in 2019

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It’s no secret that dealing with traffic congestion is a way of life for Pasco County residents.

Whether they’re commuting to work, taking the kids to school, going grocery shopping, heading to a doctor’s appointment or taking care of myriad daily needs, there’s good chance motorists will get stuck in traffic and have to wait for traffic lights to cycle at intersections.

Traffic is backed up, on the access road from Interstate 75, heading to State Road 56. (Fred Bellet)

Getting anywhere can be a hassle at peak traffic hours — regardless of the direction drivers are going.

The good news is that 2019 is likely to go down as a banner year with respect to the number of projects aimed at improving traffic flow.

Here’s a look at what is underway, planned for construction, or under study for possible improvements, based on presentations by Florida Department of Transportation officials, transportation department fact sheets and previous reporting by The Laker/Lutz News.

The Diverging Diamond
One massive project, set to get underway this month, is called the Diverging Diamond Interchange.

It aims to reduce congestion at the Interstate 75-State Road 56 interchange, through a reconfiguration of the intersection, in an area between County Road 54 and Cypress Ridge Boulevard.

Eastbound traffic on State Road 54 at the Interstate 75 underpass.

The new design is expected to improve traffic flow, thus reducing travel time for motorists.

The estimated construction cost is $33 million, and the project is expected to take three years to complete.

Extension of State Road 56
Another significant project involves the extension of State Road 56, beginning at Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel and ending at U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

Work on this 6-mile extension began in 2017. It has an estimated construction cost of $59.1 million.

Initially expected to be completed in the fall, the road could open as early as this spring, David Gwynn, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation District 7, said during the Discover Dade City symposium in November.

The project includes a four-lane road, with a 10-foot multi-use trail on the south side of the road and a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side. There will be 7-foot bicycle lanes on the shoulders, in each direction.

Northbound traffic on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41, stacks up and waits for the traffic light to turn green.

New signalized intersections also are being built on Morris Bridge Road, where the new State Road 56 crosses it, and on U.S. 301, where the new State Road 56 ties into it.

Also, the City of Zephyrhills requested a study to evaluate extending State Road 56 from U.S. 301 to State Road 39 with a connection to U.S. 98.

And, another study is looking into realigning U.S. 98, where U.S. 301 intersects with Clinton Avenue.

The Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization also has requested a study to evaluate the potential for the realignment of U.S. 98 at the U.S. 301, in the area of Clinton Avenue (new State Road 52).

U.S. 41 and State Road 54
While the need for a solution to daily traffic jams at U.S. 41 and State Road 54 is widely known, it is not yet clear how the issue will be addressed. Here are alternatives that have been identified, according to a state transportation department document:

  • Elevated express lanes at major intersections; express lanes on the ground for the remainder; and bus services in express lanes.
  • Parallel flow intersection.
  • Elevated lanes at major intersections; bus or rail in separate lanes, combined with a continuous flow intersection.
  • No Build: Maintaining six lanes on the ground and current transit services.
Motorists heading north on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41, wait in the daily backup, just south of State Road 54.

State Road 52 improvements
Projects are in various stages along the State Road 52 corridor. Here’s a synopsis:

  • Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41: This project will widen a 3.8-mile stretch from two lanes to six lanes, with a 12-foot multi-use trail to be built on the north side of State Road 52. The project also includes a 1-mile widening of U.S. 41, approaching the intersection with State Road 52. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.
  • East of U.S. 41 to County Road 581 (Bellamy Brothers Boulevard): Calls for widening the two-lane road to a four-lane divided road. The 8.5-mile improvement also includes a 12-foot multi-use trail on the north side of the road. The project is under design, but there is no construction funding at this time.
  • County Road 581 (Bellamy Brothers Boulevard) to Old Pasco Road: Widening the two-lane road to a four-lane road, with a median. The 1.5-mile project has an estimated cost of $13.4 million and is scheduled to be completed this spring.
  • State Road 52 widening and new alignment, from Uradco Place to west of Fort King Road.

Between Uradco Place and Bayou Branch Canal, the existing road will be widened to a four-lane divided highway.

East of Bayou Branch Canal, the new alignment will be a four-lane, divided State Road 52, built south of the existing State Road 52, tying into Clinton Avenue.

Heading east, past Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, barricades guide motorists through ongoing widening construction.

Clinton Avenue, between County Road 579 and Fort King Road, will be a widened to a four-lane divided road.

