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Hernando Today

Fasano To Keep Eye On Hernando County's Transportation Dollars

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By TONY MARRERO Hernando Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Local officials throughout the state are holding their breath to find out how budget cuts might put the brakes on transportation projects.

Hernando County will have a powerful ally to try to ensure that money for big-ticket, long range projects such as the widening of County Line Road and State Road 50 remain in place.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has been named chairman of the Senate Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Committee for a third two-year term.

The committee helps guide state and federal monies to local projects. This year is going to be a tough one, Fasano acknowledged.

The state Department of Transportation's five-year work program is a road map of sorts for transportation infrastructure projects. The closer to the fifth year, however, the less firm the commitment.

DOT is currently working on an update to the plan. It's sure to be a scaled down version, said Fasano, who is meeting with the state's transportation secretary next week.

The state's transportation trust fund, which grows from gas tax revenue, continues to shrink, he said.

"I would be surprised if any county is held harmless," Fasano said. "My hope is that the impact to Hernando County is going to be small, but there's going to be an impact. There has to be."

Hernando County has millions on the line for S.R. 50 and County Line Road.

The five-year plan currently has $63 million set aside for 2011-2012 to widen S.R. 50 between U.S. 19 and Mariner Boulevard to six lanes.

"We hope it doesn't slip," County Engineer Charles Mixson said.

Mixson feels a little more secure about $18 million in the plan over the next two years for right of way to widen County Line Road from East Road to the Suncoast Parkway.

"I can't see them pulling that, but you never know," he said.

The same can be said for some $6 million in grant money the state has set aside in the next two years to purchase right of way for County Line Road, Mixson said.

Fasano demurred when asked if his position as chairman could help his District 11, which includes the northern portion of Pinellas County and the western portions of Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

County Commissioner Dave Russell didn't, though. Fasano has done an excellent job of making sure Hernando got its fair share of DOT money even in lean years, Russell said. His influence can't hurt now that the state is facing the leanest year in decades.

"I can't overemphasize how critical that is at this juncture," he said.

Stimulus in Hernando?

Hernando County could be the beneficiary if President-elect Barack Obama follows through on a plan he has mentioned to jumpstart the economy.

Obama has said the federal government needs to infuse billions to rebuild the country's infrastructure. State and local governments need to be ready for that, Russell and Fasano said.

"The key there is to have projects ready to go at a minute's notice," Russell said.

In fact, Mixson is already putting together a list of projects either in progress or far along in the planning stages. County Line and S.R. 50 are obvious choices, Russell said.

Mixson said he is also itching to get started on a project to expand Deltona Boulevard to three lanes between Spring Hill Drive and Forest Oaks Boulevard. The plans are completed and the right of way has been bought, but the money for the $60.5 million project hasn't been found yet, he said.

"I'd love to go do that one," he said.

The widening of Spring Lake Highway and the paving of more of the county's limerock roads are also on the list, Mixson said.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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