Roads, parks and public safety top improvements list
By Kyle LoJacono
The new fiscal year for Pasco County begins Oct. 1 and the list of capital improvements for the year is dominated by projects to improve transportation, parks and public safety.
The total price tag for the county’s 2010-11 capital improvements, which was recently released as part of the 2011-15 capital improvement plan, is $400 million, while the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will pump in another $65.3 million for roads during that time. County commissioners hope these projects will help change Pasco.
“With the development of our strategic plan and our business plan, we are hoping to transform Pasco from a bedroom community to a place where residents can live, work and play,” said county commission chairwoman Pat Mulieri. “Pasco is definitely positioning its self to bring opportunities home as our slogan says.”
Mulieri represents Pasco District 2, which covers Land O’ Lakes, most of Wesley Chapel, Grower’s Corner and Shady Hills.
The county projects from next year will be paid for by a combination of impact fees, Penny for Pasco funds, gas taxes and money from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
TRANSPORTATION
The big ticket road project in east Pasco next year is the $14.8 million to finish the widening of SR 54 from I-75 to Curley Road in Wesley Chapel. This is not a new project, but rather what was part of the $28 million contract signed last year.
The continuation east of that highway’s widening will also start next year at a cost of $650,000 from FDOT, impact fees and Penny for Pasco money. The money will go to design the widening of SR 54 the nine miles from Curley to Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills and also for right-of-way acquisition of land. The actual widening will happen in later years.
This SR 54 project seems to be already helping the economy of Pasco.
“When I asked T. Rowe Price, who is bringing 1,600 jobs to the area, why they chose Pasco they mentioned the building of needed infrastructure,” Mulieri said. “As important as (SR 54) is to bring jobs and businesses to Pasco, widening of 54 will most importantly relieve the stress for present Pasco residents who commute out of the county each day.”
Another road that will connect Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel is the future Zephyrhills Bypass.
The project will start where SR 54 turns south at Curley. It will build a four-lane highway through the planned New River Town Center and Harrison-Bennett commercial development in Wesley Chapel and two lanes through the more rural areas to the east. The job also includes building a bridge and will connect with Handcart Road in Zephyrhills.
The total cost of the Bypass is $17.3 million from gas taxes and impact fees, with $2.4 million already spent, $2.6 million to be spent next year and $12.3 million to finish the job in 2014.
Improvements to the intersection of SR 52 and Prospect Road in San Antonio will be done to make the area safer and improve traffic flow. The project will cost $2.9 million from Penny for Pasco money.
A $650,000 study from impact fees will also be conducted this year in part to see if Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel should be widened from I-75 to the east.
Like Mulieri, John Hagen, Pasco’s president of economic development, said he also sees the advantage to the county from road projects.
“We’ve been pushing for easier ways to connect Zephyrhills, Dade City, Wesley Chapel and the rest of east Pasco with areas to the west,” Hagen said. “They have some great things in east Pasco, like the Shops at Wiregrass and any way we can reduce the travel time to drive across the county will help business.”
In addition to those projects, the county will spend $5.4 million from gas taxes to resurface roads throughout the county.
PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT
The John S. Burks Memorial Park in Dade City will be expanded to meet increased demand from the community at a cost of $2.2 million from parks and recreation impact fees and a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
There will be two new soccer/football fields while concession, restroom and storage buildings will be constructed. New parking spaces will also be added.
“Its expansion will let more people in east Pasco enjoy the park,” said Pasco Parks and Recreation Department director Rick Buckman. “The main thing is there will be more room for the soccer program there. By the end of the year the fields are mainly dirt, so more fields will improve the playing surface.”
In addition, $23 million will be spent to improve the Boyette Road reclaimed water reservoir in Wesley Chapel. Castoff water is collect and treated at such facilities and used for nonconsumption uses throughout the county.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The third most expensive portion of capital improvements plan is public safety. Many new fire rescue, emergency medical service and law enforcement vehicles will be added or to replace older units across the county.
Flooding has also been an issue in Zephyrhills and a $1.2 million project will help reduce the potential for such a disaster around Lake Zephyr. A variety of flood control measures and also water quality projects will be paid for by the county and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
GOVERNMENT
Improvements will also be made to the election process in the county next year. The Pasco Supervisor of Elections will have a new data center in Dade City after the completion of the $12.4 million project. The new center will be better able to process the votes from the increasing population in Pasco.
The entire Pasco capital improvement plan for 2011-15 can be viewed at portal.pascocountyfl.net in the county budget tab.
Reach Kyle LoJacono at .
