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First Penny projects are close

If approved, work to add turn lanes at five intersections would start as soon as contractors are selected.

By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published April 3, 2005

First came the Penny. Next come the orange barricades.

County officials are looking to start construction on the first slate of road improvements using the Penny for Pasco, the 1-cent sales tax hike that voters approved last year. Residents have been paying the extra cent on each dollar of purchases in the county since Jan. 1. Part of the county government's share of the proceeds will go toward road projects, including five intersections that already have the necessary designs, permits and right of way. If those five get the green light from the County Commission on Tuesday, work could begin as soon as the contractors are picked.

The extra turn lanes at these intersections will be one of the first signs of the new tax dollars at work.

"When people see where that Penny's going, that's going to make them feel good about having that extra penny" sales tax, county Commissioner Ann Hildebrand said. "These are the visual improvements they can see immediately."

The planned improvements are:

Grand Boulevard and Trouble Creek Road: add right-turn lanes in all directions, and lengthen the southbound left-turn lane on Grand Boulevard. Construction estimate: $1.2-million.

Grand Boulevard and Moog Road: add eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes and a northbound right-turn lane. Construction estimate: $750,000.

Collier Parkway and Weeks Boulevard: add westbound left-turn lanes into Lake Myrtle Elementary School, eastbound right-turn lane at parent drop-off and sidewalks on north side of Weeks Boulevard from Collier Parkway to Martha Court. Construction estimate: $500,000.

U.S. 19 at Fox Hollow: construct a westbound left-turn lane. Construction estimate: $480,000.

Little Road at Ponderosa Avenue: add eastbound left-turn lane and southbound left-turn lane (for U-turns). Construction estimate: $300,000.

The county's consultant, Volkert & Associates, Inc., estimates the five projects will come in $1.5-million less than the county expected, in part because engineers planned for higher costs just to be safe.

"This is just an indicator that staff has done a really good job keeping on top of the budget," said Michele Baker, a program administrator for the county's engineering department. "Any time you don't have right-of-way acquisition costs, that helps keep the cost down."

Voters approved the sales tax hike in March 2004 to pay for a slew of county projects, school improvements and city amenities.

Over the 10-year life span of the tax increase, the county's share will add up to $145.5-million - with half going toward road projects, a quarter toward buying conservation land, 20 percent toward public safety projects and 5 percent for contingencies.

Hildebrand said it makes sense to knock out the smaller, easier projects first, while the county designs the larger ones, such as the new Interstate 75-State Road 54 interchange and the channelized medians on U.S. 19.

In the meantime, she said, the road construction sites should boast a sign that says, "Pardon our progress, we're working for you."

"There will be a little bit of construction traffic and delays as we work our way through this process," Hildebrand said, "but it's all for a good purpose."

Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 3, 2005, 00:45:01]