Clinton Avenue, between Pasadena Avenue and U.S. 301, will be designated County Road 52, after the construction of the new State Road 52 is complete.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2019.

 

Other projects
Interstate 75 interchange at Overpass Road
Pasco County is building a future interchange at I-75 and Pasco Road. The project is scheduled for letting in 2020.

U.S. 301/U.S. 98
Resurfacing/bike lanes

An eastbound school bus turns south on to Old Pasco Road, an area where road construction continues.

Project limits: Pond Avenue to north of Long Avenue/Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City

is in design. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.

Wesley Chapel Intermodal Center Study
This study, expected to be completed in late summer, will identify the needs and location of an intermodal center that will serve as a hub for local and regional transit. It includes the analysis of facility needs, location, cost, funding, connectivity and conceptual design.

Proposed U.S. 301 widening
Another project calls for widening U.S. 301, from a four-lane road to six lanes, from County Road 54/Eiland Boulevard to north of Kossik Road, in Zephyrhills. That construction is not yet funded.

Brian Fernandes contributed to this report.

Published January 9, 2019

FDOT budgeting future land purchases for 54/41 project

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A local task force is expected to make recommendations next year on a traffic fix for the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41, but the Florida Department of Transportation already is budgeting about $32 million for land purchases connected to the project.

The funding is slated for fiscal year 2023, as part of the agency’s five-year work plan.

Florida Department of Transportation is budgeting about $32 million for rights of way purchases in fiscal year 2023 for an as-yet-undecided project to improve State Road 54 and U.S. 41 intersection. (File)

The funding for the rights of way for the State Road 54 and U.S. 41 intersection is a conservative amount programmed in advance to give Pasco County time to do outreach, and determine the community’s vision for this project, according to FDOT spokeswoman, Kris Carson, in an email response to The Laker/Lutz News.

“The amount may be reduced or increased or we can shift the funds elsewhere if the no-build is selected,” Carson wrote.

The department also is working on interim improvements for the intersection, she added.

One anticipated project would lengthen some of the turn lanes at the intersection to improve traffic flow.

In October, the 17-member Vision 54/56 Task Force scheduled a workshop to review in more detail traffic projects that are being proposed as solutions.

The group’s options include 11 major highway and transit alternatives, as well as a no-build alternative for the intersection. Some alternatives would be at-grade re-designs with express transit lanes; others would have flyovers, and toll lanes.

The task force is expected to schedule its next public meeting in November or December. Additional public meetings into 2018 also are expected in order to complete the second of three phases of the traffic study.

The entire study includes the State Road 54/56 corridor, from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard on the east to U.S. 19 on the west. However, for the current phase of the study the focus is on two intersections: Little Road and State Road 54 in New Port Richey, and U.S. 41 and State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

The Land O’ Lakes segment is getting intense scrutiny as it is among the busiest intersections, with nearly 100,000 vehicles per day.

Representatives from Pasco County Planning and Development, the county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, FDOT and consultants are assisting in the study.

The FDOT also is expected to fund a detailed analysis and evaluation of the State Road 54 and U.S. 41 intersection, likely in 2018. MPO officials say it is the only segment included in the study that has funding.

The MPO established the task force in 2015, and started with two separate groups. One studied issues for west Pasco; the other for east Pasco.

In late 2016, a single task force, with some members from the first groups, began studying a list of potential options. They include 11 major highway and transit alternatives, as well as a no-build alternative for the intersection.

The task force initiative got underway after the FDOT proposed a flyover for the intersection, with room for express toll lanes. The project met with opposition from the community, and FDOT officials agreed to back off while a task force tried to reach consensus on what should be done.

The FDOT’s five-year work plan is updated annually.

Some projects to redesign, expand and resurface roadways are slated for 2018/19. They are:

  • Resurfacing U.S. 41 from north of Ehren Cutoff to north of Caliente Boulevard for about $2.3 million
  • Resurfacing U.S. 301 from Pond Avenue to north of Long Avenue/Pioneer Museum for about $2.3 million
  • Realignment, widening and new construction on State Road 52 from Uradco Place to west of Fort King Road for about $83.3 million
  • Widening State Road 52 from two lanes to six lanes, from west of Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41 at cost of about $75 million. This also includes intersection improvements, sidewalks and 12-foot trail.
  • Right of way purchase for U.S. 41 from north of Connerton Boulevard to south of State Road 52 for about $739,000. Construction of that project, in 2020, would cost about $20.3 million.

For more information, visit FDOT.gov.

Published November 15, 2017