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Hernando Today

Five-Year Road Wish List: $152 Million

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By TONY MARRERO, Hernando Today

Published: January 5, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Christmas may be over but the Florida Department of Transportation has a big wish-list of Hernando County road projects ready to submit to the state Legislature.
FDOT will ask legislators to fund nearly $153 million in road projects in the county during the next five years, including large appropriations to widen State Road 50 and County Line Road.

It could be a tall order with a $2 billion revenue shortfall projected for next year's state budget, but the county has a powerful ally in State Sen. Mike Fasano.

The New Port Richey Republican is chairman of the Senate transportation committee.

"I plan to do everything I can to improve it in whole," Fasano said. "We've seen for too long the transportation dollars get sucked to South Florida and my goal is to make sure money stays in the Tampa Bay area."

As large as the figure seems, there is still much to be done beyond that, county engineer Charles Mixson said.

But considering state revenue projections, realism - and prioritizing - must prevail, he said.

"Certainly we'd like to have more, but with the funding that's available this is the direction we'd like to them go in," Mixson said.

The likely most glaring omission: No additional money to widen S.R. 50 between the Suncoast Parkway and Mariner Boulevard, one of the county's busiest stretches of road that is already at a failing level of service.

There already is $850,000 for the project for the 2008-09 year, but county officials had hoped for more for future years.

"We were disappointed that's not in there," Mixson said, though he added the plan is updated each year and the funding could be added next year.

The proposal does, however, include $83.5 million to widen to six lanes S.R. 50 from U.S. 19 to Mariner Boulevard. Some $20 million of that is designated to begin purchasing right of way this fiscal year.

The rest of the money, however, would be set aside in 2011-12, so the project likely wouldn't be completed until 2013, Mixson said.

The list also includes $11.5 million to purchase right of way and widen County Line Road to four lanes from the Suncoast Parkway to East Road/Cobblestone Drive. That project wouldn't be completed until 2013 at the earliest.

The project to widen the stretch of County Line between U.S. 19 and East Road is already funded and work could begin this summer, Mixson said.

Mixson said he also is glad to see resurfacing projects, such as a $2.2 million for a 2.5 mile stretch of S.R. 50 east of Ponce De Leon Boulevard in Brooksville. The FDOT proposal is a good one for the county, County Commissioner Dave Russell said.

"That will go a long way in creating capacity in Hernando County for years to come," he said.

Some highlights of the five-year, $152 million FDOT wish list for Hernando County road projects:

- $83.5 million to widen State Road 50 from U.S. 19 to Mariner Boulevard.

- $18.6 million to resurface U.S. 19 between County Line Road and Toucan Trail.

- $11.5 million to purchase right of way and widen County Line Road to four lanes from the Suncoast Parkway to East Road/Cobblestone Drive.

- $7.4 million to resurface nearly 4 miles of Interstate 75 north from the Hernando/Pasco Line.

- $4.8 million to resurface 6.5 miles of U.S. 301 between the Pasco/Hernando line and the Hernando/Sumter line.

- $2.9 million to widen S.R. 50 between California Street and Cobb Road in Brooksville.

- $2.2 million to resurface a 2.5-mile stretch of S.R. 50 east of Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Brooksville.

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

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