In a brief email to organizers of an opposition group to a proposed elevated toll road across along the State Road 54/56 corridor, Pasco County commissioner Jack Mariano has joined in the dissent.
“I want you to share this with everyone you can,” Mariano said in an email from his personal account Wednesday morning. “This toll road is bad for residents, businesses and Pasco County commuters. I support using the available north-south connections, the rail connection to Channelside, and Ridge Road extension all the way to” Interstate 75.
Mariano, who is the current chair of the commission, sent the email to Pasco Fiasco organizer Richard Connors. Pasco Fiasco is a group of residents who live along the proposed path of a 33-mile elevated expressway that would connect Zephyrhills and New Port Richey. The final decision on whether to move forward on the project lies with the Florida Department of Transportation, which maintains the corridor. However, officials there have said they won’t approve it without the blessing of Pasco County government leaders.
The road was first proposed last year by a group known as International Infrastructure Partners LLC, and said they would privately fund the estimated $2.2 billion project, earning money back through collected tolls.
Mariano’s opposition to the project joins fellow commissioner Henry Wilson, who has spoken out against the elevated toll road for the last few months. Wilson, who is now facing a primary battle for his seat with Mike Wells Jr., recently reached out to Pasco Fiasco himself, hoping to get help with his campaign based on his elevated road position.
In sharing Mariano’s email with the rest of his group, Connors said he wanted to “thank Commissioner Mariano for his continued opposition to the Pasco elevated toll road and alignment with our group.”
Pasco County commissioners are planning to hold three public meetings in cooperation with FDOT in all parts of the county some time this summer.
