More than 100 residents showed up to the Pasco Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) to view and ask questions about Pasco County’s plans to widen the 6.88-mile-long Old Pasco Rd. from a sleepy two-lane country road to a four-lane divided roadway that can accommodate future traffic demands.
The public workshop, scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., was practically packed 15 minutes before that.
“This is one the biggest crowds I’ve seen for one of these,” said Michael Cook, a real property professional for Pasco County.
The July 28 workshop was scheduled to give residents their say about the widening project. Many filled out comment cards and put them in a box on the way out.
Pasco County is performing a Route Study and Pond Siting Analysis to evaluate the impacts of widening Old Pasco Rd. from Wesley Chapel Blvd. (C.R. 54) to S.R. 52. Two alternatives were presented, the primary difference between them being one has a more urban design utilizing curbs and gutters, while the other uses swales.
Improvements also will include potential signalization of several intersections, on-street bicycle lanes, a sidewalk on one side of the road, a multi-use path on the other side, and drainage improvements.
“I’m fine with it as long as there’s no damage done to my house,” said Ruben Rosado, who has lived on Old Pasco Rd. since 2002, right around the time that the original Old Pasco Rd. Route Studies were approved by the Board of County Commissioners in March 2001 and April 2003.
Rosado and others also voiced concerns about how close the expanded road would be to their property, the ease of getting out of their driveway and speeding, which some think will be more prevalent on a more open road.
The county says portions of the required road right-of-way already have been acquired south of Overpass Rd. All required road right-of-way has been acquired from north of Overpass Road to S.R. 52.
In addition, the right-of-way for 12 of the 14 pond sites already has been acquired within the corridor.
The county says that Alternative 1, which is a wider build, would affect 47-48 properties, including two residential relocations, and cost roughly $102 million.
Alternative 2 would affect 41-42 properties, also including two residential relocations, and would cost roughly $93 million.
There also is a no-build option, which would cost nothing but seems highly unlikely.
Right-of-way acquisitions account for more than $14-million of each total.
Cook says some suggestions turned in by attendees would likely be incorporated into the design phase, such as placements of right and left turn lanes and the pond locations. The design phase is anticipated to begin starting sometime next year.
Currently, Pasco County has the following phases of the project funded in its 10-year 2022-31 Capital Improvement Program:
• Design Phase: Fiscal Years 2022-23 (a little behind schedule)
• Right-of-Way Acquisition: Fiscal Years 2024-25
• Construction: Fiscal Years 2026-27
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